The EWR 4 O'Clock Pick Up

We attended orientation, learned a little more about CCS (Crew Communication System), and enjoyed a day off. However at 4PM if your a EWR reserve, your on CCS with your trigger finger over the enter button waiting on the stroke of 1600 to pick up an assignment. It happened so fast I couldn't believe it. 
Sharlene and I decided to pick up 1100 airport alert (standby) together. Well we pressed and it seemed that 3 hours went by as a wheel spun and the computer read executing. Eureka! I got it, but alas Sharlene didn't. ;-/ She went back in to try for 1030 it was long gone! The same with the trips. The Golden Pairings (trips that can't be bumped by a line holder) went first and the later checkins  disappeared just as quickly. Within three minutes there was nothing left to pick up. It was that fast. 
We learned something in that exchange, if you want to fly the couch together, pick up 1/2 hour apart.  For instance we should have chosen the 1030 and the 1100. We also learned that you have to have your hustle on to be a winner in the pick up game. 
Sharlene was assigned a 0430 airport alert but decided to wait for me and we are going to pick up together this afternoon at the airport. There is a terrific Houston Trip with a 22 hour layover. It has our name written all over it. Unless of course I get used today, then we will have another strategy session.


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