Originally Posted by
nimslow
I'd rather "just hold a line" every month, but for many of us (myself included) thats not an option most of the time. As was stated above, commuting is a choice, one that I've made on and off for 17 years of my career. If you commute, and you cant hold a line (or bid reserve on purpose), you signed up for having to be able to cover any assignment you get within the contractual call out times, even if that means sitting in the crash pad on long call.
Oh, I agree 100%, you need to be able to cover any assignment, and if you choose to commute, that’s on you. But, you and I and the vast majority of the pilots do have a choice in bid status and can easily avoid reserve in that respect, that’s why I said “I’d choose to hold a lone”. Time will change but right now even new hire won’t be on reserve for very long.
I know my stance is unpopular with non commuters, that’s why I like the solution of assignments during DOTC only for LC, or even as someone else mentioned after DOTC no earlier than noon, or I’d take an 18 hour call out, outside of DOTC. These benefit everybody, not just commuters.