Originally Posted by
iaflyer
One word... unstacking [or coverage depending on how long you've been here]. I'm not disagreeing that people can PD their way around being used as a reserve, but in my experience talking with those that do it, they also lose a decent amount of money from Delta. They do it because they have a side-job they like the makes money too.
But as I often bid reserve, I end up with DH to another base and jump right into a trip. SLC and LAX would be short DHs, with MSP not being that much further. Often, I get back to my base on the last flight of the night.. so the company gets a good 2.5 days of actual flying out of me.
And lately, there has been zero excess reserves (“blue days” in iCrew), so the ability to drop has been zero, unless you use your one-per-year APD or an IVD. Will likely continue for at least the summer if not longer.
Part of the issue is that all the record GS’s over the last year has come back to bite us with the contractually required increase to the staffing formula. As an ‘intended’ consequence, it drives “reserves required” up. But, when management understaffs the airline, we pay the price. “We didn’t think that would happen”