7.01.15 – (LUS) – JIRC Weekly Update – Crewportal, ETB, Training Bidding System, PHX, Bidding

This Past Week:

Friday, June 26th, there was a company-wide network problem that caused multiple system issues among different workgroups, not just Flight Attendants. For us though, it predominantly affected the Crewportal access from any non-company computer. The JIRC was included in on what was happening throughout the entire day. During the network issue, not everyone could access the Crewportal and ETB, so the decision was made to suspend the ETB until the problem was resolved to ensure that everyone had access to posted trips.

Also this week, the JIRC was involved in testing some updates to the Training Bidding System. Because the PHX Training Center will be closing at the end of July for Flight Attendant training, PHX FA’s CQ (Recurrent Training) will become a 2-day CQ Training in DFW beginning August 1st. The change to a 2-day CQ training that includes travel had to be tested within the Training Bidding System to ensure that it was responding properly to bidding for a 2-day event instead of the previous 1-day training events. This change currently only affects PHX FAs. When bidding for DFW 2-day training, the bid date is the origination date of the training event.

*Note – If you have CQ Training in August, do not forget to bid for your desired training dates in the Training Bidding System, which can be found under the “Bids/Trades/Claims” tab in PBS. Bidding for August is available July 2 at 1200 HDT until July 8 at 1200 HDT.

Tip of the Week: How to Bid in a Holiday Month

Prior to PBS implementation, the Company built “hard” Lines. The senior F/As that had Vacation over the Holiday could bid and be awarded a Line that held a Pairing over the Holiday. This allowed more Junior F/As to hold the Holiday off in a Line. Now PBS, can take into account how many pairing positions are left to be covered and it will start forcing coverage in the seniority list at the point where there are an equal number of positions and F/As left.

It is better to be Awarded a Pairing in Layer 7 that you bid for than be assigned something that was left over. The best strategy to use during a Holiday month is this: If you are not 100% sure that you can hold the Holiday off, your layers 6 and/or 7 should not have the Holiday requested off and should include the types of trips that you are willing to work over that Holiday. This will ensure that all of your other Pairing and Line Properties are honored because PBS will not have to go to a None-layer to finish your award.

About Us:

Meet the JIRCs:

In Solidarity,

Laura, Scott and Emily
Your Joint Implementation Resolution Committee (JIRC)