The Big January Bid at SWA for AT

[redflyer65]

How about one of our Captains that set the record with over 300 TFP last year. He came close last month, but with only 9 days off and the new 117 rules hit 285 TFP. That's $54,000 for the month of June, it only works if you know the game well.

That happened all the time at AirTran too. Those guys were building Fat Stacks, and I'm not talking about PCL's pancake fetish either.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

That happened all the time at AirTran too. Those guys were building Fat Stacks, and I'm not talking about PCL's pancake fetish either.

Provided the coverage was good (and even if it wasn't, with creative swapping) we could drop our whole awarded line and cherry pick premium trips for the whole month as a skilled player. As a mid level captain, there were plenty of big fun bills each month. I'll have to work a lot harder on the computer while commuting to attempt to get close to that again til I reupgrade.

 

[PropPiedmont]

I'll have to work a lot harder on the computer while commuting to attempt to get close to that again til I reupgrade.

I hope you get to re-upgrade, as I hope I get to upgrade at the airline that hired me.

 

[redflyer65]

Provided the coverage was good (and even if it wasn't, with creative swapping) we could drop our whole awarded line and cherry pick premium trips for the whole month as a skilled player. As a mid level captain, there were plenty of big fun bills each month. I'll have to work a lot harder on the computer while commuting to attempt to get close to that again til I reupgrade.

That's cool. I'm a junior FO on this side and get a steady 120 tfp every month and have 4 of those months in the 140 tfp range (three vacation months and one training month). ALL of that is NON-premium pay. All of it. Do I work hard? Absolutely, but it will add up close to 200k and a big profit sharing check plus 401k match.

Granted you might not be able to drop your line as you stated (unless your more senior), but if you just work your line and go home, you will be rewarded for that pretty well too. If I did nothing and worked my line I'd make around 150k.

There's flexibility, you just have to know were to look. As far as commuting and re-upgrading, I hope that gets better for you. Honestly.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

Granted you might not be able to drop your line as you stated (unless your more senior), but if you just work your line and go home, you will be rewarded for that pretty well too. If I did nothing and worked my line I'd make around 150k.

That's over a 70k pay cut, thought we were getting a 50 % pay raise I know, nobody cares.

 

[redflyer65]

Plainly Luv,

The junior AirTran CA's took it in the shorts the most (IMO).

The senior CA's will re-upgrade shortly. All the FO's are getting big payraises. The junior CA's will come over with almost 10 years longevity making 130 tfp or the equivalent of 150/hr. I can't remember what you were making as a Airtran CA when we bought you, so you'd have to let me know.

 

[wood pecker]

Next you will learn that the POT / DOT is ripe with scum bags who block their boards and bid stuff at DOT knowing dam good and well they can't legally fly the trip. Why? Just to screw over fellow pilots or if they are on RES, they bid DOT hoping someone else will bid DOT to avoid them getting assigned the trip.

Everything here is a game unless you just fly your line. Solution, if you're not legal you shouldn't be allowed to bid on open time but that for some reason is absurd.

 

[Daddy]

You should be allowed to bid, but it should just show you in inverse or something so that people know your illegal. Lots of guys bid on things they're illegal for, but will get legal for if they under block. Of course with 117 it's pretty hard to tell these days.

 

[wood pecker]

That sounds fair the inverse thingy. Why can't that be changed? It helps everyone right?

 

[HowardBorden]

Next you will learn that the POT / DOT is ripe with scum bags who block their boards and bid stuff at DOT knowing dam good and well they can't legally fly the trip. Why? Just to screw over fellow pilots or if they are on RES, they bid DOT hoping someone else will bid DOT to avoid them getting assigned the trip.

Everything here is a game unless you just fly your line. Solution, if you're not legal you shouldn't be allowed to bid on open time but that for some reason is absurd.

Never ever decide whether or not to bid on a trip based on what others are bidding. If you want it, bid on it. Ignore how everyone else is bidding. I can't tell you how many times I have been awarded a trip that never could have been expected by looking at all the BS bids showing. Ignore it all and you'll be fine.

 

[Daddy]

Knowledge is power. It's just stupid we can't get an accurate bid order to show in cwa. Simple programming. Folks just want to know where they stand. Bids are awarded with a program like this....why can't they just be listed as such. If I have 10 legit bids ahead of mine....screw it, ill turn off my phone and have a few drinks. Different story if only 2 are legit. Would just be nice to know for QOL. This was low hanging fruit and we were too simple minded to get it.

 

[waveflyer]

Never ever decide whether or not to bid on a trip based on what others are bidding. If you want it, bid on it. Ignore how everyone else is bidding. I can't tell you how many times I have been awarded a trip that never could have been expected by looking at all the BS bids showing. Ignore it all and you'll be fine.

What Howard said^^^

 

[Daddy]

Back to the original thread question....what are the transition folks going to bid come January? What are they telling you on the AirTran side? Getting paid to sit and wait would be awesome. Has the company even covered how it will go down other than the convoluted memo sent out last week?

 

[wood pecker]

The few I know think they will go through FO training then when able go to capt training ASAP. For those who think they are all trouble makers don't buy the hype. For most they fear a walk around in the winter more than a HGS app down to mins in a blizzard. They also don't have a clue and wonder why waste time and money training them twice. Since they are senior to me I told them to wait as long as possible.

 

[HowardBorden]

For those who think they are all trouble makers don't buy the hype. For most they fear a walk around in the winter more than a HGS app down to mins in a blizzard. They also don't have a clue and wonder why waste time and money training them twice.

I agree, I'm not worried about the professionals coming over, for Gods sake they have passed how many PC's to get to this point?

