As far as I can tell, all trips were in OT, and all pilots were available at the time of the run since they were assigned one minute apart (originally).

The scenario that you describe (trips hitting OT and being covered one-at-a-time) could happen with this set of trips/RES pilots if they (CS) broke up one trip, awarded that trip, broke up the next trip, then awarded that trip. In that case the junior pilot would have gotten the first trip created by breaking up the 6-days then I'd have gotten the second. The problem with this theory (in this case) is the trips are numbered sequentially as they are created. Numerically, the JFK trip was created first and awarded second.

No. An ACE inquiry won’t tell you anything you don’t already know. PWA 23.S.16, the SRH, and Sched Alert 20-09 are absolutely black-and-white clear, and binding. They 100% MUST honor your “if needed” in your scenario. It is not an option.

PLEASE file an FCR and ask for a reply. Make them answer for their failure to train and enforce contract compliance. It’s inexcusable this is still happening. CS is LAZY and just don’t look. They don’t want to admit that, so they make up some story to cover their mistake. Even supervisors have been unaware, forcing me to involve the CPO before to force them to honor the contract.

Good call. Thank you for the references. FCR submitted.

Sched Alert 20-09 is awesome! I can't believe I haven't bookmarked this! I only bid reserve about 2-3 times per year and this is an awesome resource.

Oh, wait, this is only an awesome resource if you are in a different category than me. Otherwise it has nothing of interest for you citizen, move along. These are not the reserve tips you are looking for.

i had this issue about 2 years ago. Used “if needed to fly” with a specific trip of two that were going to be assigned. I got the other one. Called CS and this was verbatim “alot of schedulers dont check the qualifiers”.

so in essence, two year old data indicates that the “qualifier” aspect is manual……and people are lazy.

I've had these ignored in the past as well. I have called and sometimes they reverse and correct it, other times, they don't. I filed an ACE report when it was ignored and they wouldn't correct it when I called. ACE finally paid off for once. (It happened July '22, and pay arrived Dec '23!)

fwiw, my technique is to hawk the fight in the mornings when they are sorting this out and this situation is in play. If they mess it up you can have it changed as long as the other pilot hasn’t acknowledged the trip yet.

The other pilot acknowledge *shouldn't* have nothing to do with it....scheds has up to 2 hour prior to report to fix erroneously assigned rotations.

I feel you brother, but just like in the Air Force “should” and “Will” are two different things. To continue the “verbatim”, the scheduler mulled it over, and then said, “since the other pilot hasn’t accepted it, I will change it.” Maybe things have changed. Hasn’t happened to me in a while.

I’ve had a trip that I “if needed” preferenced get awarded to a junior yellow slip while I got a less optimum trip. I called and they changed it to give me the trip I had preferenced. The other pilot called to say they had yellow slipped it, and since preferences don’t show as anything other than a regular reserve assignment, they took it back to give to the other pilot. I had to call again to get the trip back on my line.

They can fix it up to two hours out, they just don’t want to. Stick with it if you really want the trip, or I guess you could just wait and get paid for the misaward later.

I’d laugh if it weren’t so dang frustrating. Good for you for keeping an eye out and calling.

FWIW, an “if needed” is supposed to show as a “Y” on trip coverage.