Preferential bidding systems
Hi folks,
My airline, under some duress, is considering implementing a preferential bidding system for pilot rosters. Can anyone who works under one offer any suggestions as to what works and what doesn't? I understand that there are some off the shelf software solutions... Are they any good? Are they stupid expensive? A good business case would have to be put forward as well.... Has anyone managed to sell the idea to management?! Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thx. |
Swissair bought a preferential bidding system from a canadian company called Adopt in the late 90's, with mixed success.
Implementing the complex rule system, a mix of JAA, various collective contracts and a relatively complicated set of possible bids was not only expensive, but cost us a lot of time and credit with the employees. Still, a notable improvement in general roster satisfaction was noticed after a few months of "tuning" and relentless instruction and marketing efforts. In the end, the ever-growing demands set upon the software to not only satisfy bids, but also introduce a "fair-share" element for free days and block hours, considerably diminished the system's capability to function. As far as I know, Swiss now operate with software tools from Jeppesen, and a somewhat simplified set of possible bidding. Final note: as a single first officer and bidding system instructor, I absolutely loved what the bidding system did for me: better sectors on short and long haul, and the occasional stroke of luck with multiple "leftover" off days being attributed in a lump. The feedback from the guys with big families, part time contracts, other constraints or simply a bad case of "schedule envy" were far less positive at the time. Really final note: I'm not aware of an off-the-shelf software solution being available for bidding system, and I can't imagine such a system being affordable for a small or medium-sized outfit.... |
A bidding system that has three possible bids, High Bid, Medium Bid and Low Bid which rotate each month throughout the crew is fair but difficult.
A bid system that only uses seniority as the basic start point, (QANTAS did, I believe), is very unfair in both quality of trip and earnings to junior people until they rise up the seniority pole. Friend of mine with a B747 command in QF, after nineteen years service, could still only bid standby lines, may all have changed now. |
A 747 Command after only 19 years, he should be so lucky! :}
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He had his command on the B743 and none of the senior men were volunteering for the -400 when it first arrived so junior capts were able to bid and, for a while, enjoyed the full (but limited) roster, but once the -400 had settled in, had all the cream trips, simulator in Sydney etc. the senior guys opted for the -400 and the junior guys, like my friend, slid back down the bidding pole! :)
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I would dread to be in a company with a bidding system that is based solely on seniority. The outfit I work for has a rotating bid system which seems to be a more popular way of doing things when speaking to those that have experienced both methods. I chatted to a friend who works for a company who has a seniority based bidding system and they recently spent their first Christmas at home for a few years whilst I have had three out of the four past Christmas Days at home and I more of less wrote my own roster for last December. I am only half of the way up the seniority list on my fleet as well in the RHS.
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