Quote:
Originally Posted by QRH Bingo
Is it PBS or line bidding?
PBS
What are the schedules (pairings) like?
Based on the crew planning notes for length of pairing outta BOS:
AA: 1-Day 17%, 2-Day 12%, 3-Day 13%, 4-Day 3%
DL: 1-Day 9%, 2-Day 23%, 3-Day 14%, 4-Day 8%
(no 5-Days and UA pairings)
3-4 leg days most common?
Yes, but lots of 2 leg days in the mix too.
long sits?
The fewer the legs, usually comes with a sit somewhere of 2-3ish hours but not always.
equipment swaps?
Maybe 50/50 of keeping the plane for the day.
or are the days fairly productive.
Depends on the pairing. Some are very productive, some are more relaxed. PBS helps to bid for what you like.
Would think with the duty rig they’d try to avoid sits
You would think so, but not always the case.
updates as to QOL, days on/off… is it 18/12? Or whatever you can bid and hold? Are all reserves 18/12?
Reserve is always 12 days off. You bid for your days off PBS style. However, in BOS, with only 3 reserve lines who knows what you will be awarded. But RPA is trying to increase staffing in BOS.
how long is short call call out? and long call ?
Short Call is 2hrs. Long call is 12hrs with plenty of other restrictions to help "commute" to reserve; i.e. no report prior to 1pm on Day 1 without your approval; which scheduling will do, whether intentionally or not, requiring you to call them out on it . (No LCR awarded in BOS for April).
can reserves pick up OT on days off?
Yes. Both trips in open time and even extra reserve days at 200%, when available.
how are they awarded trips? Can they bid on open trips in advance?
OT: If it's in open time, it's first-come-first-served.
If you mean during your reserve days, LCR can bid 6 days out. SCR, it's hit or miss with the automated system but you can call scheduling and ask.
Reserves are used based on how many days you have available compared to what needs to be covered. They try to make it as efficient as possible "bucket system" but on the CA side, it's however they can fill the immediate need and worry about tomorrow after.
outstanding response. Thank you very much. I was looking at the benefits packages. While the health insurance is $100 more per pay period than I pay now, the others like vision & dental are so cheap or free that it balances out. So that looks a wash. The 401k we have is just a match of up to 100% of 8%. Yours has a direct contribution of 4% that goes up to 10% over time. Yours is better in the long run.
somebody just sent me a copy of the CBA. I must say, if we had this back in the early 2000's there would never have been a shortage. Management killing the job over the years drove new starts to historic lows. Combined with the retirements this was totally predictable, but they don't plan that way. With labor it's a cross that bridge when we get there, not a prepare in advance thing.
looking at the CA bonus a couple red flags stand out. The new pilot has to repay it in some conditions that may surprise people. You repay:
if downgraded, voluntary or involuntary displaced (like in a recession)
if furloughed
leave for any reason other than disabled from any work, not just pilot work
even displaced from a base closure (if you went there solely to be based at home) doesn't let you off the hook.
the good news is its prorated a little after a year.
so reserve using PBS is basically preferencing for long or short call, and days off. Is it possible to bid in blocks like 6 on, 30 hours, 6 on, 30 hours, 6 on to get a large block of 10 straight off at either end?
how often do RSV CA's start a 1, 2 or 3 day and then get more days added on? Is it still like the old days, if you're doing a 2 day trip but are good for 4 days, pack for 5? Or is it safe to pick up a RSV trip of 2 days and expect to be home that second night.... even if they call you out on short call the next day, youd still get home day 2?
is the no UA pairings normal for BOS? Do guys do DL and AA flying on the same day? Or are you doing DL one month and bid AA stuff the next?
How does the family travel benefits work on the mainline side? Back in the day I was at a WO so we got whole immediate family and 13 friends/relatives on our travel account. The 13 friends/relatives had small fees, pretty much the taxes. Immediate family were free.