Ive had luck unscrewing the glass view cup for waste water just a bit. You can hear the air leaking past it, and eventually it stops.

Ive also started leaving the drain plug open when first starting the pool, I think it helps the water enter the filter while pushing the air out the drain. Judging by how much time it takes to fill my pump to the top (basically there is ZERO air in it, if you look in the top it actually looks like the water is invisible), leaving the drain plug open for a few minutes and cracking the glass cup open a little helps eliminate a lot of the "startup" air in the system.

I dont have a little bleed valve though, really would have been nice if I did. I guess Hayward stopped for cost cutting measures?