PBS bidding strategy
12-15-2021, 08:00 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,767
PBS bidding strategy
Alright, normally I come on here, make a few jokes, honk my horn, play a kazoo, and leave on a high note. I'm not at EDV anymore, but I still love ya guys. Today this is more of a public service announcement. I've heard from a few captains at EDV I still know that new hires are bidding this wrong.
ALWAYS have "enable Max Line Range" (option 2) selected. NEVER have desire MLR prem pay threshold enabled (the last option) unless you are a sucker (I joke).
enable Max Line Range is the second selection on "other options" (tab 2). Max threshold is on the bottom (on purpose) so that NO ONE would accidentally select it. Go to your standing bid, select Enable Max Line Range right now, and save.
Max Line Rrange is NOT going to give you extra flying if you have Days Off bid. There's still an explanation every PBS email explaining the difference between enable Max Line Range and Threshold since ~2017 and I put it on the bottom (At least it was when i left however many years ago).
Max Line Range is saying to the company, "Yes, if I go over 85 because I bid funny/stupid I want my time and a half." Or "If you honk me with the [dreaded] push, I honk you back with 1.5 above 85". If you're going to be pushed into a crap schedule, you might as well get the 1.5 above 85. Also, deadheads and something else aren't counted right on your pbs printout (it may have been corrected by now but i doubt it). You could have a 83.5 hour schedule on pbs monthly printout and it actually be above the 85hours and you not realize it. Rainmaker should automatically catch this (though I suppose I should also warn you to check Rainmaker regularly). AGAIN, if ENABLE MAX LINE RANGE is selected, you'll get paid the 1.5. If you have enable Max Line Range checkmarked, and you are awarded a line above 85 (even if the printout doesn't say it correctly from the PBS site), you get 1.5 every time you overblock a leg.
Common questions:
"But I'm senior and I don't ever go above 85, why should I?"
Answer: Because someday you will, accidently or on purpose, and you won't have it selected so you lose money, if you haven't done this yet you will. Also, having "enable Max line range" selected doesn't change your days off or push you to more credit, it's effectively raising your hand when the company says "Who wants OT for any time above 85 IF WE force it on you?" They aren't asking "Who wants to work more than 85".
"Enable Max line range takes the higher max limit off, so I could work a ba-jillion hours and never get my days off"
Answer. No. No and heck no. "taking the top off" the pbs limit allows the computer more flexibility to respect those days off requests. Lets say you are junior (in the push) and you COULD get those days off you wanted but it means putting a 15hour trip on your schedule. Due to the trips already assigned that need covered, you can only fit 12 more hours. That computer has to give you work on your days preferred off in this situation to make the solver happy. Just like "the spice must flow" in Dune, the schedule must be covered. Enable Max Line Range gives the sorter more flexibility to respect your preferences.
"Shouldn't I select threshold instead? I want to work a lot"
No. - I mean, fine do it, but it isn't doing what you think it's doing. Select them both in your standing bid so you don't forget if you HAVE to have threshold selected. Threshold is stupid, and I'm still convinced the company put it in there to confuse people and make people work more. Besides, you guys have massive attrition, so IF you're trying to work that hard ANYWAY, bid to get above 85 hours and THEN pick up some trips on FLICA at 1.5x. My guess is by ~March you will have more open time than you know what to do with. Don't be a sucker.
Strategy that used to work: When pilots are unhappy, they leave suddenly (2 weeks or less). So bid to work a lot in the beginning of each month, and have FLICA alerts turned on (pay for it or whatever the trick is, you'll make your money back). When pilots give enough heads up, the company will leave you off the bid list. The pilots who are on the bid list and will be quitting will often have a trip on the end of the month drop into open time. If you can, leave a few days open on the front of every month in case a trip spills over... it's a long shot but one I took often and got.
Alright, conclusion. Never go to the threshold unless you're a sucker (making jokes here). Always checkmark enable max line range even if you've self identified as a Threshold pilot. 95% of you don't want Threshold, so don't use it. The less people in your category/class, through attrition, the more hours will get pushed on you so enable Max line range now, for the eventual shared pain coming to a schedule near you.