Welcome to the mushroom factory, none of us ever no what the grand plan is at any given point in time and the lights are never on.

 

[Daddy]

So their training track will be newhire class, FO training, then IOE, then upgrade, then UOE? Is that what they'll do? How long at FO? Is anyone considering lance captain?

 

[tomgoodman]

Never ever decide whether or not to bid on a trip based on what others are bidding.

One time I asked the #1 CA what line he bid. He gave a haughty sniff and said: "I don't bid for a line of time. I select one."

 

[freightdogfred]

Back to the original thread question....what are the transition folks going to bid come January? What are they telling you on the AirTran side? Getting paid to sit and wait would be awesome. Has the company even covered how it will go down other than the convoluted memo sent out last week?

The one thing I've heard is there will be 30 Airplanes left at the end of the year that will be parked. How much does it cost to park 30 revenue-producing assets and pay the crews to do nothing as well? Seems like an awful waste of revenue

 

[FurloughedAgain]

One time I asked the #1 CA what line he bid. He gave a haughty sniff and said: "I don't bid for a line of time. I select one."

Sounds like a real delightful guy to spend time with... :-/

 

[Roomwithaview]

Never ever decide whether or not to bid on a trip based on what others are bidding. If you want it, bid on it. Ignore how everyone else is bidding. I can't tell you how many times I have been awarded a trip that never could have been expected by looking at all the BS bids showing. Ignore it all and you'll be fine.

Howard gets it.

 

[Roomwithaview]

Phreddy

The one thing I've heard is there will be 30 Airplanes left at the end of the year that will be parked. How much does it cost to park 30 revenue-producing assets and pay the crews to do nothing as well? Seems like an awful waste of revenue

What do you think we've been bitching about?

 

[PCL_128]

Back to the original thread question....what are the transition folks going to bid come January? What are they telling you on the AirTran side? Getting paid to sit and wait would be awesome. Has the company even covered how it will go down other than the convoluted memo sent out last week?

The big bid will happen in October for all of the guys that will still be left at the end of the year (all 717, because 737 pilots will all be in class by November). Classes run through the first week of March. Everyone I've talked to is bidding for the last class they can hold, since we'll be getting paid to sit around and do nothing after December 29th. The captains can bid for captain slots in January. There will be somewhere around 50 captains who will be able to go captain to captain with just FO training and OE in between. Those guys will get captain continuation pay (pay protection at captain rates). Supposedly about 300 AirTran guys will be able to hold captain in the first 6 months of the year. That's about all the info we have.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

AirTran B737 operations will end on November 30th and those Pilots will enter training by mid-December. B717 operations will end on December 28th and those Pilots will enter training in early 2015.

​

Former AirTran pilots will not be eligible to bid Captain vacancies until after January 1. All AirTran Pilots will be able to bid in the March Vacancy awarded in mid-January. Upgrade training will start soon after this award. This will be the first vacancy bid that original AirTran Pilots can bid for the Captain position.

 

[humveedriver]

AirTran B737 operations will end on November 30th and those Pilots will enter training by mid-December. B717 operations will end on December 28th and those Pilots will enter training in early 2015.

​

Former AirTran pilots will not be eligible to bid Captain vacancies until after January 1. All AirTran Pilots will be able to bid in the March Vacancy awarded in mid-January. Upgrade training will start soon after this award. This will be the first vacancy bid that original AirTran Pilots can bid for the Captain position.

Yep. That's what the memo says. It also says there will not be a FEB vacancy. And that those slots will be pushed to the left (March). Then it goes in to say that due to the large size of the March class some training will happen in JAN.
Two dates are given. And that ALL former AT pilots will be able to bid for the class dates. But all 144 CA slots are based on the March vacancy. I think it's safe to say SWA writes the rules as they go.

 

[Roomwithaview]

Yep. That's what the memo says. It also says there will not be a FEB vacancy. And that those slots will be pushed to the left (March). Then it goes in to say that due to the large size of the March class some training will happen in JAN.
Two dates are given. And that ALL former AT pilots will be able to bid for the class dates. But all 144 CA slots are based on the March vacancy. I think it's safe to say SWA writes the rules as they go.

Maybe so-But the DRC is calling the shots on this stuff. Take it up with your boys Early and Winsor.

 

[Daddy]

Thanks....first I've heard of any of that. Amazing how little any of us is told.

 

[humveedriver]

Thanks....first I've heard of any of that. Amazing how little any of us is told.

SWAlife>FLIGHT OPS>final Airtran integration memo

 

[madjack]

Good luck SWA FOs, sorry it went down this way...

 

[humveedriver]

Maybe so-But the DRC is calling the shots on this stuff. Take it up with your boys Early and Winsor.

Doesn't effect me one way or the other. Some of the OSW guys on the bubble of upgrading were hoping to get access to those JAN classes. I don't blame them. What does bother me is guys upgrading and then going back to the right seat because commuting to reserve is less sexy than a fourth stripe. I can't believe SWA doesn't have a two year seat lock on upgrades. It screws the guy who understands what he was getting into.

 

[Roomwithaview]

Doesn't effect me one way or the other. Some of the OSW guys on the bubble of upgrading were hoping to get access to those JAN classes. I don't blame them. What does bother me is guys upgrading and then going back to the right seat because commuting to reserve is less sexy than a fourth stripe. I can't believe SWA doesn't have a two year seat lock on upgrades. It screws the guy who understands what he was getting into.

Oh the horror-to upgrade or not. Screwing would be putting a seat lock in place. Idiotic legacy thinking. The beauty of being a senior FO is that you can still easily make 200K a year and get the best schedules in the system. By all means, continue to kavetch about how ********************ty it is over here.