4.13.19 – APFA JSIC Update – PBS Target Credit Range – Minimum/Maximum Credit

Saturday, April 13, 2019

How does PBS determine if there will be a target credit range maximum or minimum?

PBS starts with a Target Line Average (TLA). The TLA is set by the Company and per the Contract, it must be within 75-85 hours at all bases. (JCBA Section 10.D.13.e)

Prior to awarding any bids, PBS looks at all the target credit ranges (TCR) that each Lineholder had bid in layer 1 to determine how many hours can be awarded below/above the TLA. In the explanation below, we will use 75 hours as the TLA.

It is important to bid a TCR in layer 1 that you desire. If you do not bid a TCR it will default to 70-90 hours.

If you have more Flight Attendants bid a TCR below 75, than you have bidding above 75 hours, then you may have a minimum credit required in the base.

If you have more Flight Attendants with a TCR bid above 75, than you have bidding below 75 hours you may have a maximum credit allowed in the base.

An example of this would be to look at the TCR bid by 10 Flight Attendants. 5 Flight Attendants bid a TCR of 65 hours, and 5 bid a TCR of 85 hours. Because an equal number of hours were bid above and below 75 hours PBS would award all 5 flight attendants 65 (low option) and would allow an equal number of bidders to be awarded 85 hours.

The low bid option is 40-69 hours and high bid option is 91-110 hours. In this example we would have 5 low bidders, and 0 high bidders because those Flight Attendants who were awarded 85 hours are not considered the high option.

In some bases there may be more Flight Attendants bidding a high TCR than a low TCR.  In that case, PBS balances the number of bidders allowed over 75 (TLA) with the number of hours bid below 75.

Below is an example of when ”Allowed maximum line credit value” would be listed on the top of your reason report.

10 Flight Attendants total
8 bid TCR 85 hours
2 bid TCR 65 hours

Results
2 awarded TCR 85 hours
6 awarded TCR 75 hours – reason report – Allowed Maximum line credit value: 75:00
2 awarded TCR 65 hours

In some bases there may be more flight attendants bidding a low TCR than a high TCR. In that case, PBS balances the number of bidders allowed below 75 (TLA) with the number of hours bid above 75.

Below is an example of when  “Required minimum line credit value” would be listed on the top of your reason report.

10 Flight Attendants total
8 bid TCR 65 hours
2 bid TCR 85 hours

Results
2 awarded TCR 65 hours
6 awarded TCR 75 hours – reason report – Required minimum line credit value: 75:00
2 awarded TCR 85 hours

Remember when bidding in PBS to bid for a TCR range you would prefer to hold. If you prefer 85-90, even though it is in the default credit range of 70-90 it is important to add that TCR to your bid, otherwise you could end up with a TCR anywhere between 70-90.