New. Vacancy
 

Lots of fo slots on the guppy and Fifi all over the system. I thought we were bumping out of Iah and den?

The long range planning committee strikes again.

I don't think 25 vacancies in DEN is going to be enough to get a post merger higher into DEN :(

I'm glad to see the vacancies in DEN and IAH. Hopefully this means an end to the displacements for now and they're going to right size with more FOs. How fast the tune has changed from needing to displace IAH Guppy FOs to now theres a decent size vacancy for them.

how is this possible?

Did you forget who we are dealing with? Nothing should be shocking around here any more.

So true, so sad!

There are people on this board who said the fella that started running crew planning a little while back was going to be a huge improvement. Ugh...

I think all the usual suspects here, including me, joked about vacancies in displaced categories very soon. Myself, and probably everybody else, is sorry to be correct. Again.

Everything old, and stupid, is new again. Welcome to the new UAL. Same same, the old.

Hmmmmm, bid into Houston or Denver, wait six months, get displaced out of Houston or Denver, wait six months, rinse repeat........��

What was said about the new hires?

The vacancy bid shows me no longer holding EWR 756 FO, which is my current position. Can this be correct? I can't be displaced or bumped out of my seat on a vacancy bid can I?

They always screw up the bid screen initially. Take a look at the min max #'s on the bid release document. They input the min # instead of the max, which will show you not being able to hold your current position.

Basically the bid is designed, in theory, to place new hires across virtually all the bases and thus avoid a shuffle later after they are on the property to position the staffing for summer '16 flying.

My guess: the majority of the "unfilled vacancies" in this bid after the dust settles, and thus actually available to new hires in upcoming classes, will largely be the same bases and seats that always go junior.

Personally, I'm not anticipating too many unfilled vacancies in DEN, for example.

I actually think some of this is forced on the company by the contract.

Example: let's say they see that 400 guys will retire in the next 12 months. Pilot Planning says "We need to hire 400 pilots."

Company says "We will only hire 400 guys if you have 400 unfilled vacancies."

Hmmm. They are short 20 guys in EWR, 5 in IAH, 6 in ORD, and 9 in DCA. But they are overmanned in DEN, LAX, and SFO.

So, they somehow create vacancies that make no sense operationally, in a move they hope will take some of the overmanning to the undermanned bases.

Of course, this is just a ritual with little effect...onsie-twosies.

Now that Pilot Planning has done all they can do to move pilots without a bump, the company has a choice: a bump, or hire more guys.

Apparently, hiring is cheaper than bumping.

I have read several times in company announcements that hiring can only occur if there are unfilled vacancies.

Soooo....are they filling slots in Denver so they can displace them in 2016?

I would argue that this is one of the first vacancies that actually makes sense. Backfill Denver instead of more bumps. We need the frequency to staff tk and get all the 20000 plus training event into and out of Denver each month (12k pilots on a 9 month cycle plus transitions). Second, no big 78 bid until after the fence goes away. Eliminates the bumps that happened after the seat grab of 12. Perhaps they're finally starting to undo the garbage decision making that occurred around the sli. That cost us hundreds of millions with no real improvement. Just angst for the workers.

And your point is? Are you going somewhere with this? LOL

No. You can't .

No. They don't intend to bump more Captains from denver (apparently), so they're matching the seat staffing on the f/o side. Thats how I see it anyway. Would not surprise me one bit to see them grow den a bit only because of the costs associated with training and staffing an airline this size from a small hub. We need both frequency and volume into and out of Denver for tk alone. Once the decision makers see it as a cost of doing business, I think Denver will take a more prominent role. As it always was. Bunch of garbage decisions made in the last 5 years. Heck the last 15+...

Point is..... Based on past patterns this would be an unfortunate but very possible outcome. Actually hoping for more stability. Saw many situations where they built up a base and shortly afterwards, displaced from it. Causing pain for all involved

Did you read the vacancy bid? You cannot be displaced out of one.

Did you inadvertently have a bid in for something else?

