well apparently its not the QCCA crew that are complaining ...it's the QAL crew that do not like the way rosters are being built as they cant get exactly what they want out of the bid run.
There are many variable that come into play in the bid run and the system only takes into consideration your preferences based on seniority but logic dictates that even the most senior cannot get everything they want if the system needs certain trips they have bid for to build rosters lower down.
The system must try to build everyone a valid roster with as close to possible to max hours. In doing that it will not often give you what you want and it may give trips to those junior to you that you have bid for in order to build them a valid line. It will not ever give you what you want if it means someone lower down will be short of hours as nothing left in the run will build them a valid line.
Its that simple......
So in the smaller bases the problem is even greater as there are less trips available and less variety and length of trips and the roster build is more challenging
As complex as it is... i still think that trip bidding is better than line bidding
Line bidding will at least work on strict seniority but it has less flexibility built in. If MELB base wants strict seniority it will at least make them feel better from that perspective but they need to be careful what they ask for as they may get more than they bargained for