Lastly
Desire MLR Premium Pay Threshold v Enable Maximum Line Range
We have received several questions about these options and want to highlight the difference between the two.
The options do NOT both need to be selected. They should be selected individually depending on the desired outcome.
∙ Desire MLR Premium Pay Threshold resets the lower limit of the credit window to the MLR PP Threshold (usually 85 hours). The lower limit is considered a soft limit; if there is not enough credit to award, the lower limit will be reset to the default value (usually 75 hours). The upper limit will be considered unlimited. o This will build the pilot to the MLR PP Threshold first, and then
award bid preferences.
o A pilot not in the credit push Desires Days Off at 1000 points,
that pilot would be awarded approximately 85 hours. If the pilot
is in the credit push, they would likely be awarded maximum
credit.
∙ Enable Maximum Line Range will not change the lower limit of the credit window. Enabling MLR only removes the upper limit of the credit window allowing the pilot to be awarded more than the default upper limit of the credit window (usually 90 hours).
o This will build the pilots line based on preferences entered in
the Text View Box.
o A pilot not in the credit push Desires Days Off at 1000 points, it
is highly unlikely that they would be awarded more than 85
hours. If the pilot is in the credit push, they would likely be aw
ALWAYS have "enable Max Line Range" (option 2) selected. NEVER have desire MLR prem pay threshold enabled (the last option) unless you are a sucker (I joke).
enable Max Line Range is the second selection on "other options" (tab 2). Max threshold is on the bottom (on purpose) so that NO ONE would accidentally select it. Go to your standing bid, select Enable Max Line Range right now, and save.
Max Line Rrange is NOT going to give you extra flying if you have Days Off bid. There's still an explanation every PBS email explaining the difference between enable Max Line Range and Threshold since ~2017 and I put it on the bottom (At least it was when i left however many years ago).
Max Line Range is saying to the company, "Yes, if I go over 85 because I bid funny/stupid I want my time and a half." Or "If you honk me with the [dreaded] push, I honk you back with 1.5 above 85". If you're going to be pushed into a crap schedule, you might as well get the 1.5 above 85. Also, deadheads and something else aren't counted right on your pbs printout (it may have been corrected by now but i doubt it). You could have a 83.5 hour schedule on pbs monthly printout and it actually be above the 85hours and you not realize it. Rainmaker should automatically catch this (though I suppose I should also warn you to check Rainmaker regularly). AGAIN, if ENABLE MAX LINE RANGE is selected, you'll get paid the 1.5. If you have enable Max Line Range checkmarked, and you are awarded a line above 85 (even if the printout doesn't say it correctly from the PBS site), you get 1.5 every time you overblock a leg.
Common questions:
"But I'm senior and I don't ever go above 85, why should I?"
Answer: Because someday you will, accidently or on purpose, and you won't have it selected so you lose money, if you haven't done this yet you will. Also, having "enable Max line range" selected doesn't change your days off or push you to more credit, it's effectively raising your hand when the company says "Who wants OT for any time above 85 IF WE force it on you?" They aren't asking "Who wants to work more than 85".
"Enable Max line range takes the higher max limit off, so I could work a ba-jillion hours and never get my days off"
Answer. No. No and heck no. "taking the top off" the pbs limit allows the computer more flexibility to respect those days off requests. Lets say you are junior (in the push) and you COULD get those days off you wanted but it means putting a 15hour trip on your schedule. Due to the trips already assigned that need covered, you can only fit 12 more hours. That computer has to give you work on your days preferred off in this situation to make the solver happy. Just like "the spice must flow" in Dune, the schedule must be covered. Enable Max Line Range gives the sorter more flexibility to respect your preferences.
"Shouldn't I select threshold instead? I want to work a lot"
No. - I mean, fine do it, but it isn't doing what you think it's doing. Select them both in your standing bid so you don't forget if you HAVE to have threshold selected. Threshold is stupid, and I'm still convinced the company put it in there to confuse people and make people work more. Besides, you guys have massive attrition, so IF you're trying to work that hard ANYWAY, bid to get above 85 hours and THEN pick up some trips on FLICA at 1.5x. My guess is by ~March you will have more open time than you know what to do with. Don't be a sucker.
