PSA info
01-13-2017 | 05:53 PM
#5892
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From: Airbus FO
Where are you based? And do you live in base?
PSA sounds pretty awesome for schedule flexibility, however for the bases where you can be a R1 line holder sooner, it's a 2 leg commute for many folks (CVG has direct flights for where I live but only 2x a day, and DAY is definitely a 2 legger). CLT is where it's at (only a 3 hour drive for me), but I see it's about 18-20 months to become a R1 line holder there. Ouch! Hopefully DCA will help this, which for me isn't a bad commute. I'm curious your opinions on getting a quicker R1 line in a place like CVG or DAY, which is a difficult commute, vs. getting a build up line or LCR at a place like CLT, which is a much easier commute. I'm assuming with a BU line & LC/SC reserve you can expect to just have 11-12 days off per month. At least those are the things I would personally be weighing.
Hopefully this doesn't sound too entitled...I'm aware there are plenty of FO's that commuted to reserve for years and years back in the early 2000's.
Thanks for all these responses...very helpful.
PSA sounds pretty awesome for schedule flexibility, however for the bases where you can be a R1 line holder sooner, it's a 2 leg commute for many folks (CVG has direct flights for where I live but only 2x a day, and DAY is definitely a 2 legger). CLT is where it's at (only a 3 hour drive for me), but I see it's about 18-20 months to become a R1 line holder there. Ouch! Hopefully DCA will help this, which for me isn't a bad commute. I'm curious your opinions on getting a quicker R1 line in a place like CVG or DAY, which is a difficult commute, vs. getting a build up line or LCR at a place like CLT, which is a much easier commute. I'm assuming with a BU line & LC/SC reserve you can expect to just have 11-12 days off per month. At least those are the things I would personally be weighing.
Hopefully this doesn't sound too entitled...I'm aware there are plenty of FO's that commuted to reserve for years and years back in the early 2000's.
Thanks for all these responses...very helpful.
Your assessment is accurate, that CLT is the best place currently for commuters, due to all the flights coming in and keep it from a 2 leg. I am relatively close to Rd1 in CLT, and when that happens, ill go there.
01-13-2017 | 05:58 PM
#5893
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Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Airbus FO
Thats another beauty of this company. You can transfer between domiciles every time they have a bid, if you feel like it. I looked at other companies that brag about having all these bases, but when it boils down to it, you really only have 2 bases depending on your equipment. With the extreme uptick in hiring, if your on reserve for more than a few months, its because you choose to stay in a base where your on reserve. Nothing wrong with that, just saying. A couple guys from my class have been in CLT on reserve since the beginning, because they arent willing to 2 leg commute. I tend to disagree and each person has to decide what level of BS they are prepared to deal with. Personally, id rather 2 leg commute and have over half the month off, but thats just me.
Now that hiring is ramping up in a big way, its gonna get real good with upgrades and reserve through the floor. Its obvious that American has more flying than they know what to do with, so the more we hire, the more flying were gonna do.
Now that hiring is ramping up in a big way, its gonna get real good with upgrades and reserve through the floor. Its obvious that American has more flying than they know what to do with, so the more we hire, the more flying were gonna do.
01-13-2017 | 06:00 PM
#5894
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Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Airbus FO
There are always at least a few days in the green, I've been able to get what I want on reserve or build ups most of the time through trades or swaps. The grid should improve as guys get through training unless our rate of expansion keeps pace with our rate of growth.
They don't make the grid red -- that would mean the day was critical. They keep it in the black and adjust it up and down as the number of available reserves goes up and down when it's under their "minimum". That's what the reserve grid manipulation and critical pay arbitration is all about.
Enjoy...
They don't make the grid red -- that would mean the day was critical. They keep it in the black and adjust it up and down as the number of available reserves goes up and down when it's under their "minimum". That's what the reserve grid manipulation and critical pay arbitration is all about.
Enjoy...
