Quote:
Originally Posted by beancounter
Best way to answer this question is with a question. You have your stuff in at Delta and United, right? Seriously, we've got 12-14 yr guys here looking at bailing, it's just getting progressively worse. Last three months have been really bad. I plan on riding it out in hopes that it will improve, but if it doesn't I'll be gone.
You and they aren't going anywhere. Reminds me of the pilots that swore they would not fly past 60 and here they remain even though they are over 60 today.
Going to Delta or United? Remember a decade ago when everyone wanted to bail to SWA? Guess what? Pilots from SWA are now bailing to AA. Why? Because every airline being on top is cyclical if you wait around long enough.
Reserve is not fun at "any" airline. Reserve is meant to be a short term transitory life as you build seniority. Unfortunately during times of stagnation there is no way to build seniority.
Not sure how long you have been at legacy AA/LUS but you have no idea
how much better reserve rules and technology enhancements are then they were in the past.
Let me mention a few.
No cells phones, had to be tethered to a land line (until beepers were invented).
No long call. On call 24 hours a day and couldn't sit reserve out of base.
No RAPs. Had to arrive at base the night before your first day in order to be available for early morning call outs on your first day. Often had to remain at base the last night of reserve if you weren't released on the last day.
No RAPs meant no margarita with your burrito dinner since you were on call 24/7.
No such thing as a Golden day.
Didn't get to plot your reserve days off like PBS will soon allow.
Commuter policy. What's that? You missed a commuter flight that caused a delay or cancellation of your flight you got a one-way trip to the Chief Pilots office. Many a pilot lost their careers because they pushed this too far.
I could go on and on but I think most get the picture.
To the pilot who asked about reserve.
It's not fun dealing with the uncertainties of reserve but with the upcoming retirements at AA, reserve for new hires will be short lived. With limited exceptions, everyone on reserve beyond new hires is by choice, whatever their circumstances.
Given all that has happened over the past decade and given they are still here today no one at AA is going to quit because they don't like reserve.
Each airline has some good reserve rules and some bad reserve rules. In the end, reserve is not the coveted award at any airline.
Reserve is not the reason to make your airline choice.