Airline Pilot Central Forums - Bidding/Altering Schedules??....

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Bidding/Altering Schedules??....

Hello,

Been on this site for a while gathering information, I decided to register so I can ask a few questions. I am about to transition from 91/135 flying to 121. I have some questions about how you build schedules. I have an interview with Compass in 2 weeks so If any input from Compass pilots would be great, However I would welcome any input you all can provide as I am also applying at other regionals.

-Once I am able to bid a line, how easy is it to trade/swap trips? Are you pretty much stuck with what you are awarded or is it normal for people to trade trips with each other?

-Am I able to simply drop or some how git rid of a portion of my line? Example, there is a 3-4 day trip that I would like to drop, Am I allowed to do so without needing to pick up another trip in its place?

-Can I voluntarily drop below min guarantee if I was willing to accept less pay? Say I drop a 4 day trip and my line value drops below 70 hrs, does the company have a problem with this?

-Is there any way to manipulate your reserve schedule? I understand that commuting to reserve is hell on earth, just wondering how much leverage you have over reserve scheduling...

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by punchdrunk (Post 980528)

I dont work for Compass, but I have a bunch of buddys over there and they say there short as heck. If they are as short as they say forget about dropping trip and going below guarantee.
Most regional airlines will not let you go below guarantee.

Ive been at 9E for about 5 years and I have never been able to straight drop a trip, but thats 9E not Compass. I would bet you'll hear more of that.

At SKW we have historically been able to drop down to min, which is now 58 credit hours, during slow periods. Even if they don't have a lot of reserves, there's usually somebody who needs/wants money and will pick it up. When things get VERY busy (like this summer) everybody is maxed out and burned out so you may not be able to drop anything unless it's really sweet.

You can drop below 58 if you use sick or vacation time, but they have fixed training and benefit costs so they won't let you drop down to 20 hours/month. If everybody did that they would have to hire 9,000 pilots.

You can always do unlimited trading with open time and other pilots, as long as you don't drop below your original award credit.

You're asking questions that a seasoned fo after a year plus of holding a line would ask...respectfully answering...all of these questions will be solved by getting the job and holding it and becoming great at it and then paying attention as it all goes along...it's all part of the learning curve. Good Luck !

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickair7777 (Post 980556)

At SKW we have historically been able to drop down to min, which is now 58 credit hours...

Ok excuse the uninformed 135 guy...but looking at other regionals that seems really, really low.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbortAbortAbort (Post 980588)

Ok excuse the uninformed 135 guy...but looking at other regionals that seems really, really low.

If someone looking for a job is asking these questions about airline flying... they should thinking about another career... and a regional at that.

Quote:

All this depends on the contract or work rules for the non-union pilot groups and how good their management is at complying with the contract or interpreting the work rules on a daily basis. I can only speak definitively of XJT since that is where I work. I can tell you that at XJT our contract allows you to do all of the things you asked about. BUT it's not guaranteed you will be able to. I certainly wouldn't count on it on a monthly basis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbortAbortAbort (Post 980588)

Ok excuse the uninformed 135 guy...but looking at other regionals that seems really, really low.

Guarantee is 75, you always get that unless you intentionally drop below.

58 is the lowest you can drop stuff to without using sick/vacation to make up the difference.

I was wonderingabout many of the same issues that the OP asked, any more feedback on the process of building and managing schedules would be great!

At Compass:

Lines are awarded via pbs. As was mentioned earlier, Compass is short staffed (which is not really uncommon, pretty much the norm), so most lines awarded have been 85-95 hrs a month. I wouldn't expect that to change soon either.

Theoretically, there are provisions to drop (below guarantee if you want), swap, trade, and move trips around. Unfortunately, all of those tools are based on reserve coverage, which since we are short staffed there is none. That means most people get stuck with what they are awarded.