Are certain routes more desirable due to flight departure times or length? Do pilots get to choose what routes based on seniority?
Also if a pilot can’t fly their scheduled flight do they have an on call pilot that picks up that shift?
In: Engineering
It’s company specific in how the bidding process works, but generally yes, you can bid on some specific things, like where you might overnight during a trip.
Overnights are in the eye of the beholder. I personally like to stay in the United States, but my personal bidding strategy is to get the highest amount of credit (hours worked,hence pay) in the shortest time possible. A friend of mine likes Europe, so she bids that constantly. Another friend I have bids for overnights where he lives (he commutes)so he goes home during a trip.
Many pilots commute to work, meaning they live far away from their base (where their trips start from), so they usually bid on a commutable schedule, one that allows them to fly in (jumpseat) on the day they start work, and go home on the day they finish work. Commuting generally sucks FYI.
Yes, if a pilot calls in sick, there are pilots on reserve call ready to be assigned. They have to be at the airport within a certain amount of time. Generally there are always several/many pilots ready to go and must answer their phone when called.
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