Thanks in advance for your responses. I have 4 payback days to use and trying to determine the best way to use them. We have 29 hour 4 day SYD Trip’s in my category and that would be my logical choice. I have researched the contract (Sec 23)and cannot find the hierarchy as to how they are processed...I know that reserve coverage for all the operating days must be positive but are these processed during the first PCS run on the 20th before or after MLOA, APD and PD?...any reference to the contract would be appreciated.

Pretty sure they process just like a PD. In fact, you can just PD such a trip and call scheduling after the fact to put the PBs against those four days. I know of no language giving the PBs any greater power/priority than PD.

Thanks for the clarification.

In PCS, LEAVE REQUEST, there is an option for Pay back days drop. Check that box.
The priority for a PB drop or a regular PD is exactly the same. The only difference is that you get paid.

Regular PDing a trip and calling CS to show as PB is usually done between January and March when you have PBs in your bank from the previous year but have not used them. During those 3 first months, if you choose to use PBs from last year you must call CS because it’s no longer able to do it automatically using ICREW.

Clear as mud?

After March, unused PBs from previous year automatically turns into extra vacation days.... (3.5hrs per PB! Sucks!)

Th Scheduling Reference Handbook put out by Dalpa references how to use payback days.

Denny

Buuut with the new IVDs those extra VD's can be used to drop days when rsv coverage >25%.. So for some super junior types it could be a nice ace in the hole to get certain weekends off.

One further question for clarification purposes: as per my discussion with crew scheduling: the trip dropped with payback days counts as PAY & CREDIT which limits your White Slip pickup maximum. Does the swap with pot still allow up to FAR max or does the credit from the paid trip using payback days still count towards credit/ pickup... I would assume it is similar to our current system and the WS pickup would be limited but a SWAP would allow more time to be picked up.. is this logic correct?

You are correct.

Denny