ROTA
ROTA Bidding
How to Access ROTA?
Crew Portal -> Daily Bids -> Reserves
Standby Bidding Tips
When bidding for standby sequences, use the criteria Report After and Report Before. This limits the report time to a certain window.
Ex: Report After 10:00am/Report Before 1400 will include all standby shifts which report between 10:01 am and 1:59 pm.
Below is an example of shifts you can be awarded with a Report After 1000 and Report before 1400 in LGA. Since the co-terminal criteria was not included in the bid, the only standby that would be considered is LGA:
ROTA/D only looks at the calendar day (0000-2359) when awarding standby shifts and not the reserve availability day (0200-0159).
Time that crosses midnight is seen in the same calendar day.
In the example below, a bid for an 1815-0015 standby shift could be awarded to a Flight Attendant who requests a release before 1900 because a 0015 release is before 1900 when only the calendar day is considered.
ROTA cannot recognize time into the next calendar day for standby preferences. It sees this award as fulfilling the request of a release before 1900 because 0015 is before 1900 within that same calendar day.Â
We have asked the Company to investigate alternative criteria choices which will lessen the confusion the Release Before criteria creates.
How to Access ROTA?
Crew Portal -> Daily Bids -> Reserves
Standby Bidding Tips
When bidding for standby sequences, use the criteria Report After and Report Before. This limits the report time to a certain window.
Ex: Report After 10:00am/Report Before 1400 will include all standby shifts which report between 10:01 am and 1:59 pm.
Below is an example of shifts you can be awarded with a Report After 1000 and Report before 1400 in LGA. Since the co-terminal criteria was not included in the bid, the only standby that would be considered is LGA:
ROTA/D only looks at the calendar day (0000-2359) when awarding standby shifts and not the reserve availability day (0200-0159).
Time that crosses midnight is seen in the same calendar day.
In the example below, a bid for an 1815-0015 standby shift could be awarded to a Flight Attendant who requests a release before 1900 because a 0015 release is before 1900 when only the calendar day is considered.
ROTA cannot recognize time into the next calendar day for standby preferences. It sees this award as fulfilling the request of a release before 1900 because 0015 is before 1900 within that same calendar day.Â
We have asked the Company to investigate alternative criteria choices which will lessen the confusion the Release Before criteria creates.
ROTA Waivers
- Allows you to waive to go over 35 hours in 7 calendar days.
- Only applied if you are awarded a sequence that puts you over 35/7
- Once applied, it is waived for the remainder of the contractual month.
- Why would you use it?
- Maybe you are trying to time out.
- Maybe you are looking for a specific trip that would put you over 35/7.
Waives to allow down to FAR minimum rest between sequences.
Allows you to be awarded into a FD /GD without reinstatement of day
Why would you use it?
- Maybe you are looking to time out and don't mind working a bit into a FD / GD if that means you are finished for the month.
- Maybe you are looking for a specific trip in Open Time that goes into an FD / GD.
If coming in from another sequence. Used to allow 2 sequences in a single calnedar day, separated by legal rest.
* May need to use other waivers to be awarded.
Why would you use this?
- Commuters looking to avoid spending the night in a hotel between sequences
- Maybe youare trying to time out and want to pack in as much time as possible.
- Maybe there is a specific sequence in Open Time that you would like, departing on the same day that you return from current sequence.
Allows you to be awarded consecutive RAPs with less than 11 Hours between.
If operational need doesn't require assigning RAPs with less than 11 hours between, ROTA will ensure that you have this time between consecutive RAPs.
Under these circumstances you would need to waive the 11 hours between.
Example:Â To get a RAP B starting at 6am after serving a RAP D that ended at 3am - you would need to waive.
Q. What is a modified RAP?Â
A. When you are released from a sequence you will have at least the contractual 12 hours rest before you can be assigned a RAP. If you are not legal for a full RAP, you can request a modified start time to your RAP.
Q. If I am not legal for a full RAP, how can I bid for a modified RAP?
A. If you would like a modified RAP, bid like you normally would for any full RAP in the future bid section.  A RAP will be modified based on the release time of your previous sequence plus applicable home based rest (HBR).
Q. Can I be assigned a modified RAP?
A. No, if you have not bid for a ROTA future RAP, you cannot be assigned a modified RAP. If you have not bid or have a standing bid for a RAP, they will not be considered a bid for a modified RAP.
