Scheduling's tricks, and traps.
 

As the battle for a new contract intensifies, it's time to come together in unity and hold the line. Since Spirit is growing at such a rapid rate, we naturally have a lot of new hires here. To make sure we aren't doing the company any favors whatsoever, I wanted to start a thread for the pilots to share personal experiences where scheduling or the company has tried to pull a fast one. My guess is that many new hires, especially guys on RSV, get taken advantage of on a daily basis. The hardest things about learning a new set of work rules is you simply don't know what you don't know. Let's help each other out with this because I am sure the pressure on us will only intensify as the staffing at this place goes to he!!.

This website is like crack, lol.

Anyway, only time I can remember is my very first day on RSV as an F/O, I got a phone call at 3:01am and was told I was "released now and have a 5pm show to operate flight xxx ACY-ORD-IAH. Of course I didn't know any better but now do.

Dont make the same mistake I did

Ill add this...

Our group of schedulers have always been very professional and polite towards me with any interaction I have had with them (the only exception being Mr G. from a few years ago). This isn't the same kind of scheduling experience you would see at a regional where the relationship is confrontational between pilots and schedulers.

I have never seen them try to trick me, and most accounts of "tricks" are because the pilot did not know their contract and agreed to something that they didn't have to. I shake my head when I hear these loud mouths on the crew shuttle with the "Yeah, I told those schedulers I aint doing anything for them..." or "I told them call me back when they can offer 5 times pay for that trip, and I hung up on them." When I decline a trip, they always reply with 'Thank you, Captain, have a nice day."

I think its great that this may allow new hires to pose questions regarding the contract/work rules, but the overall responsibility is on the pilot to know their contract; whats required, whats optional, and whats not allowed.

Spot on. Most schedules are just trying to do their job, get pilots to airplanes. Most of the time they have management breathing down their necks. Like you said, sometimes just answering the phone and saying "No Thanks" makes their job easier.

100% agree. Scheduling is not your boss and here they do not act as such. I've never had an issue with them. I have questioned them on assignment methodology for trips I thought should have been assigned to someone else ahead of me and they were happy to research it over the phone.

The last thing we need is a us vs scheduling mentality.

I'll also chime in . I've only had one bad experience with them. 99% of the time they are courteous and professional, as I am to them. Additionally, the months I have had relief lines they have been very accommodating in regards to requests I have made, not just for time off but for start times etc...

That's crew planning not crew scheduling.

then they are nice too...

Lately when I get a call on my days off. The VM says. "We have trips, if you would like to pick it up". They use to say "junior man". I've heard guys got burned and only got 100℅ pay for it. Assuming it was a JRM.

Ok..this brings up a good tip....


Their is a difference between "Release" and "Drop."

"Ill do the JRM if you also Release me from the 2 day trip" means paid for both.

"Ill do the JRM if you also Drop me from the 2 day trip" means not pay protected for the 2 day.


But this was all a trick...you're not supposed to pick any JRMs up with paid release. LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!!;)