Hi, at the time of bidding each month, are the airline schedules finalized for the next month? Are you able to view the complete airline schedules/aircraft fleet assignments while you bid? Are there ever times when new flights get introduced or aircraft fleet types change without the opportunity to bid for them?
As always, thanks for sharing all your experience - its very helpful!
Ravi
Ravi,
Yes, when the “bid package” is released, it will include all “known flying” and you bid based on that. From time to time things can change. They could increase or decrease some flying or change aircraft due to the loads. If a trip gets pulled you still get paid for it. If something new comes up it’ll be put in opentime for pickup or be assigned a reserve if it’s not.
Adam
Ravi,
When bidding starts, all flying that the company knows of will be available to bid. Flights do come up after the fact due to aircraft swaps, charter flights, etc. Those flights are placed into our Seniority Trip Trade System, where you can essentially bid for them.
Chris
Hi all, another related schedules question, for airlines that utilize PBS are pilot schedules dynamically generated based on trying to meet all the bid requests each month? Or do pilot schedules generally follow the actual aircraft schedule? I know that trips start and end at the pilot domicile…but trying to understand how the city-pairs get assigned in between (and how much flexibility the PBS has to honor pilot bid requests)…thanks
Ravi,
The aircraft schedules are built and the available pairings are posted before bidding actually opens. PBS will take your preferences in consideration of the established pairings.
Adam
Thanks Adam, that’s very helpful.
Ravi,
The city pairs are developed in advance, based on the needs of marketing and maintenance (some cities are maintenance bases, so aircraft go there that might not otherwise do so). The pilots then bid on this trips using the preferences in PBS.
Chris