EK April 2018 Roster I.T. Problems
 

I noticed that the EK April Roster which was E-mailed last night is still not available to view in the Portal today (17th March). More importantly, therefore the swap functionality is not yet active. Anybody know why?

Furthermore, I am in Top Bid and ALL of my "Requests" were ignored as were nearly all of my Preferences. Although I know it's common to moan about Roster quality, I find this very unusual that all of my inputs were ignored in Top Bid AND there is some other I.T. issues going on with this latest Roster release.

Anybody have any insights or speculation as to what might be going on with this?

My rosters are always great, get what I ask for. But this one(top bid) is almost the opposite of what I asked for. It’s like it dropped all my preferences/requests from the system. Non of the flights have the label showing it was a requested flight.

Very odd.

Aeropix.

Same as you. Absolutely nothing. Many people also saying the same.

Top bid 777 LS and got my first request and my preferences so yes there must be a glitch!

Happens every month to me

Top bid 380 and nada.

Top Bid 777 LS

Got one request (days off) the rest nothing.

To maximum my chances bid for all of Europe, all of USA all of SA.

I got ME turns, India, DAC, CMB layovers.

Lowest bid group and best roster in months ... no kidding!

It would even be funny if it wasn't such a catastrophe.

Of course there is also the elephant in the room, I’m certain I’ve heard plenty saying that by April there won’t be enough bodies to crew the roster. IT cockups notwithstanding, I’d suggest that this is the real reason for the lack of bid for rosters.
Hard to give many what they want when you have nearly 10% less what you need.

It does not however explain why on the first day of publication you have as many swap requests wanting US flights but going East, than requests wanting Aussie flights and offer US destinations!

It does not however explain why in top bid you don't get the desired flight, but the next month in lowest it is thrown at you and others in top wanting exactly that.

It does not however explain ...... (fill in the rest!)

Like I said Glo, look at the bigger picture, 4000 does not fill a roster that requires 4400, so the only way to make it work is to plug the holes disregarding the majority of requests and preferences, then it’s merely a case of lucky or unlucky.
You know this place works, they truely don’t give two sh1ts about what and where you bid for, we own you habibi, you are here to work, you should be grateful you lazy selfish pilot.
I wonder how much shouting has been going on up on the 9th floor as to why all these ungrateful pilots keep leaving.

I'm thinking there will be some head scratching the next few months as the seasonal peak of pilots leaving hits the books. Resign now, 3 months you are gone, nice summer leave and then start a new job in the Autumn.

Lo and Behold, an actual gitch
 

Just to update, there was an actual glitch in the bid production in April whereby some pilots Requests and Preferences were erased inadvertently, (not just mine!) and this has been acknowledged by Rostering.

If you feel that your Requests and Preferences were not honored in Top Bid, I recommend sending a note to Pilot Bid Help to have a look at it. They responded super fast, and were really helpful.

The more people report the problem the better chance it will be resolved at least for the next group, or your next top bid.

I wonder what the excuse for the May rosters will be.

21:30 and no May rosters
 

They must be burning the midnight oil, making sure we all get our top-bid preferences this time...

Is it true the Cabin Crew have received an email saying that the “glitch” is back and there will be no rosters until the 19th/20th?

Should be out on the 18th
 

While Flight Deck crew at least did not receive any mail, according to the Crew Pulse "newsfeed" the rosters will be out "by Wed. 18 April". Although this normally means no later than 23:59 on the 17th (ie "by" the 18th) I'm not holding my breath for tonight.

Meanwhile we can all rest easy in the knowledge, according to the newsfeed "this is within agreed timelines". Phew, Glad to know that, except nobody can be bothered to reveal what exactly the "agreed timelines" actually are, or where they are written down.

Newsfeed items don't even open for me.

halas