It really varies depending on staffing in each individual bid period. This month reserves were somewhat fat staffed in JFK (reserve grid mostly green initially). June the entire reserve grid is red so we are short on reserves according to the company. I expect to fly a bunch next month. On average I'd say I fly between 50-70 flight hours a month when I am not bidding night ops (CDO/CNO...you'll come to know those abbreviations later but one doesn't fly much on those schedules). Since we have a minimum day credit though of 4 hours and a ready reserve shift at the airport gives you that credit I routinely break min guarantee pay. You can expect to fly at least once in a reserve period based on my experience...however that could be a full 4 day trip, or as little as a deadhead to cover one live flight. It truly is a cr*p shoot on reserve. What I am seeing now is it takes about 20 people below you to get off reserve in JFK. The exact number of reserves varies seasonally (summer less reserves, winter many more reserves), but 20 is a good ballpark number. Our last vacancy has 20 slots for JFK FOs so for new hires already with base assignments that likely means a line for them...and a line for me probably by July! Hope this helps.

-W-