Originally Posted by
Gunfighter
The junior pilot that "got screwed on reserve" wouldn't even be on the seniority list without mil leave. Staying at home wasn't the option, staying at a regional was. The senior pilot only got "screwed" if they submitted the APD at the same time as the mil leave. It's only a one PCS run window of opportunity. What about the one extra (optional for pilot) GS that went out because Delta already used up all the reserves? On a micro level you can find individual examples where the APD was missed by one PCS cycle, on a macro level it's a huge boost for pay and staffing.
How does this translate to a "Junior" Pilot? There are a lot of us who bid RES for a reason. Unless you are a commuter, to be honest, I am not sure why anyone would bid a line. There is a stigma associated with RES, equating it to being a "Junior Pilot." Take a look at the RES list and scroll down a few pages; you may be surprised at how "Junior" the top half of the RES list is. I hope that on the next contract, we can focus more on QOL and not just the dollar amount. Talk to some of the spirit guys and gals and see whose QOL was better.