Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom

Herk,

You make an interesting point, but if the intent was reserve coverage for 15-day international trips, why wasn't the ALV+15 concession limited to international categories? I surmise because DAL thought it had a domestic benefit as well.

To me, anyway, the combination of ALV+15, a seventh short call day and the 30 day bid periods in the summer months all add up to potential "reserve h*ll".

I've been on reserve when the company is short staffed and it's not fun. You're literally flying a trip, on short call or on X-days. And with reserve pilots getting different credit for the same trip - they work a lot of days.

I'm fortunate in that I'm senior enough to hold a "decent" regular line. Since last fall I've been voluntarily bidding reserve most months. However there is no way I'll bid reserve in the summer.

I realize some categories may not be getting much usage from their reserve pilots but that's decidedly not the case in mine (SLC A-320A). Just looking at the availability list for today: Five pilots available. Two in RAW group two. Two in RAW group three. One in RAW group four (and he's the most senior pilot on reserve this month, IIRC). Of the total number of short calls that could be assigned so far to this group of pilots 68% have been used. Guys aren't growing beards on reserve here...