Trip trading is a non starter right now. It sounds good but the union and company are at a loggerhead over the ground rules. Right now, about the only thing you can do (still a big if) is to swap regular bidlines after the bids have been finalized.
The company is pretty good about getting you home in emergency situations. The only issue is if it starts happening on a regular basis.
The schedules are always in flux. It's just part of life at World. We are at the midpoint to end of one of the largest training cycles we've had in a long time. I've been here 12 years. Between the new plane, the rash of folks jumping to UPS over the buyout and throw in the Age 65 deal, the MD-11 crews have taken it in the shorts. It's getting better now. If you are considering World, you can rule out having to work 2-3 weeks in a row. It doesn't happen offen, but it does happen. Senority and what seat your filling has alot to do with it. I've been gone 90 days with a temporary overseas base doing the Hadj (which we haven't done in years) and I've sat at home for 2 months.
The question of reserve has come up. We have many in the contract but two are the most commonly used.
OTL (Open time line) is new to the current contract. It replaced the open flyer system. If you are a new hire, this is what you are going to be holding for a while. Here's the deal:
12 days off; either straight in a row or broken up into 6 and 6
Must retrun call in 6 hours, must be able to be at your home airport in 16 hours from the company's first attemp to contact you.
Pays 65 hour guarentee
If forced to bid back to back, then you are limited to being gone 19 days in a row. They may only being you back for a day, but they have to bring you back.
Now let's think about this for a second. Your off 12 days and then the 13th day is killed in the notification, get you moving phase. So, in the big picture, you are getting 13 days off (14 if the line is split). Now your moving toward the plane. Did I mention that you were sitting at your home,not the crash pad while you were waiting to get called. Then, on a work day, you commute to the plane. The only bad thing is if your outside the lower 48, then you could be extended 24 hours if it's outside the company's control.
HR (Home reserve) is the next common reserve. It's more senior because the pay is 76 hours.
You have 1 hour to return the call. Then you have 1 hour to leave your house. You must be able to be at your designated airport within a total of 3 hours from the first call. Your on call for a 8 hour period of time.
Again, you get 12 days off. Either in a row or split 6 and 6. But, since you're considered on duty, they will add days off after the bid is awarded, to fix any 24 off in 7 problems. You can loose them, if you end up getting it on the road.
The two seldom used reserves are OL (on-line reserve) and AR (airport reserve). OL is basically HR (same rules) but done from a downtown hotel room. It pays 76 hours. AR pays 80 hours and is too complex to go into details but it's a carry over from the days when World would do hot stand by for either Emery or UPS over the Christmas season.
I haven't jumpseated since 2001. Homebasing rocks. Where's the nearest airport that has 2 different carriers? There's your designated airport. On extended vaction with the family? Where the nearest airport with 2 carriers? Give them enough notice and that's your new temporary airport. I live in Florida and I see the guys in uniform, getting all worked up to see if a seat is going to be available or if another guys is going to show up at the last minute. Meanwhile, I'm checking to see if I'm going to get the upgrade to business because I just hit gold medallion. Did I mention that I had my 12 days off and now I'm going to the airport. Am I leaving my house earily because it's snowing in Chicago? No. The biggest problem is explaining to my wife that this isn't the norm for airline pilots and the only equalivant is if I lived were my base was.
We are not a scheduled carrier and those that come from that background are sometimes disappointed by the work rules. The costs associated with homebasing drive alot of things here. Is it a bad life? Far from it. It is far different than the majors. It's just apples and oranges. Which do you like better?