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[ATTENTION] PBS Committee Special Update – PBS bidding is temporarily suspended

Friday, February 6, 2015 @ 1030 PT

Incorrect pairings file requires a completely system shutdown and reload

 

Due to an inadvertent error, the incorrect pairings file was loaded into Navtech’s PBS. A complete system shutdown is required in order to load the correct pairings file. This is anticipated to take approximately two hours.

 

Bidding will not resume until at least noon PT and bids will close 12 noon PT February 11th

 

Bidding will not resume until at least noon Pacific Time, so the close of bids will be extended (from the normal 9am PT on February 10th) to 12 noon PT on February 11th. At this time the Joint PBS Committee is anticipating that bid awards will still be on time despite the 24-hour extension to the closing of bids.

 

Pairing numbers and/or layover cities will change in some cases

 

Because the pairings file will be a different file, some pairing numbers and/or layover cities within the same pairing numbers will change. AFA recommends that you take a very close look at your bid prior to submitting it—particularly if you bid by pairing number.

 

More information forthcoming on Company media outlets

 

Please check the Company media outlets (Navtech’s PBS, Inflight Splash page, bulletins and/or Outlook email) for more information as it becomes available.

PBS Update April 5, 2014 – 1415 PDT: Problem with May Bids Due to New Aircraft Codes Resolved

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

Bidding in Navtech’s PBS has re-opened and the bidding deadline extended to 12 noon PDT on April 10th.

 

This is from Inflight Bulletin 2014-0071 “May Bids Reopened – New Aircraft Codes Added”:


“Fleet planning has added new aircraft-type designator codes for aircraft that
have been through the fleet modification. These new aircraft types were not
added to PBS prior to bids opening at 9am on April 5th. Consequently bidding
was shut down at 1120am April 5th to add these new aircraft type codes.

Bidding reopened at 1:45pm PDT April 5th and will be extended until 12noon PDT
April 10th.

Here are the definitions of the new aircraft types:

8EX is the 73H (non-ETOPS 737-800) with 6 extra seats
9WX is the 737-900 with 9 extra seats w/winglets
9EX is the 737-900 with 9 extra seats

If you use Aircraft Type in your bid, check to make certain if these new
aircraft codes need to be added to your Award or Avoid statements.
Questions can be sent to PBS Q&A on FirstClass.”

 

There will be no further updates regarding this issue unless warranted.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow; and

 

Your AFA PBS Committee—Stephen Poynter and Rebecca Asbell

MEC 5B Logo

PBS Update April 5, 2014 – 1300 PDT: Problem with May Bids Due to New Aircraft Codes

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

A problem has been identified with the May pairings that is affecting bidding. Consequently, bids have been locked in Navtech’s Preferential Bidding System (PBS) and the Joint PBS Committee is working quickly to resolve the issue. Bidding will reopen as soon as possible and the bidding deadline will be extended.

 

What is known so far is that unbeknownst to Crew Planning and the Joint PBS Committee, several new aircraft codes were loaded into the system:  8EX, 9WX and 9EX. The Joint PBS Committee began investigating the codes as soon as they were discovered. They have found out that these codes are related to aircraft that have been reconfigured with extra seats (the ‘X’)—nine seats on the -900 and six seats on the -800—and the new scimitar shaped winglets (the ‘W’).

 

Because many Flight Attendants bid by aircraft type, not addressing the issue would most likely significantly impact bid awards. Stand by for further updates!

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow; and

 

Your AFA PBS Committee—Stephen Poynter and Rebecca Asbell

 

MEC 5B Logo

April 2014 Pairings Report and Statistics

Crew Planner John Bumanglag’s  D position pairings and the AFA 3 position pairings were selected for April.

There is a schedule change on April 6th and also Mexico Daylight Saving Time starts on that day.  You may note minor flight time changes on this date.  Another Schedule change happens April 27th.  Some seasonal warm destination flights end for the season on these dates. More detail below.

Here are comments specific to each base.

SEA–   High time turns continue to MSP/MCI/TUS/ and DFW.  Also STL goes back to a turn starting April 6th.  Popular two day trips to PHL/FLL/EWR/BOS and DCA continue daily.  SJD and PVR nonstops run through April 26 before ending for the season.  Long MCO layovers are frequent.  Long KOA layovers 3 days/week as well.

PDX–   Two day trips to BOS and DCA operate daily.  AM LAS turn, mid AM PHX and DFW turn run daily as well.  PDX loses KOA and LIH nonstops April 27th until next November. OGG all nighter goes from daily to 3 days/week April 27th.

ANC–  HNL and ORD nonstops continue daily.  Overall TFP looks good. ANC loses OGG and KOA nonstops April 5th for the season.

LAX–  BUR has a nice variety of trip lengths and Hawaii layovers are frequent.  LAX-YVR turn 703/702 is back daily!  DCA two day and high time Mexico turns continue. SNA turns continue as well.

SAN–  BOS two days run daily.  OGG will really be a two day starting April 6th.  HNL continues to release after midnight so is one day longer than it appears.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  Please see attached April pairing stats.

Your Crew Planning Team,

Jeff Stein
AFA Pairing Analyst

Kelly Yeager
Crew Planner

John Bumanglag
Crew Planner

 

April Pairing Statistics

Apr 2014 Pairing Stats

March 2014 Pairings Report and Statistics

Crew Planner John Bumanglag’s  D position pairings and the AFA 3 position pairings were selected for March.

  • The bid month begins March 2nd
  • Daylight savings time begins March 9th.  This coincides with a large schedule change where you will see many minor flight time changes as well as some flight number changes.
  • Some flights that have seen reductions for the winter months will resume or return to daily as of March 9th.  These include ANC-ORD and BOS-SEA and PDX and SEA-EWR market.  Also the 3rd ONT-SEA flight will come back which brings back the morning pairing out of ONT.
  • Horizon begins operating in Alaska March 3rd.  They primarily will fly ANC-FAI with one daily flight ANC-ADQ.  We have some D position pairings with deadhead on Horizon for March.

Here are comments specific to each base.

SEA-  Two day pairings continue daily to DCA(2x)/PHL/PVR and SJD nonstop and FLL.  High time turns continue daily to MCI/TUS/DFW and MSP(2x).

PDX-  Two day pairings continue daily to KOA and DCA.  They resume daily to BOS March 9th.  AM LAS turns, mid AM PHX and DFW turns run daily as well.

ANC-  ANC-ORD resumes daily March 9th.  ANC-HNL nonstop continues daily.

LAX-  DCA two day and high value Mexico turns continue daily.  TFP overall looks better than previous months.  ONT RON flight resumes March 9th so trips out of there should be more normal.  SNA has frequent turns per FA feedback.

SAN-  BOS two day operates daily.  As a reminder OGG and HNL-SAN both currently duty off after midnight so the trip is actually one day longer.  So though it may look like a two or three day…it’s really a three or four day for bidding purposes.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  Please see attached March pairing stats.

Your Crew Planning Team

Jeff Stein
AFA Pairing Analyst

Kelly Yeager
Crew Planner

John Bumanglag
Crew Planner

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