I appreciate you saying that as politely as you did. Internet chit chat can often be misconstrued.

However, I thought this forum was to share knowledge and not just complain or talk... as a lot of other threads do.

Different philosophies I guess. All of the answers to our questions are in some regulation or rule book somewhere, so I guess that would leave forums for less constructive topics.

My question kind've still stands though; why such a long lag? Everyone's bid is input into a computer. Hit the enter button and see the results. Just trying to understand the why.

Well, headed back to reading my contract. Just trying to balance my time, between learning the jet, CBTs, reserve rules, what not to trust the company with, all my ALPA emails, company emails, etc... I hope the firehose lessens up a bit after year one is over.

I hate titles...

 

The fact that there is a lag is due to the previously mentioned requirement that an FO can preference to Avoid flying with a specific Captain (or more appropriately captain) and that the Captains bids need to be checked before the FO processing can start.

So, the main reason for the length of the lag is the need for the union and the company to verify that the Captains bids were done correctly. Once the computer spits out the Captain results the company and Union have to "verify" those results before starting the FO processing. Once that verification is complete the computer can take back over.


Why that "lag" is 2 days brings out the finger pointing!

While it is thankfully rare to need it, I will say that having the ability to "Avoid" a specific captain, can be a nice thing to have. There was one file number that was in my standing bid as an avoid when I was an ORD 767 FO.

I will say that if several Captains ask you to put their file number in your bid, it may be a sign!!

 

Human QA to check that the GIGO is contractually compliant. Roughly 2 days for each category.

 

Alright, I know you'll all find this funny and hopefully it'll add a bit a levity to this thread...

What does GIGO mean... Just searched the contract and couldn't find it.

I hate titles...

 

Garbage In...

 

Firehose will lessen to a garden hose. Just hang in there. Knowing your contract inside out is the only thing that keeps you from being taken advantage of.

 

Oh yeah... I knew that. That's funny.

I'll tell you, the more I hear about our IT, the less impressed I am. Human QA for an IT product? As well as the emphasis on making sure everything the company asks you to do is legal and contractual. There shouldn't be any way at all to ever allow someone to do something that isn't legal and contractual! I'm absolutely amazed that it is tolerated or allowed. On either the companies side or the employees side.

I hate titles...

 

It used to be "trust but verify", but when it became clear that management couldn't be trusted the mantra moved to "verify and correct".

 

That's a very valuable function of the forum. Keep asking your questions. Sign up for the ualpilotsforum.org as well. Lots of union people there to answer questions, especially those popup ones at the gate or in the middle of a reassignment when there isn't a lot of time. PDRs are also good as they go straight to union volunteers there to help. You'll notice many basic and repeat questions on that forum as well, perhaps even more so, like the monthly where are the FO bids or multiple (same) threads about vacation. After awhile it doesn't matter, helpful pilots just answer the question again. They're hiring 100 a month so everything is new to a lot of pilots, continually.

 

PA Slammer when you are reading all those MEC emails scroll to the very bottom and you will see a link to the Contract Legality Guide.

It is a QRH for the contract - answers a lot of questions and simplifies the contract considerably.