Originally Posted by
nuball5
Well yeah….in 2019 they would ask to speak to my wife and kids to accept a VDA if for some reason I couldn’t.

It was that bad at times.
In 2019 CS would ask E190 JFK CAs, to do a VDA after their reserve block ended. Or you could call 2 hours before your reserve started, say you commuted in and were at the airport, and they’d immediately VDA you to a trip and wipe out your reserve. All premium pay. It was gold. Pure gold.