Flightsoffusion

Just curious since commuting is the thing to avoid, would driving 2 hours to base be considered commuting? Or is that type of commute a decent deal. Thanks.

GreatBigSea

I'd say you're right on the cusp of a decent commute. Reserve is a two hour call out and you're just far enough that a bad accident or traffic jam will make sitting reserve on your couch all but impossible. That said, at least you're in control of your drive. No need to worry about getting bumped or MX delays.

Ar Pilot

Depends on how many days of 6am ready reserve you get. I'd still rather do a 2 hour drive to and from the airport once a week than a possible 10-12 hour commute by air.

Flightsoffusion

Thanks for the reply. Someone had mentioned that there was no reserve out of training going to Lax. If this is true, would a two hour commute while holding a line be more practical? The commute is actually more like 1:45 but still close to two. Not really clear on the difference between reserve and holding a line other than one is flying and the other is sitting idle to cover for others? Because I couldn't afford a place in LA and commuting back and forth to LAX daily wouldn't make a lot of sense, I'm just trying to get an idea if it makes sense to commit to a position if I know I couldn't complete responsibly. Thank you.

pylit4lyfe

There can be reserve depending on when you finish and can bid. Most likely you'll be on reserve for a short time but the first month you can bid you shouldn't be on reserve

EuroMexPilot

I am currently also living about 2 hours away. As previously stated, the 2 hour call-out is almost impossible to do from home. you do have 20 minutes to respond, so you could get a head start when they call if you already have the bags in the car and your uniform on while you wait.
That being said, I don't know how it is here, but at my previous airline I NEVER got just 2 hours. Usually I was assigned the night before, or for later in the day.
As far as holding a line, you will have a schedule set from the month before. You can bid for things such as show time, and finish times. Therefore, if you don't want to drive at 3 in the morning (although there is very little traffic and usually they are finished cleaning up the drunk accidents by then) you can bid for call out times after noon. Of course, your seniority will dictate what you will actually be awarded. I think the worst thing for LAX would be like a 8am-10am call out. You can bump that 2 hour drive up to 3 really easy.
As for me, I'll most likely bid the early call outs and get the drive going before the rest of the crazy people are on the road.
Good luck!!

Maingear

I've been given 2 hours before. If they use their airport reserves then they'll call in the next person and only give them 2 hours. Sucks if it's at rush hour....

pylit4lyfe

Is there a time on the last day of reserve that you have to be released by if you haven't been used yet regardless of start time? How do you sumbit requests with scheduling for start times on reserve days and trips in open time that you would prefer to get if possible?

typical41

6pm

you bid before the month on your 'Day 1 only' Reserve start time. It is awarded in seniority order. 11am is the latest start time you can expect to be awarded. You can email scheduling and ask for certain start times after day 1. Open trips are assigned to the reserve who has the least projected time in that SILO(Silo refers to the number of reserve days that you have remaining before your next days off) An open 4-day trip will be go to the pilot who has the least projected flying time in the 4-day silo.

Treegreen

I am currently a 121 FO at a company that has considerable movement, however bad QOL and bases that require a commute. If someone was to get hired now does anyone know roughly how long it would take to hold SEA base. Also how long to hold a line in LAX? Has most of the hiring been done for the 20 new jets?

Thanks!