I’ll give it a shot, as you are a fellow herk driver (at least I used to be). If I don’t answer all of your questions let me know, I’m sure myself or someone else will be happy to oblige.
In terms of bids, there are three main kinds at FedEx - monthly bids, standing bids, and vacation bids. There are also SIBA bids, but they are minor bids and only apply to a few planes and people. The monthly bids are how we determine what our flying is going to be for the following month. Unlike other carriers who actually work on a calendar month to month basis, at FedEx our months ALWAYS start on a Monday. Our months are either four weeks long or five weeks long, and there are typically 8 four week months and 4 five week months in a year (although we have an extra 5 week month this year). When our monthly bid “opens”, we have about a week and a half to get our info into FedEx’s computers letting them know what line we would like to fly for the following month. Basically, we are given a bid pack, which lets us know what all the lines are for the month, and the details of all the individual trips on those lines. Each domicile and aircraft has its own bid back. Every pilot will stack the lines in their order of preference and then the FedEx computer will magically determine who gets what line (based on seniority order). There are three types of lines: regular lines (all flying), secondary lines (blank lines that get built after the regular lines are distributed and consist of trips dropped for vacation, training, etc), and reserve lines (guys/gals who get to sit around waiting to get called on a trip). The secondary lines are the lines which cause the most confusion as the line holder doesn’t know what he/she will fly for another week while waiting for their line to be built.
The second type of bid is the standing bid. This bid happens much less frequently and is where we get to choose what airplane and seat position we would like to fly. Typically they happen two to three times a year, but are vary variable. Rumor has it our next bid could cover a couple of years, and would therefore be very big. Basically, you keep your seat preferences in the FedEx computer (which can be updated at any time), and when the bid happens, you get to go to the seat you are awarded, or stay in the seat you are presently in (again it depends on seniority, and whether or not you want to move). There are no mandatory upgrades at FedEx so you could stay in the same seat your whole career if you would like. You can also decide at what percentage you would make your move. For instance, if you want to be a 727 Captain even if it means you would be the bottom guy, you could bid 727 Captain at 100%. On the other hand, if you wanted to be an Airbus First Officer, but only if you were in the top 60%, you would bid Airbus First Officer at 60%. Once awarded the bid, you wait for the training letter, which will tell you when you get to go to training. With some exceptions, you usually go to training in seniority order based on the seat and domicile you are awarded.
The final type of bid is vacation bids. Starting every summer we bid for the following years vacation slots. There are some rules and parameters with regards to these bids that are beyond the scope of this message. We make our choices for what week(s) we want off the following year, and then are awarded those weeks based on seniority and the number of slots available for each week. There is one vacation bid per month for four months, so we can spread our vacation over four different periods (assuming you have enough vacation days to do this). Any days you have left over after the fourth pass gets assigned based on the weeks, which have slots remaining.
Regarding contract negotiations, an entire book or series of books could be written. Suffice it to say contract negotiations work the same at every airline as we are all governed by the RLA, or Railway Labor Act. This Act determines the rules of engagement, and playbook that both the airline and the union must follow. The differences for each airline occur in what the union is asking for and what the airline is willing to give. In our contract negotiations, we are currently in mediation, which will eventually result in a) a new contract, b) our being released, or c) our being recessed. If you would like more info, I can fill you in in a later message.
In terms of bases and domiciles, we have both at FedEx. I don’t want to insult your intelligence, so forgive me if you already know this, but a domicile is a location where pilots operate out of and considered to be the location we are based. Essentially every trip we have at our domicile has to begin and end at that location, whether that is by an operating leg or a commercial deadhead. A base on the other hand is a sort facility where the packages arrive, get sorted, and then depart. Much like the hub and spoke system at the passenger carriers. For the most part, every domicile is a base/sort facility, but not the other way around. Our domiciles are MEM - Memphis, which has Boeing 727s, Airbus 300/310s, and DC-10s, MD-10s, MD-11s (the last three are McDonnell Douglas products), LAX - L.A., which is an MD-11/10 only base. ANC - Anchorage, Alaska, which is also an MD-11/10, only base. And finally, SFS - Subic in the Philippines, which is an Airbus only base. SFS, however, is scheduled to close in a few years with a replacement to be named somewhere in Asia. As with all rumors at FedEx, it is best to wait until you actually see it happen before you believe it! In terms of sort facilities that are not domiciles, we have EWR - Newark, IND - Indianapolis, AFW - Alliance/Fort Worth, OAK - Oakland, CDG - Paris, France. Also, some of the bigger cities we fly into could almost be described as sort facilites with our feeders picking up freight and distributing it out to smaller airports.
As you have probably noticed, I have mentioned seniority quite a few times. Basically, seniority consists of the date you get hired, and a rank order system for the guys who get hired on the same day. Currently it is based on the last four of your SSN with highest number being the most senior. Every year your seniority number is adjusted based on retirements and other separations. All of our bidding is based on seniority, and is not performance based, so you can be the best 727 second officer on the property, but if you are also the most junior, you will still be the last to pick your line, what seat you get to move to on a standing bid, and what vacation you can hold. This is why it is so imperative that you get hired as quickly as possible here (or at any other airline for that matter).
Your final question was regarding passover pay. Basically, passover pay is pay an individual receives based on what seat they are awarded and not what seat they are currently flying. This issue gets confusing even to those of us who have been on the property for a while. It generally occurs when you are awarded a seat on a seat (standing) bid, and then someone junior to you (who was awarded the same seat on the same bid) activates into that seat before you do. You will then get paid as if you were in the higher paying seat even though you are flying in a lower paying seat. There are actually quite a few rules and caveats to this situation as well, which is probably more detailed than you care about.
Hopefully this info helps. Believe it or not there is quite a bit more to it than what I’ve given you, but it should be a pretty good start. Again, let me know if you have any other questions. Take care and good luck!
