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-   -   Reserve Flexibility (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/american/150393-reserve-flexibility.html)

Beech Dude 07-07-2025 05:02 AM


Originally Posted by IFR Cx Rcvd (Post 3926383)
AFAIK when the push the button doesn’t matter. The machine knows who’s QLA for sign in and will assign accordingly. The person might not get notified immediately. Case in point, I’ve gotten early trips on the 0300 RAP the night prior. No one was immediately contactable for the trip but the assignment still went out.

I’d buy that CS will delay pushing the button to preserve inter-day options. Like if a trip pops up in the middle of the night with a 0900 sign-in, but the next QLA pilots are 0300/0500 RAPs. I could see them delaying the run until closer to 0700 in case an earlier trip pops up. But I don’t think there’s a mechanism for CS to bypass a pilot higher up the assignment order. I don’t think they’re capable of the 4D chess required to project out later in the week.

I’m not Team CS, sometimes it’s not readily apparent why you did/did not get assigned trip, but 90% of the time it’s because a lineholder picked it up or someone senior to you got awarded (either Pass All or the trip itself).

^ This. Simple N3 check shows too many MUchers picking up.

Just let it sit yall, RAS + MUchers makes PM pretty much non existent. Heck, even with all the East coast wx last week, only had 4 PMs go out in my bid status.

IFR Cx Rcvd 07-07-2025 06:33 AM


Originally Posted by Beech Dude (Post 3926386)
^ This. Simple N3 check shows too many MUchers picking up.

Just let it sit yall, RAS + MUchers makes PM pretty much non existent. Heck, even with all the East coast wx last week, only had 4 PMs go out in my bid status.

It would help if FOS broke up the RF code into a Reserve Awarded and Reserve Assigned code. Right now the only way I know to find that info is in the RAS reports.

To anyone who went from the first post to here, there is a way to trade reserve DFPs but it’s extremely manual. You need to find a pilot willing to trade, ensure it doesn’t create an unworkable schedule, and call CS directly to process the trade. There isn’t a mainstream way to find a DFP trade partner, not to say someone can’t start a BTL chat group or petition APA to include it in Trip Marketplace.

Best thing you can do is bid smartly to ensure you get the days off you need and get smart on RAS. There are compass docs for both but the user guides in comply are more comprehensive.

Setspeed 07-07-2025 10:30 AM


Originally Posted by ImSoSuss (Post 3926257)
Simple, there are about a million ways for CS to do what they want to do at their in awarding reserve at their "discretion" under the new contract. It is not like PM or OG getting mis-awarded, totally different animal. We gave a lot away with not much in return. Good luck getting your credit, you will defiantly need a lot of it.

btw, maybe you can answer since the union cannot. I thought under this system the Airline would use less reserves? Whatever happened to that line of bull****? Probably went the same place as when the union told us that RDW would be the great equalizer outside DOTC. lol, keep drinking the kool aid

I read somewhere recently that said the company wants a full year of data before they reduce (if at all) reserve levels. So that was the union answer for the time being. Are we just kicking the can down the road as an excuse for now? Maybe, but we'll see.

Also, I've been paid for assignments on reserve not going in the proper order before. I flew the trip and ended up paid OG half the trip value. It was only a day trip but still. Pre-RAS also.

CRJCapitan 07-07-2025 10:55 AM


Originally Posted by ImSoSuss (Post 3926257)
btw, maybe you can answer since the union cannot. I thought under this system the Airline would use less reserves? Whatever happened to that line of bull****? Probably went the same place as when the union told us that RDW would be the great equalizer outside DOTC. lol, keep drinking the kool aid

Unless I am misunderstanding you and you are talking about reserve utilization, why would we want less reserves? The problem is that anyone thought that sounded like a good idea in the first place...

tallpilot 07-07-2025 11:34 AM


Originally Posted by CRJCapitan (Post 3926485)
Unless I am misunderstanding you and you are talking about reserve utilization, why would we want less reserves? The problem is that anyone thought that sounded like a good idea in the first place...

