Originally Posted by
Crawl
Understand the frustration. I've been on reserve almost 3 years now, but I can say that compared to my last regional, work rules are still better at envoy.
The hotels in base are huge for many of us. No longer have to spend $200+ on crashpads or motel 6's/red roof inns/etc. out of pocket. No longer worry about those cheap hotels filling up on bad weather/high cancellation days and sleeping in the crew room. Many of the hotels they use have free breakfast.
I don't know about you, but I am able to proffer for commutable trips or late reserve reports/early finishes so I almost never commute the day before or day after.
I haven't been turned back or JM'd since last Spring when staffing seemed to be an issue. Lately, most of the flying I've done on reserve is 1 leg - 30 hour layover - 1 leg. For reserve, that is rather ideal, though not for a lineholder.
The numbers of retirements/flow projections are based on objective data. Pending no unforeseen extreme circumstances, we are in a good spot. May be hard to accept that, but things are going to get better.
I agree that positive things are in the not too distant future. The hotels do help ease the financial blow of commuting to reserve.
My reserve experience was good until all the flying dried up and CS began pre assigning both 4am and 10 am RAPS for day 1 of a block. Now I commute the day prior every week with the occasional JM on my last day.
As much as I would love to transplant my family and move to base, it will never happen at the rate bases disappear at envoy