Originally Posted by
robthree
Hey guys I'm looking for some info on your QOL, and have a few specific questions.
Any truth to the 'instant upgrade' rumor? Could a qualified new hire hold Captain just out of class? Would you go back to the schoolhouse or just switch seats?
wouldn't call it instant.. you have to have 100 hours with the company to upgrade, but yeah, pretty much once you have the time you can do it.. last vacancy still had captains upgrading that have been here just a few months.
How many days off do RSV guys get?
10 days of for rsv and line holders.
Can you swap your RSV/OFF days?
yes, you can move your reserve days and off days around... just make sure its legal.. like 1 in 7 off.
Can you bid for early or late reserve availability?
yes, you can bid for early and late reserve.
How long is the call out?
1 1/2 hours
Is there a long call?
no
How often do you sit ready reserve (aka hot, airport appreciation, etc)
really never,, once in a while they will have it, but i have never had to do it in almost 2 years, and i don't know anyone that has had to sit airport reserve.. now i had a trip cancel once, and if you call scheduling and say you want to sit ready reserve, then you will get full pay, instead of the dumb 50 percent cancellation pay.
Does scheduling assign trips as soon as they know you'll be working, or do they wait for the last second to notify you?
when i was on reserve i pretty much never got to a reserve day.. almost always had stuff scheduled a couple days in advance, but thats not to say they things wont change in the middle of your schedule.. remember, its reserve.
Is DTW the junior base?
yes
How long to hold a line?
in dtw a couple months or less, in mem forever, in msp a little less than forever..
How long for a "new hire Captain" to hold a line?
yeah, this is forever.. remember no matter where you go, if you are hired as a street captain, everyone is senior to you at the company.. even the fo with 250hrs.. so until everyone has upgraded that wants to ahead of you, you will be on reserve for a long, long time..
How many days off do line holders get?
10
Can you drop trips?
If so, how far down can you drop?
yes, if the timing is right.
Can you trade with open time?
yes, its pretty easy to do.
What is the flying like out of your domiciles? that is, do you tend to just fly to an out station and back to your domicile, or might an east coast crew end up out west on a multi day trip?
depends,, all i like to do are 2 day trips, so that all i bid.. i spend most of my time flying in and out of mem.. but i am literaly at home a TON.. its nice. go in at 12, get off at 8 the next morning, 94 hours of flying a month, 16-17 days off..
For line holders, is there a web site, or system to facilitate trip trades with other line holders and/or open time?
we use crewtrac.. you can see open time, people on reserve, etc, etc,..
In general, how do you feel about your layover hotels? And is the company responsive to complaints about bad hotels?
most are really nice.. some times we have dumb ones that are nice.. for example we stay at the embassy suites in mgm.. very nice hotel but 20 minute ride from the airport... they try not to have to many of these but i would say overall most the hotels are good... and i will put a plug in for the hampton inn cause they are the best.
Do you have access to any information which tells you what reserve coverage is available and what uncovered trips exist?
yes, crewtrac.
Anything else that you love or hate about the place?
Thanks
wish we had a contract, better pay, etc, etc.. i also wish mem wasn't so senior.. been here almost 2 years and still cant hold it.. lots of senior capts went to atlanta so hopefully in the next vacancy i will have a chance.... other than that my qol is great...but several things need to change, and hopefully will soon.