Just a side note—also former corporate guy here—you do have the ability to give away reserve blocks and/or trade a block for a trip in TTGA (trip trade/give away).

I was hired just over two years ago and had a decent amount of success immediately putting every reserve block up for giveaway AND trade with the remarks “trade for any PM trip.”

Many times, I ended up with either somebody picking up my reserve block (which allowed me then to pick up a giveaway trip) or getting a trip in trade.

In both cases, once I ended up with a trip, I was able to trade that trip in ELITT, or again in TTGA.

Or, if my block was picked up I was able to bid on open time at straight pay (which pays a newhire at second year rates).

I was a commuter on reserve, and having even a crappy trip (AM or PM) traded gave me some leverage on my schedule.

Yes, it didn’t always work.

Yes, we have many more pilots on property now than two years ago, and it is harder to give away.

But! If you don’t try, it won’t happen.

Look on the bright side! Compared to corporate “on call 24/7” life, once your reserve trip is done, you don’t have to clean/stock/fuel/make the schedule/negotiate training contracts/arrange catering/rental cars/submit expense receipts/defend your $30 lunch after dropping off 1 pax with an $800 ramp fee and $4000 in fuel plus $2500 deicing fees, etc.

You just...go home.