I’m dumbing this answer down some since a lot of gotchas in the contract… but these guidelines are pretty normal: when you start a string of reserve days you are on Long Call starting at 0001 local base time… they can call or assign you a trip that is 14 hours out. You stay on long call until they assign a flying trip OR give you a short call or field standby (sit at airport for 4 hours). The caveat is that they only need to give you 10 hours notice to start a short call assignment. Short calls are when you have up to 2.5 hours (traffic permitting) to get to the airport. Being on short call and being a commuter sucks… as you stay on a short call assignment for 14 hours… if they don’t use you during this time you revert immediately back to long call. If you live in base you don’t sweat the short calls… carry your phone and stay within 2.5 hours drive time and you’ll be fine. I spend my short calls at the golf course 10 minutes from the airport. I’ve NEVER had a field standby over the 10+ years on a global/international fleet. If you are on a 737/A320 then field standbys are normal ops…

sum this up: commuting to global reserve (or domestic) sucks. Living in base, don’t care if they roll a day/two per month… not so bad.