Unless you want to move make sure you don't have a bid in at all. I've heard of guys putting in vacancy bids "just in case." Mistake.

Any SFO commuters care to weigh in on current ease of commute? I'm a DC bus guy looking to move to SFO for better seniority. I commute out of DFW. Thanks!

Anybody know if the contract stipulates penalties for taking too long to move someone after an award?

Got a lateral on the last bid but manpower still hasn't moved me. Buddy of mine said he thought you're treated as 24/7 TDY a while after your effective date, but I can't find anything in the contract.

Just joking, and nothing at you personally.

I am hoping for more stability too. Also, hoping for a good CEO. And a good contract. LOL.

In 20 years, I have had about 6 of "stability", 3 years of good CEO, and about 4.5 of good contract. Unfortunately, the opposite side of that trade means I have had far more bad than good.

I don't think 6 years of stability can be counted as stability.

Thanks......cautiously optimistic.....we shall all see.

Bump
I thought I've heard that too.

PDR........

Nah. You get better actionable intel through an anonymous aviation board.
;)

Hog

Just thought it might benefit someone else lurking if someone knew the answer off hand. [emoji6]

I would imagine there are fewer commuters DFW-SFO, compared to IAD/DCA. Probably do OK on American. Suggest you make your non-Rev listing on myidtravel.com/myidlisting, if on American or Virgin. Easy walk from our terminal to the American and Virgin gates (adjacent to each other). As you probably are well aware, a few low clouds slows things down considerably at SFO.

I think VX is flying SFO-LUV now, not DFW.

You may want to reference the following. Hope this helps a bid.

8-F-6 Process of Activation
8-F-6-a Unless otherwise provided for in Section 8-F, a Pilot shall remain in his current
assignment until his activation date in his awarded Category.
8-F-6-b If a Pilot-out as defined in Section 8-E-7-b, the Pilot must, on a Bid Period basis, choose to be available for either TDY or Section 20-H-6 assignments until he begins training for his new assignment but in no case for more than two (2) Bid Periods, unless extended by the Pilot as set forth in Section 8-F-6-b-(3).
8-F-6-b-(1) TDY assignments are only available in Categories offered by the Company. At least one (1) Category must be offered for TDY if that option is elected by the Pilot.
8-F-6-b-(2) Pilots on a TDY assignment shall have all expenses and allowances, as provided in Section 4-E-1, discontinued during periods of unavailability. For purposes of
8-F-6-b-(3) If the Pilot has not begun training by the end of two (2) Bid Periods as set forth in Section 8-F-6-b, he shall be entitled to be released from work obligations and paid reserve guarantee until he starts training. Alternatively, he may choose to extend his TDY or Section 20-H-6 availability for up to two (2) additional Bid Periods. If the Pilot, however, causes a disruption in his training/advancement plan, as defined in Section 8-F-8-b, the Company may extend the TDY or Section 20-H-6 availability period for up to two (2) Bid Periods without his concurrence.

... a bit, auto correct :-) and too many ... at the bar...

You may not like this answer but LOOK FOR IT. Its in the contract I promise you.

The only way to learn the contract is to read it. While you are looking it up read other sections and learn.

There is more to our contract than compensation and scheduling. Every time I go looking for something I learn something else and thats important.

8-F-6-b thru (1), (2), and (3) are specifically for displacements where your
Category has been completely phased out. Not for laterals. Just a heads up.

Holy snapshot........737 IAH is showing new hire seniority (subject to change I know) and 320 IAH is now showing senior-ish (for the bus).....Funny how things change so drastically in a few months

Also first snap shot is up.

Looks like the companies great idea of being able to spread new hires around the system instead of shoving them all into EWR and SFO has backfired. Only a hand full of open spots in IAH(5), LAX(28) and DCA (3), with a hundred open slots each in SFO and EWR.

I find it amusing....Planning always thinks they know how this pilot group is going to bid and they always fail.

Not a lot of training with this bid so far so we may see another vacancy quickly after this one closes.

PS: DEN bids didn't even get all the way through the pre merger seniority list......