Mesaba guy with PBS question
 

Does anyone know how Mesaba's PBS system decides if you are going to be assigned a reserve schedule vs a line?

The line it built for me for August was only 11 off! (Saab FO msp) I figure that if I'm only getting 11 off, I might as well take a reserve or highspeed schedule. Anybody know of a way to work the point totals such that you will get a reserve schedule if you have less than 12 days off for a line?

For those of you who don't work for Mesaba, does you're PBS system let you do this?

At SKW you have layers of preferences. If you want 12 days off or reserve you just select a min of 12 days off in the layers prior to your reserve bid and if it can't build you a line within your preferences it will move on to reserve.

[quote=Cessnadriver;650875]

The line it built for me for August was only 11 off! (Saab FO msp) I figure that if I'm only getting 11 off,quote]

Compass PBS pretty much build every line to min days off unless you are in the top 10 percent of the seniority list. If Mesaba's PBS is manipulated the same way our is, your QOL just went south..My condolences go out to you and your family.

problem with prefbid is that only a xj guy can answer that question. every airline runs the program a little differently. My advice, use the automatic mode if you have it. Use high for the things you really want, medium for things you would like, low for things that you'd like, but dont really care if you get or not. Using points is for computer whiz's that actually understand computer logic.

Call the PBS Helpline. The number is on the ALPA site and, I believe, in the bid pack. It's very easy to find and they WILL have your answer.

It's not really about your point totals. It's about putting in elements in the order of your priorities. You need to call your PBS instructor for help. Looks like you may have put too many elements on your bid or not enough points on your top priorities. What number are you bidding at your base? Unless you have the seniority, you will not get weekends off. If you want maximum days off you need to assign the highest number to that. No one at Mesaba has figured it all out yet because this is new to everyone.

Mesaba PBS implementation date has been postponed till October and even that is in question at this point so you have plenty of time to refine your standing bid to get the line you want. I hope this helped a little.

As in we bid through PBS in September for October or we bid through PBS in October for November?

Maybe you aren't setting up your preferences correctly or have your points screwed up. Check those carefully. Where are you on the D3F list, because I'm around 30-ish and my award showed 19 days off.

I don't think you have to worry about it going live for a while....they don't seem to concerned with resolving the outstanding issues right now. Should have a few more practice bids.

Don't you think your question is better directed to the PBS committee? All those guys are very easy to contact.

The dates are not set yet so address your question to the Mesaba PBS Committee for accurate info on PBS implementation dates. My info is might be out of date.

It might have been because I asked for too many things, but none of the things I asked for have been awarded. If I understand it correctly, asking for something like a certain day off can't hurt you if it isn't awarded.

I did experiment by asking for certain overnights, however I only gave 20 points to this while giving 800 to days off. If I understand it correctly, the system would have to give me 40 overnights in the requested city before it costs me a day off.

No other MSP fo's got a significantly worse than normal PBS award this month? If I'm the only one, I definately have to change my bid, but if everyone noticed a drop in days off, then maybe it was more due to the patterns than my bid.

Look at everyone else's bid awards in the PBS menu after you login. You can do that you know. If something is messed up call the PBS number, the system still has problems is what I heard.

Hey, just saw this...Cessna I bid somewhere around where you do and also got a 11 day off, no weekends off line...my standing bid was used, which mainly asked for weekends and days off along with no high-speeds (I was awarded 4).

I'll add that every other parallel bid was significantly better than my normal line, with all weekends off and 14, 15-ish days off

I was gonna call the pbs help line and see what they say...

The best thing we can do with PBS is delay it as long a possible.

As long as the company won't negotiate the needed contract changes, which I guess there are many, PBS is just not going to happen.

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if PBS doesn't get implemented until after the next section 6 negs. are finished. So probably never...

That's still too soon for me.;)

Didn't realize I coud look up other people's schedule, but I found that feature now. Looks like I'm not the only one to take a significant hit this month.

I called the PBS help line and they told me that the instructors were allowed to bid this month basically adding a bunch of relatively senior people to the list which had the effect of dropping my seniority for the month. Based off my bid they said there was no way I could have tweaked it to get more than 11 off.

I agree though, they can delay PBS as long as they want, I'm in no rush.