4.03.26 – Contract Implementation Update #55: Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft

Friday, April 3, 2026

Contract Implementation Update #55:
Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft
(CBA 10.D.13.d.30)

After our successful mock bid, the Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft is ready for implementation just in time for Summer flying! This new property will be available for May bidding on April 10, 2026.

Important: This property does not filter your sequences to only show the selected aircraft. 

For example, if you bid:

Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft [787-9] Position 2, you are telling PBS:

“If I am awarded a sequence originating on a 787-9, I prefer Position 2.”

You are not telling PBS:

“Only award me sequences on a 787-9 in Position 2.”

If you’d like to filter your sequences by aircraft, you can continue to use the Prefer Aircraft property or specific bidding. Always check your Pairing Pools under the Layer tab to ensure you are bidding the sequences you intend to bid.

Other FAQs From Our Mock Bid

Q1. If I bid ‘Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft’ and the generic ‘Prefer Positions Order’ in the same layer, which position order will PBS use?

A. If you are awarded a sequence originating on the aircraft specified in the Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft, PBS will use the per aircraft position order. If the sequence does not originate on any aircraft chosen with that property, it will use the Prefer Positions Order.

Q2. If I bid Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft twice in the same layer on the same aircraft, which position order will PBS use?

A. Just like Prefer Positions Order, it is not recommended to bid the same per aircraft positions order in the same layer multiple times as PBS will not guarantee which position order it will use. While you can use the property multiple times in the same layer, make sure you are bidding different per aircraft and not repeating.

Q3. If I bid Prefer Positions Order per Aircraft [737] position 1, and, in the same layer, bid Prefer Positions Order position 2, will PBS award me position 2 on a 737 if I cannot hold 1 in that layer?

A. No, PBS will only consider the position order bid for that aircraft if you specify using the per aircraft property. It will not consider the generic position order.

Property Details

Prefer Positions Order by Aircraft is a new PBS property negotiated in the 2024 CBA that allows you to specify a position order preference on different types of aircraft. This property may be used in the same layer, so you may specify a different preferred position order on a 787-9 than a 777-200!

When a sequence contains multiple legs, the first working leg of the sequence will be the type of aircraft used when determining which Prefer Positions Order by Aircraft bid to use.

This property is available under the Pairing tab:

After selecting the property, you may enter your Positions Order and the Aircraft type you are bidding this position order for:

You may use this property multiple times in the same layer to specify a different position order on different aircraft or sub-fleet. Keep in mind, everything bid in the same layer is considered equal.

Join Us for an Informational Session!

The APFA CIC will be hosting an informational session on April 10, 2026, at 1230 PM (CT). Join us as we review using the new property in PBS. We are available to answer any questions you may have!

This session will be recorded for those who cannot view live and posted to APFA.org.

Click Here to Join the Microsoft Teams Meeting
Meeting ID: 215 040 179 236 46
Passcode: FM3K5xn9

In Unity,

Ashleigh Harbison
LAX

Hunter Meredith
PHL

Mike Sosa
DFW

Contact the CIC