Bidding
 

How does bidding for lines work? I understand that it is all based on seniority, but how does the actual process work? Do the high seniority people go first, or does everyone do it at the same time, and you just rank the lines you want in order from 1 to whatever?

The company will publish all the lines and set a date for the bid to close- at XJT, it's usually 5-7 days. Each pilots either reviews the lines manually or sets preferences (weekends off, 2-day trips, etc.)for the computer to sort the lines and then submits the bid prior to the close date. Once the bid closes, the computer will award the lines or at smaller companies, it will be done manually by the crew planning dept. That's basically how it works.

If you're company has PBS it'll be a little different. You set specific preferences and it will try to build a schedule based on the trips in your base.

Bids are due at the same time for everyone. You rank the lines in order of your preference, from choice #1 to choice #n, where n = at least your seniority number.

Sometimes there is a second tier of bids. At PSA for example, after the first round results were published, anyone not holding a 1st round line could bid on the composite lines scheduling constructed from uncovered trips, and trips lineholders would not be flying (due to vacation, military leave, Union leave, etc.) But the process was the same in the second round. Bids were due at a specified time, were awarded in seniority order based on your submitted order of preference.

I understand at X-jet, FOs bid after CA results are posted, and FAs bid after FO results are posted.

This is true. I think it is a carry-over from the days when it was done manually by crew planning. I also think it still done to prevent overloading the computer system. It's nice for the FO's id they are trying to bid for or around a certain CA.