I'd be willing to bet that at least initially they create 3 day pairings that block/credit about 15hrs. Figure BOS/JFK-UK and back, 6.5-7hr eastbound, 8hr west. Depart early evening from BOS/JFK on Day 1, arrive mid-day on Day 3. Not anything spectacular.

Agreed.

Maybe a W route 5 day mixing JFK/BOS.

What you are saying is possible, but probably not likely. The more non-international flying included in the pairings, the more SQ dudes would need the super-top-secret specialized training, which would partially defeat the purpose of having an SQ subset and unfortunately not be the cheapest solution.

I agree, I was just pointing out that it is in theory, according to the CBA, possible for SQ dudes to go to non SQ places in a single SQ pairing and could, in theory, not be relegated to the same few destinations.

No doubt, it's a good point.

Do you think SQ pilots would be able to bid for non-SQ pairings during the bid? Or just from open time?

I have no idea. Seems difficult in my small cranium to mix SQ/non SQ pilots bidding for a total pool of non SQ pairings in PBS. Seems easier after the results are out to swap than having it in the initial PBS bid. But no clue how the software could handle it. And for the reasons you previously pointed out, if SQ pilots were routinely flying non-SQ pairings, itd only result from overstaffing the SQ class. But I have no clue, I’m just thinking out loud.

I'm seeing it the same way.

and just for some understanding, since i know some of you guys are way more versed in this stuff, and since i never asked those American pilots why their trips paid 30 hours for just one flight over and one flight back, what must the differences be between their CBA and ours in this regard? what is it that would turn their 3 day trip to brussels and back, for example, into a 30 hour payday, and for us it's only 15 hours?

No clue. Perhaps he bid reserve at ~75 hour guarantee, got used only one or two trips a month, and picked up a prem trip to bump the guarantee? So he only "worked" 9 days, but was on call others. Their rigs are basically the same as ours, so I don't see how they can credit 10 hrs a day over only 9 work days a month, but I haven't examined their contracts or trips that closely in that regard, so I'm just speculating.

interesting. no, it was all the guys in the crashpad. not on reserve. commuting lineholders. I should have asked sometime, I guess. at the time I just thought it had something to do with how long the flights were and rest requirements, etc.