The Trip Trading Game

Number of Players: 1-5000, depending on your domicile size and seniority.

Object: To get the very best schedule and trips possible via trades with Open Flying.

Tools: Unimatic, some common sense, and a lot of patience.

Duration: Five minutes to thirty days each month, depending on your seniority and motivation.

The Basic Play:

• The trading game begins on the next to last day of the schedule month before the month you wish to trade trips within.  Example: you want to trade some trips in December.  You must have your trades in the computer before the trading game begins at 0001 on November 29th.
• The game continues at 0001 on the last day of the schedule month before the month wish to trade trips within.  Example: you want to trade some trips in December.  You must again have your trades in the computer before the second run at 0001 on November 30th.
  • Thus: Trades are run at 0001 on the next to the last day of the schedule month and again at 0001 on the last day of the schedule month---before the month you are wishing to trade trips within.
  • Thus: In the example above, you must have trades in the computer by 0001 on November 29 for the first run, and again in the computer by 0001 on November 30 for the second run.
• The game then ups the stakes by allowing you two different periods to have your trades awarded: 0001 and 1000 each day of the month you are trading within.  Example: beginning on December 01, the trades for trips in December are run at 0001 and again at 1000 of that day.  Then this exact same process continues on December 2, 3, 4, 5, etc... until the end of the month, where the game begins anew for January as described above.

How to Get Started:

• Learn how to enter in trades via DSPFAI.  Once you know how to do this, come back and continue reading.
• Know your domicile's open trade allotment cold.  For discussion purposes, we're going to assume that your domicile has both domestic and international flying.
• Begin by pulling up all the open trips via the OPNTRP command.  Whether you are domestic or international, you want to initially trade for the operation with the most allotments.  At LAX, for example, it's far, far better to have international trips because that operation's  allotment doesn't fill up as quickly---and you will have an easier time moving out of them throughout the month.
• Enter as many trades as possible, up to your maximum limit of 63 on file per each run.

Game Rules:

• You can trade one trip for one trip.  You can trade two or more trips for one trip.  And you can trade one trip for two or more trips.  Keep in mind that those separate trips must fall one after the other.
• Keep in mind that your trades must be for equal or greater days.  You may not trade a trip for a trip with less days; like a three-day Orlando for a one-day Denver turn.  You are, however, allowed to trade for a trip equal to or more days: a one-day Denver turn for a five-day Sydney.  Of course, you must have the hours available in your monthly maximum and enough days off.
• Opting to your quarterly maximum is automatic (90/180/255).
• Your 1-in-7 and 30-in-7 legalities are automatically waived.
• 24-in-7 may not be waived.
• Remember that you must have the proper qualification in order to be awarded a specific position (e.g., Purser or Language).

Special Consideration for Open Flying Allotment:

• The Open Flying Allotment fills up fast.  In fact, nothing on this planet is more annoying to watch than a domicile's Open Flying Allotment fill up within the first five days of the month.
• When considering the Open Flying allotment, remember that the quota is based on days you are trying to trade out of.  It doesn't affect days you are trying to trade into.  This is extremely important to remember when arranging your trade preferences.  If you had a two-day trip on October 14th, you would be unable to trade out of that trip with Open Flying (if the allotment is full on October 15th).  However, if you had a two-day trip on October 19th, you may trade out of that trip and into a trip on October 7th (if that allotment was open), for instance.  Confused?  For a visual example, see DSPOPN.
• Our current contract allows for not less than 3% of the active flight attendant population for each type of flying assigned to the domicile.  The maximum is 70 slots on any given day, with fractional numbers rounded up.  Of course, "If the needs of the service permit, Onboard Scheduling may allow the daily allocation to be exceeded."
• Same day trades have a set of different allotment amounts.  This allotment is 10% above the 3% allotment mentioned earlier.  In other words, Same Day trades will be processed beyond the 3% allocation up to the maximum of 10%.  You can view your domicile's Same Day trade allotment with Open Flying on a screen called SAMDAY.

Tips for Better Game Play

• Out of fear of attacks on my life by junior flight attendants, I'm not going to publish all my secrets and tips for trading with Open Flying.  Rather, I'll point you in the right direction (as F/As  once did for me) and you will soon learn them on your own.
• Here are the top five 'Pointers in the Right Direction' for trading with Open Flying:
  1. Get the hell out of domestic whenever possible.  The allotment is usually better in international, and this will buy you more time to trade later in the month.
  2. Have some guts.  The courage, if you will, to trade into a trip that you may not want right now for the possibility of getting out of that trip later on.  Of course, this could backfire (and often does) but when it works...ah sweet music!
  3. Never miss the first few trade runs, ever.  This is your best time to get something before the allotment fills up.
  4. Place the maximum number of trades possible, up to 63.  Yes, this will take a long time to do, but you want some good trips don't you?  Also, remember to delete your trades often and don't wait until the last minute!
  5. Pull up DSPREQ often and make sure that your trades were 'looked at' during the trade run.  There is a time stamp next each one on the details screen of the particular trade.  If you had your trade submitted by the cut-off time, and the Open Flying trades have already been run, you should see a reason your trade was rejected next to the trade request.  If you were skipped (as has happened on occasion to me) then notify Crew Desk.  Do not pass Go.  Do not collect $200.00.  Speak to a supervisor directly.  Follow the conversational techniques outlined in Business Speak

Remember that trip trading with Open Flying is a 80% seniority and 20% technique.  It may take forever and a day, but your seniority will eventually come.  However, you can quickly improve your technique right now.  So get out there and play the trading game.  Good luck...

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