Viperstick

Looking for feedback from 777/787 reserve commuters, especially EWR & ORD.

How often are you used, how often assigned short call, how easy to aggressive pick up, how much notification do you usually get before a trip, are you farmed out to other domiciles (DH at front/back of trip), when do trips usually depart, how much time you're in domicile/on a trip in a given month? Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated.

cadetdrivr

I'm pretty sure the 787 reserves in ORD and EWR don't get called much these days.

Viperstick

Thanks, looking for feedback elsewhere too, but especially interested in EWR & ORD.

Got anything constructive to add?

SUX4U

Don't suppose you happened to look at where the 787 is based before asking the original question right?

Dave Fitzgerald

Ok, We'll leave out the 787. ORD 777.

Coverage these days is pretty good. Used about half the time. Crew desk builds as many long calls as there are reserves, so essentially, if you are not on days off, they will put you on short call if you don't have a trip right away.

Yes they do farm you out to the other domiciles. When they do that, make sure you are booked first class for the DH.

Almost can't use aggressive pickup because they will put you on short call ASAP and then that's an assignment. Can't pickup over that.

Notification before a trip? It's all over the map. mostly 12-14 hrs out because you are on short call. Then they call to release you from short call to either give you another short call the next day, or the trip. Usually wait till the last possible moment to give the next day assignment.

Check the bid packages for trips. There is one morning HNL, and a SFO 2-day. Most everything else departs in the afternoon with Sao Paulo in the evening.

Next time to not give these guys any openings, check the easy stuff on your own first.

Viperstick

So as a commuter, you're in domicile/on a trip your entire reserve block?

cadetdrivr

Not a thing...a cheap shot was available some took it.

Dave Fitzgerald

Sorry, for the confusion, "Crew desk builds as many long calls as there are reserves." Should have said short calls.

Depends on where you are commuting from, you didn't say. 1 leg, 2 legs?

Commuting to ORD is pretty easy, EWR I would imagine would be easy as well. Lots of flights, most times of the day. However, be careful. There are some holes. The earliest you can do something after days off is 10 am. Crew desk sometimes will give you a 10 am short call. If coming from the west, you can't get there early enough on the same day and requires the night before arrival. Keep in mind the FOM commuting policy. Have to have backups.

Depending you your home, long call can be done from home with the caveat of above. Short call, well, the crew desk loves those. I commuted to ORD for 8 months, and got exactly 3 extra days off at home instead of sitting in domicile. It doesn't mean I was flying, I was sitting short call about half the time.

If you are commuting from EWR to home farther west, some trips get back late enough you may not be able to get home on the same day. Long call release on the last day is 10 am, but that won't ever happen because they will give you a short call. Short call automatic release is 1500, much more likely.

For the record, cheap shots, anyone can make. It takes skill and cunning to have someone, and everyone except them can see it.

pilotgolfer

Viperstick,

Nobody has stated the obvious. Commuting to reserve sucks. And to make it self induced...you are just asking for it.

Dave Fitzgerald

Well, if he is a new hire, it may not be self induced and no options. From his initial question, he certainly has not been here long. But yes, reserve royally sucks the big one. Contract time...