Did you notice how many four day trips there are for October?! Eleven total. Eleven four day trips for COS. That makes my heart smile! And there are rainbows and butterflies and friendly little leprechauns with their pots of gold welcoming us to a better quality of life.
A journal by a SkyWest crew member who seeks to better himself on the Preferential Bidding System (PBS) and schedule topics. CN and PN free since 2010!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
August 2013 Line Award
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
August 2013 Bid
Greetings,
For those of you who are interested, I have slacked off dramatically in my flying this year. I haven't had a 120 hour month so far and I think I'm going to keep it that way. It is nice to spend so much time with the family. Heck, I have even had a local social life for a change. Eighty hours a month hardly pays bills though, so I thought I might step it up for August. My bidding style hasn't changed at all, really. I am bidding for weekends off and I have a tendency to hold them.
Here are some pictures that will show you how I am bidding and all. With any luck I'll post my award on the 19th.
For those of you who are interested, I have slacked off dramatically in my flying this year. I haven't had a 120 hour month so far and I think I'm going to keep it that way. It is nice to spend so much time with the family. Heck, I have even had a local social life for a change. Eighty hours a month hardly pays bills though, so I thought I might step it up for August. My bidding style hasn't changed at all, really. I am bidding for weekends off and I have a tendency to hold them.
Here are some pictures that will show you how I am bidding and all. With any luck I'll post my award on the 19th.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
March 2013 Summary
So, maybe you're thinking "Ron was a slacker for the March bid." You'd be slightly right. I did neglect to blog my bid separate from my award. Why? You ask? Well, I hated the pairings this month. Hated them. I could tell just how crazy this was going to be in March because of it. I have yet to see or hear of an award that was pretty on the flight attendant side. By pretty, I mean that the bidder was awarded what they wanted. My bid really isn't anything to write about. I got the two days off that I wanted and that's about it.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Heads up!
Okay friends, here is a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the 10th and with the 10th bidding with be open.
This month is going to be very interesting. Reserves will be bidding for days off, not complete lines. Keep that in mind and bid well sleep carefully.
This month is going to be very interesting. Reserves will be bidding for days off, not complete lines. Keep that in mind and bid well sleep carefully.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Bidding for Reserve Just Got a Lot More Interesting.
Effective for the March 2013 bid, bidding reserve. This is going to be interesting!
Well, for flight attendants at least. Pilots will most likely receive the option soon, but the hang up is likely the long call reserve feature for pilots.
Flight attendants, bidding reserve, will be able to bid for days off finally. "Hard" reserve lines are a thing of the past. With that, the only PBS hard lines are in the DEN ASE pilot system.
I've uploaded the PDF that has the instructions and a Q & A. Let me know if you use it, I'd love to get more information on strategies and such.
Well, for flight attendants at least. Pilots will most likely receive the option soon, but the hang up is likely the long call reserve feature for pilots.
Flight attendants, bidding reserve, will be able to bid for days off finally. "Hard" reserve lines are a thing of the past. With that, the only PBS hard lines are in the DEN ASE pilot system.
I've uploaded the PDF that has the instructions and a Q & A. Let me know if you use it, I'd love to get more information on strategies and such.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Skedplus Staggering
Update 2014, SkedPlus staggering is nullified for flight attendants.
You received the email too. You know what's going on. The pilots are tested staggering skedplus times debut times on the 24th. Flight attendants (presumably) will try out the same staggering next month.
Skedplus worked just fine for me last night and this morning. I picked up a couple trips last night that looked pretty good for me. Some folks wouldn't like what I've done with my schedule, but I'm all for some more efficient trips and more cash!
I hope its all worked well for you!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
February 2013 Line Award
Good morning everyone! As you will see below, my line solved at layer three. My guess was right on the layer in which it would solve. Bidding for a weekend or two really helps my relative bidding seniority. It was nice, too, that this month I was able to bid for pairing criteria versus bidding for pairing on dates. I'll need to pick up a trip or two to hit my target of 100 hours or greater, but that isn't so difficult when all I need is 13 hours.
I ended up with 17 days off and 87:59 hours. The days off is really quite amazing, considering we were bidding for roughly 29 days this month (March 1st was added to the bidding month). So, I'm working 12 days... through the bidding month, and I have 88 hours. So, as it is, I have roughly 7.33 hours per duty period. THAT is amazing. Especially since I only averaged 6.3 hours in January.
I hope that your line turned out as good as mine. It isn't always this easy, but we had some darn good trips in February.
I ended up with 17 days off and 87:59 hours. The days off is really quite amazing, considering we were bidding for roughly 29 days this month (March 1st was added to the bidding month). So, I'm working 12 days... through the bidding month, and I have 88 hours. So, as it is, I have roughly 7.33 hours per duty period. THAT is amazing. Especially since I only averaged 6.3 hours in January.
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| The Line Award |
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| The Reason Report |
Thursday, January 17, 2013
February 2013 Bid
Welcome everyone,
For this post we are officially in 2013. 2012 is gone and now we're bidding for February. 2013 will be an interesting year indeed. For example, just a few moments ago as I'm writing this, American just unveiled their new livery. This year will certainly be entertaining if nothing else.
In COS, I can't say that I'm very happy. My relative domicile seniority hasn't gotten any better thanks to continual junior FAs transferring out. I am at 46% domicile seniority in COS. That is the worst I've been in a few years. It is a bit discouraging considering that I would be 30% in DEN, 26% in ORD, 21% in IAH, and 8% in MSP. But, it could be worse!
As you know, I have always been an aviation geek. So, I have some exciting news: For the first time since 2003 I am going to take some flight instruction again. It is time that I step up to the plate and bite the proverbial financial bullet. Loans and loan payments aren't fun, but I can't see any other means of going about it. I want to be paid for flying, not throwing drinks. Being a professional pilot is my goal. For the time being, I'll be flying out at Meadow Lake with Springs Aviation. That is where I'm going to fly for an hour this Saturday. It should be a good time. I am curious to see how well I do considering I haven't had any formal instruction in nine years. I still have a lot of my original materials so at least I have some ability to study a little more and be ready. It helps too that for the past 6 years, 6 months, and 28 days, I've lived with weight and balance, operating limitations (MELs included), and weather. I have had the honor of flying with pilots that have encouraged my geekdom and graciously answered my questions. So, as far as getting back to the controls, I am ahead of the curve thanks to the world in which I live.
For this post we are officially in 2013. 2012 is gone and now we're bidding for February. 2013 will be an interesting year indeed. For example, just a few moments ago as I'm writing this, American just unveiled their new livery. This year will certainly be entertaining if nothing else.
As you know, I have always been an aviation geek. So, I have some exciting news: For the first time since 2003 I am going to take some flight instruction again. It is time that I step up to the plate and bite the proverbial financial bullet. Loans and loan payments aren't fun, but I can't see any other means of going about it. I want to be paid for flying, not throwing drinks. Being a professional pilot is my goal. For the time being, I'll be flying out at Meadow Lake with Springs Aviation. That is where I'm going to fly for an hour this Saturday. It should be a good time. I am curious to see how well I do considering I haven't had any formal instruction in nine years. I still have a lot of my original materials so at least I have some ability to study a little more and be ready. It helps too that for the past 6 years, 6 months, and 28 days, I've lived with weight and balance, operating limitations (MELs included), and weather. I have had the honor of flying with pilots that have encouraged my geekdom and graciously answered my questions. So, as far as getting back to the controls, I am ahead of the curve thanks to the world in which I live.