Q. If I don’t bid but am legal for a full RAP will I be assigned a RAP?Â
A. Yes, you can be assigned a full RAP for which you are legal.
Q. If I bid for RAP A with a daily bid but I am not legal for a full RAP A, what will I be assigned?
A. You will be assigned a full RAP that you are legal for. Your bid for RAP A is a request for that RAP. Crew Scheduling may agree to award RAP A with a modified start time.
- Example:  FA has a daily bid for RAPs A, B, D, C. RAP A begins at 0200 however, FA’s rest does not end until 0400. Crew Scheduling may award you RAP A with a modified start time of 0401 or the full RAP B.
Q. If I bid for a RAP and am not legal for any full RAP’s, what will be the start time of the modified RAP?
A. The start time will be the point that you become legal at the end of your rest.
Example: If you are released from your sequence at 0600 but have placed a bid in ROTA and the last available RAP is from 1400 – 0200 that day, your modified RAP would be from 1800 (following 12 hours home rest) until 0200.
Q. If I’m not legal for a full RAP and do not request a modified RAP, what happens?Â
A. You cannot be assigned a modified RAP if you did not bid for a RAP in your daily bids. You will not be assigned a RAP and do not need to remain contactable to crew scheduling.
Q. I was awarded a full legal RAP and I am no longer legal for the full RAP due to actual operations, scheduled rest, or rescheduling, what happens?
A.  If you have already been awarded or assigned a RAP, Crew Scheduling will adjust the start time of the RAP without contacting the FA. You may call to request assignment to a later full RAP and Crew Schedule will move you to the next full RAP.
Q. If I will no longer be legal for RAP D due to actual operations, scheduled rest, or rescheduling, what happens?
A. If you become illegal for the full Rap D due to the above situations, Crew Schedule will remove you from the RAP.
- Notes: You are required to review and acknowledge all assignments/awards one hour after release from your first sequence and no later than the original start time of your RAP.  If you have not confirmed by the original start of your RAP, Crew Scheduling will call and you will have 15 minutes to confirm. If there is still no acknowledgement of the assignment after 15 minutes, you will be given a missed trip by Crew Scheduling.
Q. If I was assigned a sequence on my RAP tomorrow, and am no longer legal, what happens?
A. If you are no longer legal for your start of your RAP and were already assigned a sequence or standby shift within that RAP, you will not be removed from that assignment unless requested. You can request to be removed from the sequence or standby for contractual rest, if applicable. However you won’t be pay protected for the sequence.  You may call to request assignment to a later full RAP and Crew Schedule will move you to the next full RAP.
Standing Bids
A standing bid is a bid that you can put in once and it stays in the system until you remove it. An important thing to note is that once you input a current bid your standing bid will not be considered.
Bids in the following categories are considered standing bids:
• Standing Future Bids (ROTA)
• Standing Aggressive Bids (Daily)
Pick Up on FD / GD Bids
Looking to pick up on your off days for extra money? In addition to ETB, you may use the 'Pick up on FD / GD' option in ROTA.
Great for Red Flag pairings!
- Use if your following day is a FD / GD.
- May bid for Generic & Specific Sequences.
- Awarded sequences are Pay No Credit.
Reserves bidding for a sequence through the ‘Pick Up on FD/GD Bids’ tab will be processed only after all available reserves who are on RSV days have been processed.
Understanding ROTA's Processing Logic
Groupings in ROTA
Reserves are grouped according to their days of availability. Sequences are grouped by the number of calendar days the sequence touches. Groupings can open and close many times throughout the ROTA process:
- A grouping is open when there are more Reserves than sequences at the time the Reserve is processed. If your grouping is open, you can be awarded outside of your grouping, or be allowed to ROC*
- A grouping is closed when there are more sequences than reserves at the time the Reserve is processed. If your grouping is closed, you will be scheduled to a sequence within your grouping (awarded or assigned). If you include a ROC bid, you may be allowed to ROC*
ROTA processes in seniority order. When ROTA reaches your seniority, you will be scheduled (awarded or assigned) a sequence or allowed to ROC, if not required coverage (See ROC Tab above for more details).
A Reserve in a closed grouping may be awarded a sequence in a higher grouping, if the higher grouping is closed.
A Reserve may be awarded a sequence from a lower grouping when junior Reserves are available to cover open sequences in his/her grouping, without forcing a Reserve to work a day off.
ROTA processes in seniority order, so a more senior Reserve may be assigned a sequence bid by a more junior Reserve. ROTA awards/assigns in the same step; if a grouping is closed and a senior Flight Attendant must be assigned, ROTA will choose from all the open sequences. The junior Reserve’s bids will not be considered until ROTA processes his/her seniority.