Because fewer reserves means more lineholders with all the attendant flexibility and QoL that comes with it. Also because neither Delta nor United run 35+% reserve levels. Those numbers are utterly astonishing.

A small number of senior pilots might desire more reserves to increase their chances of not getting called but fewer reserves would benefit the majority of the pilot group. Seniority is great and all but making things massively worse for the majority to benefit a tiny sliver of the population is absurd.

CincoDeMayo 07-07-2025 11:57 AM


Originally Posted by tallpilot (Post 3926504)
Because fewer reserves means more lineholders with all the attendant flexibility and QoL that comes with it. Also because neither Delta nor United run 35+% reserve levels. Those numbers are utterly astonishing.

A small number of senior pilots might desire more reserves to increase their chances of not getting called but fewer reserves would benefit the majority of the pilot group. Seniority is great and all but making things massively worse for the majority to benefit a tiny sliver of the population is absurd.

Fewer reserves means more line holders? With what block hours? Sure you can get a few extra lines by lowering block on some lines but less reserves will mean less staffing, less hiring and fewer upgrades.

CRJCapitan 07-07-2025 12:40 PM


Originally Posted by tallpilot (Post 3926504)
Because fewer reserves means more lineholders with all the attendant flexibility and QoL that comes with it. Also because neither Delta nor United run 35+% reserve levels. Those numbers are utterly astonishing.

A small number of senior pilots might desire more reserves to increase their chances of not getting called but fewer reserves would benefit the majority of the pilot group. Seniority is great and all but making things massively worse for the majority to benefit a tiny sliver of the population is absurd.

Reducing the number of reserve pilots has no effect on the number of lineholding pilots. You can't just manufacture more lines because there "should" be less reserves. The number of lineholders is a function of total block hours, average line value, and the margin of error of the optimizer (rig pay). They increased the number of lineholders by placing limitations on the line construction window, which just spreads out the flying a little more but doesn't provide any increase in economic value to the pilots.

Advocating for less reserve pilots, given no resulting increase in flying or adjustments to the LCW, just means less pilots. Advocating for less reserve pilots hurts us as a pilot group and the prospects of future AA pilots.

ImSoSuss 07-07-2025 12:59 PM


Originally Posted by CRJCapitan (Post 3926531)
Reducing the number of reserve pilots has no effect on the number of lineholding pilots. You can't just manufacture more lines because there "should" be less reserves. The number of lineholders is a function of total block hours, average line value, and the margin of error of the optimizer (rig pay). They increased the number of lineholders by placing limitations on the line construction window, which just spreads out the flying a little more but doesn't provide any increase in economic value to the pilots.

Advocating for less reserve pilots, given no resulting increase in flying or adjustments to the LCW, just means less pilots. Advocating for less reserve pilots hurts us as a pilot group and the prospects of future AA pilots.

That's not how the union sold it. They said more lines and fewer reserves under the new system. Not saying they were right or wrong, but they definitely did sell it that way.

FlyyGuyy 07-07-2025 01:20 PM


Originally Posted by ImSoSuss (Post 3926537)
That's not how the union sold it. They said more lines and fewer reserves under the new system. Not saying they were right or wrong, but they definitely did sell it that way.

there is also TONS of open time every day, probably enough to make a dozen more lines per month or more. Instead, the majority of it goes to long call and short calls during dotc and then the other 85 people a day on reserve get burned with broken trips. I am flying 85 or as close as they can get me every month on SC reserve. Mostly non broken trips. No reason I can just be awarded these sequences the month before or someone else...

Beech Dude 07-07-2025 01:45 PM


Originally Posted by FlyyGuyy (Post 3926553)
there is also TONS of open time every day, probably enough to make a dozen more lines per month or more. Instead, the majority of it goes to long call and short calls during dotc and then the other 85 people a day on reserve get burned with broken trips. I am flying 85 or as close as they can get me every month on SC reserve. Mostly non broken trips. No reason I can just be awarded these sequences the month before or someone else...

Exactly. Check OT on the 18th when everything goes into SABRE. There are dozens of trips that never got assigned to anyone/or the stupid OE blocked trips that arent chosen and they drop straight into OT. Total crap.


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