Strategy that used to work: When pilots are unhappy, they leave suddenly (2 weeks or less). So bid to work a lot in the beginning of each month, and have FLICA alerts turned on (pay for it or whatever the trick is, you'll make your money back). When pilots give enough heads up, the company will leave you off the bid list. The pilots who are on the bid list and will be quitting will often have a trip on the end of the month drop into open time. If you can, leave a few days open on the front of every month in case a trip spills over... it's a long shot but one I took often and got.
Alright, conclusion. Never go to the threshold unless you're a sucker (making jokes here). Always checkmark enable max line range even if you've self identified as a Threshold pilot. 95% of you don't want Threshold, so don't use it. The less people in your category/class, through attrition, the more hours will get pushed on you so enable Max line range now, for the eventual shared pain coming to a schedule near you.
Lastly
Desire MLR Premium Pay Threshold v Enable Maximum Line Range
We have received several questions about these options and want to highlight the difference between the two.
The options do NOT both need to be selected. They should be selected individually depending on the desired outcome.
∙ Desire MLR Premium Pay Threshold resets the lower limit of the credit window to the MLR PP Threshold (usually 85 hours). The lower limit is considered a soft limit; if there is not enough credit to award, the lower limit will be reset to the default value (usually 75 hours). The upper limit will be considered unlimited. o This will build the pilot to the MLR PP Threshold first, and then
award bid preferences.
o A pilot not in the credit push Desires Days Off at 1000 points,
that pilot would be awarded approximately 85 hours. If the pilot
is in the credit push, they would likely be awarded maximum
credit.
∙ Enable Maximum Line Range will not change the lower limit of the credit window. Enabling MLR only removes the upper limit of the credit window allowing the pilot to be awarded more than the default upper limit of the credit window (usually 90 hours).
o This will build the pilots line based on preferences entered in
the Text View Box.
o A pilot not in the credit push Desires Days Off at 1000 points, it
is highly unlikely that they would be awarded more than 85
hours. If the pilot is in the credit push, they would likely be aw
12-16-2021, 03:28 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,077
Selected it after I saw the mock was giving me 92hrs of credit for dec last month. Well when schedules came out I ended up with 92. So far I'm at 94.5 due to NYC delays in December. So yeah don't forget to check that box.
12-17-2021, 01:37 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2019
Posts: 108
I am about to start Jan class - And I'm not sure what this all means. I guess it'll make more sense once I start. I plan to live in base and grab as much reserve as I can. I don't even know how that works with 117 rule lol
12-17-2021, 01:51 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,077
Originally Posted by PurringRaccoon
I am about to start Jan class - And I'm not sure what this all means. I guess it'll make more sense once I start. I plan to live in base and grab as much reserve as I can. I don't even know how that works with 117 rule lol
12-17-2021, 02:35 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 1,793
Originally Posted by Zerosilver84
You can still be here a year and not understand so 😂🤷♂️
12-17-2021, 03:07 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,648
Originally Posted by Casualinterest
You can be here 6 years and not get it 100%..... I didn't know how serious of a bid option "allow single day off" was until that union email. I've used it for years and didn't know how badly it can screw you up
12-17-2021, 04:02 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,077
Originally Posted by Casualinterest
You can be here 6 years and not get it 100%..... I didn't know how serious of a bid option "allow single day off" was until that union email. I've used it for years and didn't know how badly it can screw you up
Yeah I'm over 2 years here and it's like a ring toss carnival game...toss and pray. Still have no idea what I'm doing...but I do get lucky rarely lol
12-18-2021, 06:51 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 1,793
Originally Posted by Zerosilver84
After seeing ask the people bid single days off offer the last few months and having terrible and nothing they asked for schedules...other than single day off that was enough to show me never to do it.
Yeah I'm over 2 years here and it's like a ring toss carnival game...toss and pray. Still have no idea what I'm doing...but I do get lucky rarely lol
Yeah I'm over 2 years here and it's like a ring toss carnival game...toss and pray. Still have no idea what I'm doing...but I do get lucky rarely lol
That's just one example, and it doesn't always work. But it's definitely not a regular bid option people should be using
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