Exception
A Reserve may be awarded a sequence outside of his/her grouping if it is an IPD, pure NIPD, or 1-day sequence with greater than 8.59 block hours, providing the award does not force another Reserve into a day off.
This exception does not apply between 15 November and 5 January
ROTA uses the steps below to schedule sequences and standby shifts. The Logic Details tab indicates the step used. It also shows the type of bid used (Future, Standing Future Bid or No Bid), and if any waivers were applied.
- During these steps, ROTA processes sequences and standby shifts in seniority order.
- After all sequences and standby shifts are scheduled, ROTA processes RAPs.
- ROTA will exclude any sequence not previously run through UBL.
Projected RAP and Standby Shift Published Times
Projected RAP times and standby shifts for each base including start time, length, and location are plublished in the monthly PBS Cover Sheet on Jetnet. Below are samples of what these look like.
The RAP Snake - Understanding RAP Processing
Why didn't I get the RAP I bid for?
After building the next month’s sequences, Manpower Planning sends the percentage of Reserves required in each Grouping/RAP to Crew Scheduling. The number of Reserves assigned to each RAP is based on these percentages. Below is a generic example of the charts used to determine the number of Reserves required for each RAP.
- Each RAP is processed individually in order to get the required allocated counts. RAP A, then B, then C and then D.
- Only once the RAP allocated count has attempted fulfilling its obligation will the system go to the next RAP.
- It will use the minimum amount of steps needed to fulfill the allocated count.
Step 1: Senior to Junior
Legalities
- Contractual rest from sequence or standby
- 11+ hours between RAPs
- Bids requesting and waiving to less than 11 hours between RAPs
- Will stop once the allocated count has been met
- If unable to fulfill the allocated count, it will go to the next step
Step 2: Junior to Senior
Less than 11 hours between RAPs
- Take away the 11 hours between RAPs
- Will continue only until the allocation count has been met
- If unable to fulfill allocated count, it will go to the next step to see if AA is offering Modified RAPs.
Step 3: Senior to Junior
Modified RAPs (not always available)
- Crew Scheduling has selected modification of RAP start time and the Reserve has selected a modififed start time waiver.
- Will continue only until the allocation count has been met.
ROTA and Speaker Processing
ROTA only schedules Speakers to Speaker sequences. If ROTA cannot schedule a Speaker sequence to a Speaker Reserve, it will remain unscheduled.
Speakers are scheduled in Steps 1 and 2. The highest open position in the cabin is assigned/awarded to the Speaker. Only bids that have the Speaker box checked are considered in these first two steps.
If a Speaker is not needed to cover open Speaker sequences, he/she is passed to Step 3 and scheduled with Non-Speakers.
Tips:
If you do not want to be assigned a Speaker sequence in Step 1, add ROC to your bid with the Speaker box checked. If you are not needed to cover open Speaker sequences, you will be passed to Step 3 and processed with Non-Speakers.
To be considered for both Speaker and Non-Speaker positions on a sequence, add the sequence with the Speaker Bid box checked, and again without the Speaker Bid box checked.
Month to Month Integration
If an assignment is required for a sequence continuing from one month to the next here is the order of assignment:
- First assign all Reserve to Reserve Flight Attendants.
- Next, assign all Reserve to Lineholder Flight Attendants, with no conflicts in LH month.
- Finally, assign Reserve to Lineholder Flight Attendants with conflicts in LH month.
ROTA Results and Reading Reports
ROTA begins processing at 1500 HBT and must be completed by 1930 HBT
Sequence/Standby Acknowledgement
Reserves must confirm their award/assignment of a sequence or standby (NOT RAPs) by 2230 HBT through Crew Portal. If you do not respond or acknowledge on Crew Portal, you will be removed and issued a trip-missed (TM).
If the reserve has already acknowledged an assignment and it subsequently changed, notification via positive contact (first party con-tact) will be made. A reserve will not be contacted between 0000 HBT and 0500 HBT, unless departure is within 3 hours or to pre-vent a delay.
Reading the ROTA Future Process Report
ROTA Future Process Report Video Walk Through
Future Process Results
 
Individual Flight Attendant Results: Bid Details
- Seniority allowed ROC – You were allowed to ROC
Individual Flight Attendant Results: Logic Details
Individual Flight Attendant Results: RAP Details
- Seniority allowed ROC – You were allowed to ROC
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...