01-13-2017 | 06:10 PM
#5895
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Joined: Nov 2016
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Yea, Dubz is right. The grid comes and goes out of the green. I noticed that in the reduced flying months, the grid was real green, also, in conjunction with classes coming out off IOE, the grid would go green. Also, as those days come closer and get within 48hrs, they start putting reserves on the trips, then the grid sometimes will go green. Thats what I was saying, I would stalk that grid and as soon as it popped green, id trade out of that day.
I'm hoping I can make commuting in on LC. That will give me one less month in a crashpad.
At XJT the best I could hope for was a trip being added the evening prior, but that still required my butt sitting in the pad in NYC. Most of the time I'd call during the pick up window the day prior to my first reserve day. I'd always hope for a 4 day that met the contract terms to pop up in open time.
01-13-2017 | 06:26 PM
#5896
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Left
Ah makes sense. What's the normal m.o. on trips being assigned to reserves? Do they wait to the last minute or do they also add you a day or two prior, as your 48 hour comment?
I'm hoping I can make commuting in on LC. That will give me one less month in a crashpad.
At XJT the best I could hope for was a trip being added the evening prior, but that still required my butt sitting in the pad in NYC. Most of the time I'd call during the pick up window the day prior to my first reserve day. I'd always hope for a 4 day that met the contract terms to pop up in open time.
I'm hoping I can make commuting in on LC. That will give me one less month in a crashpad.
At XJT the best I could hope for was a trip being added the evening prior, but that still required my butt sitting in the pad in NYC. Most of the time I'd call during the pick up window the day prior to my first reserve day. I'd always hope for a 4 day that met the contract terms to pop up in open time.
You cannot pickup flying on your reserve days. The best you can do is call and ask to be assigned a trip, which they will not give you.
Hopefully your stay on reserve will be short.
01-13-2017 | 06:29 PM
#5897
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Joined: Oct 2015
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Ah makes sense. What's the normal m.o. on trips being assigned to reserves? Do they wait to the last minute or do they also add you a day or two prior, as your 48 hour comment?
I'm hoping I can make commuting in on LC. That will give me one less month in a crashpad.
At XJT the best I could hope for was a trip being added the evening prior, but that still required my butt sitting in the pad in NYC. Most of the time I'd call during the pick up window the day prior to my first reserve day. I'd always hope for a 4 day that met the contract terms to pop up in open time.
I'm hoping I can make commuting in on LC. That will give me one less month in a crashpad.
At XJT the best I could hope for was a trip being added the evening prior, but that still required my butt sitting in the pad in NYC. Most of the time I'd call during the pick up window the day prior to my first reserve day. I'd always hope for a 4 day that met the contract terms to pop up in open time.
01-15-2017 | 11:45 AM
#5899
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Joined: Feb 2007
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- Future of PHL as an AA hub.
- Whether or not AA wants a lot of 900 flying there
- The success of PDT.
Answer those questions and you'd probably have your answer.
01-15-2017 | 04:31 PM
#5900
New Hire
Joined: Jan 2017
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PSA folks....looking for a little more insight. A few commuting questions here....feel free to answer if you want, any input welcome.
I assume it CLT is senior for PSA, with that said, how long to hold it? How tolerable is a two leg commute through CLT to any of the other domiciles and what will DCA look like...ie senior, junior, easy to get?
I'm trying to guesstimate a timeline to get to CLT. Will be commuting from OAJ, DCA and CLT seem to be the easiest. Is it difficult to get to CVG,DAY,TYS from CLT on a regular commuter basis?
Sorry for the often heard new guy questions.....just trying to gauge the initial "suck factor"...........
I assume it CLT is senior for PSA, with that said, how long to hold it? How tolerable is a two leg commute through CLT to any of the other domiciles and what will DCA look like...ie senior, junior, easy to get?
I'm trying to guesstimate a timeline to get to CLT. Will be commuting from OAJ, DCA and CLT seem to be the easiest. Is it difficult to get to CVG,DAY,TYS from CLT on a regular commuter basis?
Sorry for the often heard new guy questions.....just trying to gauge the initial "suck factor"...........
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