Since we’re on the topic of reserves.....

One of my options I’m looking at for post-88 would be wide body, bidding reserve. I’ll be looking at the PWA, but off hand if you’re able to bid 4 day on reserve blocks, can you be made to fly longer trips?

It’s been over 10 years since I’ve done reserve and I know it’s changed some.

No they can’t at Delta. That’s a global reserve feature of United.

Also be aware that diff wide body categories have diff separation lengths and min blocks of on call days... look at the front of any bid package. The 350 has a parameter that only lets you bid 2 blocks of X days separated by a min of 4 days on call, so if you want to avoid longer trips, you can only do that 1 time during the month(was that what you were poss thinking?)

And don't forget that 9 day MSL which is a nice "speed bump" when trying to adjust a reserve line.

Yes it is what I was thinking. And good idea checking the bid package, thanks. I was just going by the wide reports, but it would appear it’s somewhat possible on the 765 and 777.

No, but longer rotations are broken up by scheduling all the time. Just because you can bid in four day blocks, don't think you won't be used for a portion of a 7+ day trip.

Well technically it's a step in the coverage latter, but it's WAY down there and I've never had it happen. On the 330, I specifically bid 4-5 days on max be cause I don't particularly care for 6 day trips. As always coverage can always screw up that plan.


These two posts are exactly why I won't bid the 350. The 2 off days blocks is killer for any kind of flexibility in PBS bidding of reserve. The 9 day MSL is killer for any kind of PCS moves. If you like reserve, make sure you understand the implications of the 4-99-2 and the 9 day MSL before you decide to bid the 350.

9 day MSL?

Means you can't make a block of reserve days shorter than the MSL on certain widebody aircraft.

MSL is sort of an "average trip length". It is a formula and can change, but it's currently 9 days for the A350, Capt and FO. It's in the bid package.

Ahh. Thanks. Where do you find this?