Originally Posted by
JediCheese
It really depends. I wouldn't mind being the bottom pilot at a small base. You are the only reserve for 3 flights a day (AM or PM bank that you are legal for). So if none of the 3 pilots in your seat call in sick, you aren't getting used. Even better is once the flights leave, there's no extra airplanes around and you are free. So your reserve is really covering 3 pilots and is only for ~4 hours.
IWA/LAS/FL are different beasts. It's more airline like and being a reserve means you're the reserve covering 15+ flights (plus MX and ferry flights). It's highly likely someone is going to call in sick so you're getting used and due to the schedule there is a constant dribble of flights outside the big pushes.
I was more referring to being able to get one's desired base when so little hiring is happening. I agree the small base reserve isn't a bad deal. I bet that it goes way more senior if a new contract increases total days off, pay etc on reserve.