As an "old time" union guy, who has lived under BOTH bid lines and ADOPT, it is interesting to see how the people here are "stewing" on bidding and the pros and cons of preferential bidding versus bid lines.
Sadly, bid lines work too well for pilots (some equalization of quality for everyone, someone not getting everything allows everyone to get something) and removes flexibility to "score" and "predict" schedules in the same manner as ADOPT does. With flexibility comes pilot-hosing and squeezing trips into small spaces. One thing that CAN help with ADOPT is knowing how the company scores certain events and allowing the pilot group to have some kind of PRE-preferencing some of those parameters. Clearly, that will NEVER happen.
Also, to borrow a phrase, once you go ADOPT, you never go back....so goodbye bid lines, hello company created maximum flexibility.
Just so you know, building scheduling parameters into your T&C is the ONLY way to effect some positive change once you go ADOPT. Sadly, most contract companies get very little "input" from their pilots when it comes to the "behind the scenes" build parameters in their scheduling system, so even trying to get those changes in your T&C is probably a losing cause.
Good luck and, blasphemy, I know, wouldn't it be great to see a strong union develop at one of these "only way is up" carriers like Emirates, Etihad, etc...?
A guy can dream, can't he?!
