T Bone:

In my view reserve does not suck, especially when compared to the lack of control a pilot has over his life while serving his Country.

It is much easier if you live in domicile and can avoid a sometimes stressful commute as well as sit time away from home.

Delta's reserve system allows you to get into the system to see where you are on the list of reserve pilots and even put in preferences for trips you want, (which are sometimes granted depending on your seniority and other factors). Trading days off can be done but in reality, it rarely works out. You will quickly learn how to raise, or lower, your raw score and move around on the list to manipulate the system to meet your needs. (don't even worry about it until training is over)

As a new hire who only cares about Saturdays off, I bid and get what I want 50 to75% of the time. I also try to get certain trips and usually fly fewer legs than my friends who hold a schedule.

Your wife, or significant other, has similar pass benefits to yours, so they can meet you on a trip if the stretch away from home becomes too much. Delta stays in nice hotels on the longer layovers - the wife and I have seen Broadway plays, Disney, Boston and the San Antonio riverwalk while out flying reserve rotations.

Overall, I will probably continue to bid reserve until I can hold better trips. I fly a 2, a 3, or occassionally a 4 day trip usually only once a week with fairly senior Captains. Most days have a 12 hour call out - so mostly those days are a day off until assigned a rotation for the next day. It isn't bad.

The MD88 is the place to be your first year. The shorter trips, number of trips, number of legal combinations and quick seniority upgrade combine to make it a better choice than a jet with a smaller fleet, longer trips, and senior First Officers. It also helps to fly with Captains that have not completely forgot what it is like to be the new guy. Just my humble opinion. The 76ER guys may be enjoying much better beer and tell you I'm nuts.