UAL vacancy bids

[Andy]

Andy,
Here is why the LAX '67 bids were generated.

<As you know, there were some bids for Los Angeles on this last round. In talking with some of the people in WHQ, one of the reasons for the 5 767 Captain bids is due to the inability to build lines to the value desired. The company would like the line average to be in the mid 80 hour range, but due to the number of ID's that have all night returns from the islands, it is impossible to do. The average is in the high 70 range and the company has been building 5 more lines that it wants to. >

Once WHQ figures out the scheduling logistics, I bet there will be a surplus for 5 767 Captains. WHQ sure knows how to spend the money wisely (not).
And here is why I think the shuflling won't be bringing anyone back soon.

<There is also a surplus out, but only for 20 F/Os on the Airbus in Denver.>

You'd think with TED, they would be needing more 320 FOs out of DEN.

T

Trojan,
Is the line credit problem also the reason for the 10 (vice 5) 767 FO slots at LAX? If so, you have a very valid point. Of course, lines in the mid-80s are already at near contractual maximum. And it sounds like some pilots are burning out from working so many hours. Not all mind you; I've heard that there are some hogs at the trough picking up open time (thanks more senior brothers; I'm sure that the 25% of us on furlough won't be voting as a block on ALPA issues when we return).
On the Den 320 FO surplus, the rumor that I heard was that it was due to severe undermanning at ORD. ... this could be a matter of temporarily robbing Peter to pay Paul.
With all of the early retirements due to C2003, there will only be about 10 retirements/mo in 2004 (2005 and beyond look better), so that won't be generating a lot of vacancy positions. Growth is the only way that many of us will be returning to UAL in any reasonable time frame.
I'd be curious to see if there are many pilots doing a lot of mil drops. With the current payscale and daily grind, it'd be close to wage neutral to mil drop and a better QOL (unless you're talking a C-130 unit, most of which are on 'camping' trips in the middle east and the stans).

Tranceport, you raise a very valid point. Thanks for pissing on my shoes. One study that I read stated that PBS makes the scheduling of pilots 5% more efficient. However, with the number of credit hours that they're building the lines to currently, you have to wonder if it'll be possible to achieve much more efficiency.

Great discussion here, gentlemen. As with everything else in life, I know just enough on this subject to be completely dangerous.