So this makes a little more sense now. We have a terminology problem. What you are describing is not a "day off", what you are describing is mandatory release language. Yes - I would agree that there is room for improvement. This kind of miscommunication is why I am pushing for those on here to propose specific fixes so we can discuss them...not just yell from your keyboard about generic "IMPROVEMENTS!"

For the benefit of those that aren't here yet or are new, under the Alaska contract you have 12 days off that start 4 hours after the end of your zone. You get a 5 day block a 3 day block and 2 - 2 day blocks on every reserve line. The company may not EVER encroach on your 5 or 3 day block and may encroach on one of your two day blocks.

If they do encroach one of your two days off, YOU have the option of either getting paid 150% or having the day off restored. Once they encroach in one of your 2 day blocks, they cannot encroach on the other one.

If you have not been assigned by 4 hours prior to the end of your RAP you are automatically released if you are going into days off.

The two examples offered here are what JetBlue has and what Virgin had. Just because I don't understand the obsession with "calendar day" off language, does not mean I don't think there is room for improvement in the reserve section of our contract.

JetBlue - I am taking the poster at his word that they bid for zones on a daily basis. Sorry, I am not willing to take that bullet. Perhaps we can negotiate to include some lines that start with a late zone and progress to an early zone that people can bid on...but for an across the board "bid for your zone everyday" change, I think most pilots would consider that a non-starter.

Virgin America: You were off at midnight...as long as they didn't need you. You could still be made to fly, albeit at 150%.

So at VX you start your zone at 1630 and you are off at midnight...if they didn't call you. But they could call you...so this is not a guaranteed start of a day off but an automatic-release. Not the same thing.

So let's say that you were able to negotiate "calendar day" off language and plop it in our contract. All that would happen is the company would simply adjust the zones. Our late zone would be 1000-0000 and our early zone would start at 0000-1400. It would effectively be the same amount of time off for any reserve pilot. The contractual - "rearranging chairs on the Titanic."

If you REALLY want to improve reserve...

Shorten the zones -- VX had 8 hour zones, I think that is a good starting point.

Bid for days offs and zones - "PBS" for reserve. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your days off for your zone, or your zone for your days off. You should be able to exercise your seniority and bid for both.

Stop the practice of extending reserves. Once you are on a trip, a reserve pilot should be operating under the same rules as everybody else. At the end of your trip you should get your 12 hours off and then be assigned per the "assignment of open-flying" section of the contract. You should not be reassignable at the whim of scheduling.

More days off on reserve - we should AT LEAST have 13 days off during a 31 day month. We shouldn't be working for free one day every-other month.

Guaranteed calendar days off? Show me something workable that I can get behind. Midnight is just an arbitrary line on the clock, why assume that it is best for everybody?