The old PBS of ASA and “Vacation low” has no chance of returning. The company wants nothing to do with that.

PBS allows those with high seniority to get what they want off (wknd plus a random set of week days).

The lifers here would be the ones to gain from PBS the most but overall there’s no chance of the “old days” at ASA coming back.

 

Yep, PBS is not something most legacy XJT guys will want to budge on.

 

Me included. Our line improvement window with line bidding and vacation drops gives the junior line holders a chance at some QOL. PBS rewards seniority, period. I'm not against rewarding seniority, but our line bidding system has made my QOL bearable after being a junior line holder for many years. It would take exceptional work rules that the company would never agree to for me to agree to PBS. The 3 month trial run of Smartpref for the primary bid showed promise but the company shelved it because they wouldn't realize the benfits they expected from it. Now it has been taken off the market so that ship has sailed.

 

What kind of credit are you getting?

 

I realize that the company will never agree to PBS in that form again. I do believe it's still possible for the union and company to negotiate a PBS system that benefits the pilots as well as the company. The line improvement window is a nice tool to have, but it doesn't work for everyone all the time. No system will.

I won't pretend to be a no it all on the line bidding system because I'm not, but after well over a year of using it, I have a knowledgeable understanding of it. I have learned how to work the current system to my benefit and get the schedule I want, I'm just saying that theres a simpler way of doing so. The current line bidding system requires a lot of work every month on the pilots part to potentially get that desired schedule.

My intent here isn't to change anyones mind. I understand an internet forum isn't meant for that. I'm just pointing out the fact that there's an easier way to accomplish the same end result when it comes to a pilots schedule.

 

An easier way with PBS? Not likely. PBS will negate the ability of junior line holders to improve their line. It won't be the same end result, by far.
I, for one, am clear eyed and alert to what PBS will mean for the company. Usually, what's good for the company is rarely good for us when it comes to scheduling and the contract.

 

Agreed. However, as others have stated the current system allows for junior pilots to improve QOL by dumping trips and picking up/changing things around. PBS would largely benefit a lot of very senior people who aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Pass

 

Any senior lineholder can drop to 12 or less days of work for 60 hours block/credit, not work holidays or weekends, and have the time in the month they want off.

Tell me again how PBS will improve their scheduling?

PBS is bad for all, not just junior lineholders.

 

Not a lot. 40-60. But I’m not here for the money, I have a few businesses.

 

Under PBS 12 days of work for 60 hours credit would have been a crappy month for me even with holidays off. 12 days 75 hours+ was the norm for me as a senior pilot under PBS. Most months I was more than that. A really bad month was working 15 days for about 90 hours. And yes, I did both line bidding and PBS. ASA line bidding, ASA PBS, and ExpressJet line bidding (and others as well).
People need to stop getting caught up in PBS versus line bidding. It all depends on the work rules. It’s like someone who has only driven a Trabant claiming it’s the best car in the world.