My vote would be for #4. And I say this having enjoyed some nice Silvers in the past. After playing the reserve game and seeing how PB days affect premium across the entire operation I really see that as the one major difference between our contract and all the other majors' as far as work rules are concerned. IMO it (along with 18-hour call out) is the secret sauce that makes Delta pilots so much money, so anything the company gets which keeps reserves even minimally healthy is detrimental to the whole pilot group. In other words, reserve GS offer a return to the pilot group as a whole (they drive broken trips, RR, 23L4, 23L8, more GS, good WS, good OOBWS, etc), while SS offer a return to a single pilot, and ultimately work to benefit the company by letting a full bid-pack trip go out to one pilot.

My second vote would be for #3. Just make it a long-range GS, and count it as such.

 

Get rid of them because they lock RES pilots out of premium trips and eliminate PBs. Line holders can get long notice GS and the results are the same if you eliminate the trigger or allow more banked time to get to a much lower trigger.

 

I agree, as someone who primarily bids RES, PB is far more valuable to me than the extra pay. I have a feeling that SS are here to stay, but I do feel it should be fair to everyone, not just the most senior guy/gal who gets all of them. I don't have a problem with SS mocking GS counters. I.E. SS1/SS2/SS3 etc.. However, RES should be allowed to partake in the fun on off days if they choose. I understand the company won't want to give out PB days for SS, but could offer double pay.

I also feel RES should be allowed to pick up on off days up to the ALV limit (+15). Now, before you all say "that takes away from premium,". How is that different from the folks who drop to 0 and rebuild their line with broken pairings or pick up WS to the limit?

 

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.

 

this would kill PB's even more so than now. no thanks.

 

You can YS on off days. There will always be plenty of GS for reserve pilots. I believe ALPA said something like 80% of all GS go out within 18 hours of scheduling needing to cover a trip. As of now, reserves have a substantial advantage with GS over line holders.

 

I agree that the amount of GS open to RES is significantly higher than that of line holders. However, that metric is kinda squed. There are not many reasons why someone would want to GS over an LCR day. Not many would waste the time to get paid just block.

 

So, line holders taking the SS doesn't take away PB days, but RES taking SS does?

 

It's not just higher. It's also effectively reserve with conflict. A lineholder MUST fly a minimum of 67-72 hours of credit before they can make double pay. That's at least 13 days of work. A reserve has no trigger and, in rolling thunder instances, can work 13 days and make 140 hours.

 

if it’s so easy and that much better, just bid reserve