Originally Posted by
CaptKnots
Thanks for all the input. The long call only lines have seemed like the right choice, even if getting used first or more frequently. Would there be any advantage to bidding a traditional long call line and dealing with the SC conversions? I am trying to maximize time at home for family reasons, but would love to regain left seat wages at the first opportunity. The 737 seems to have rapid growth but EWR having a high pain in the ass index, especially on RSV has me worried.
Traditional reserve is a good blend of both LCL and VEC. It’s the most amount of pay for the least amount of work. My best on TRV has been 12 days of being used and crediting 90+ hours. A bit of a rarity, but still possible with reroutes.
On a more practical note. You’re week is will generally look like this (assuming a 5 day stretch of reserve):
Day 1: SC1700
Day 2: Commute home
Day 3: 3 day trip assigned
If you get a 2 day trip, you’ll go home Day 5 and start your days off early.
Personally, I try to bid 3 or 4 day trips. I’ll APU a trip that is 1 less than my reserve stretch so I get an additional day off.
Worth noting, you can’t be assigned anything before 10 am on Day 1 of a reserve stretch. If you pick up something that starts before 10 am, you get 2 hours of additional pay (trip) or 1 hour of additional for a SC.
Some people try to pick up commutable both ends so they can fly in, sit all day, then go home at the end of the day if they go unused. You can also tell CS that you’re not contactable for the first 2.5 hours of a SC while you commute in. It’s a nice perk to have. Lastly, SC is 2.5 hour call out, but after 9 hours, you go to 12 hour call out until your RAP is done then you’re back to 18 hours. Meaning, after 9 hours, you get to go home since you’re almost unusable.
When I’m on reserve, I sit TRV from Florida. It’s definitely doable.