That is VERY GOOD advice. If enough people followed your advice, problem Captains would have a lot of face time in the flight office explaining why they are so difficult to fly with. Years ago, before the do-not-fly-with came into being, I had a lot of issues with a well-know psychopath Captain. This man thrived on conflict and was well-known inside the flight office. I finally called Pro-stan and to my surprise received a phone call from the committee chairperson who said they have a very thick file on the individual and that I SHOULD CALL IN SICK when paired up to fly with him. I REFUSED. I told the Pro-stan guy that if I call in sick then he wins! He told me that the Captain will say that I can't fly and that's why he gets so upset. I said "well get an LCA to ride with me but I'm not calling in sick". It was never resolved so I left the fleet for a different jet. That's how I resolved it. I wish I had your advice back then because that would have been a great solution.

+1

In a base with ~500 CAs there's always the bottom 0.4%.

Have you tried having an adult discussion with the captain, in neutral setting? There is good chance he hasn't heard directly from his first officers in this manner. Most people try to avoid any direct confrontation, and just move on and use the avoid-with strategy. You are not helping anyone by doing that.

Many years ago I flew with one such captain on the DC-9. He was a big, body builder and came across as being intimidating before he even opened his mouth.

A few minutes into our talk, he broke down and told me no one ever talked to him like that. He really did not even realize why the flight attendants did not like him either. He did improve and actually put himself in counselling. ( which unfortunately he had to tell me all about whenever I flew with or saw him).

When I "told" him we needed to have a discussion, he first took it as a challenge to his authority. I explained that if we didn't, I would take myself off the trip. That worked.

Remember too that us captains have no way to bid around first officers. There is one that I told to put me on his "avoid" list. Haven't flown with him since- although flying with his wife was quite pleasant.

The purpose of Pro-Stans is to mediate these problems by having a conversation with both parties and eventually bringing them together in a conversation with Pro-stans being a neutral party and thus the conversation is solution driven. Pro-Stans should be analyzing these "do-not-fly-with Captains. Determining who these Captains are who continually show up these lists and make a preemptive "strike" by making a call and asking the Captain why they are so popular on the do-not-fly list. A phone call may give notice that the Captain needs to self-evaluate their behavior with regard to their crew environment. Then, when an FO says that "we need to have a conversation"; the Captain will know that he needs to change. I always say a leopard never changes his spots but you never know.
I would be mortified to know if I was on some FO's do-not-fly list but chances are good that I have surely angered somebody along the way and have made the list. I'm hoping it is a very short list

Lol! Don't forget about TF. Youngest line crosser at Eddie's airline.

TF is the worst, I love the "note" next to his name on the Master List. Evidently he dropped the -r from the end of his name when he came to CAL to distance himself (from what I heard) from his also-scabby-daddy at EAL.

He said he was at 50%

My reply was based on what he said.

AVOID captain xxxxxx was not the reason he went into denial mode at 50%, it MIGHT have been a contributing factor.

In future, as much as you may not want to , you need to bid all 20 bid groups and loosen up your options so that if all you care about is captain xxxx, then that is what you bid in BG 20.

Avoid captain xxxxx
AWARD work.

Good Luck next month.

Everyone should re-read what DF wrote above. This will keep you out of trouble and will eventually offer an avenue for relieve. If on the other hand, you don't care about getting in trouble or want instant relieve, invite the offender out behind the hangar.

Your Mama probably told you that you are not going to like everybody and not everyone is going to like you but you should try to get along anyway. And, you should not launder your dirty underwear in public. Threads like this demonstrate that she knew what she was talking about. (A public forum is NO PLACE to air this out PERIOD)

At the 50% level, if you can't avoid flying with your unfavored Captain maybe a good education on PBS bidding is in order or maybe you have too many "avoid flying with" on your bid and that may require a little self-reflection instead.

Sounds like Lou and Sue. Agree, Sue was awesome. No wonder they got divorced.

There is also another way. You can have the flight office reach out to pro standards instead of you. most of the flight office folks wear alpa pins and they support the process.

This can sort of take the monkey off your back and it still helps to close the loop. There is no contractual requirement for you to directly go to the pro standards yourself.

I would personally rather talk it over at the bar or over a cup of coffee. Most of the problem guys were scabs and they went from FE straight to the left seat without being an FO so they don't "get it." so to speak. Most of those problems should be worked out by now though.