Senior captains aren't on rsv. Even rsv on capt side is low. Upgrade classes that are coming out right now have 2 months of rsv.

I was on reserve for 6 weeks as a MSP -200 FO. I was also the oldest of the -200 pilots in my class however.

How and why is that a factor ?

That means he had the highest seniority number of his class.

some people look it at as a career instead of a day to day job. to each his own. Also when you have been in it for a couple decades you find it more of a survival tool than a feel good nonsense.

This. Those who always talk bad about the airlines with flow act as if it is the only option for those pilots. As if they are locked in forever until they flow. (These critics usually come from airline without a flow, imagine that) Choosing an airline with flow is like taking extra fuel above the minimum required on a flight. Even if you are not required to have it, and hope you would never have to use it, why wouldn't you take it?

Getting "qualified" as quickly as possible hoping that you will stand out among 12,000 other pilots that have the exact same qualifications as you do is just as much as, or more of a "risk" as having a contractually required flow.

Exactly the attitude that erased many during the last decade from this profession. I was giving him advice on how to be successful and enjoy his choice of being an airline pilot. Never understood people who live so miserably in my opinion at something they had chosen to do the rest of their working life. The will always be tough times in this, as most of use learned in college, fixating on that will be poison.

Baloney, MSP is actually the more junior 900 CA base. JFK is the most senior. (pre vacancy 15-06... haven't looked at the shakeout from that as it's not final yet) In fact it's pretty even across MSP, DTW, and LGA for reserve seniority, and yes there are 11+ year seniority pilots on reserve (thanks to Bloch)

The Bloch award and its implications have no bearing on new hires. If you get hired today with the current growth plan you will be looking at upgrade within 2 years. During these two years you will make 40k in bonus. That should put your compensation for these two years around 100 k without having to pick up extra flying. If you do pick up some open time the number only goes up. Soon all open time will be at 150% as well. They are trying to get things back to the days where you coming here for 5 years then leave, maybe to Delta or maybe to the major of your choice.

Ok. I'm flying this trip with a 10yr JFK CA who has a 14 day off line in JFK. Point still stands, if you are on reserve, you are not senior in your seat and your base. 10yr holds a line in JFK for a CA (maybe less, I haven't really looked beyond asking the guy next to me how long he's been here), 6 months for an FO.