Your QOL at envoy depends on which of the four categories you fit into and they are ranked from best to worst;

1. Local Line holder
2. Local Reserve pilot
3. Commuting Line holder
4. Commuting Reserve Pilot

I've been in all four positions and I can say that without a doubt, a commuting reserve pilot is god-awful while the others are very manageable. Unfortunately, both our current management team and union leadership lack any sort of creativity in coming up with a mutually beneficial solution to the reserve problem. Management blames the union and the union blames management, all the while the commuting reserve pilots suffer the consequences.

My advise to potential new-hire commuters is if you can put up with being treated worse than dirt by crew scheduling during your stint on reserve, then come on over. Otherwise I would look elsewhere. If you live in Chicago, Dallas, or the NY area then it's a good place to start your career.