That #3 VTO guy is barely in the top 40%. I wouldn't call that senior. I only see 2-3 guys in the top 20% that regularly sit reserve on the 75. I guess what someone calls senior is relative.

Maybe, no one knows. But you are probably right that reserve rules is not why people don’t apply. That doesn’t mean that reserve cannot and should not be improved AND keep current system form. My main point is that we should not be comparing ourselves to just UPS when it comes to contract comparison. FedEx competes with ALL airlines for pilots (not to be confused with competing with their product/service). So saying that we can’t do this or that because UPS, is the wrong way to look at it, IMO. The way to look at it, I feel, is to see what good things from all airlines we can implement here. And there are many things, reserve wise, that can be done here that would also improve reserve, like no hotel standby assignments for R24, limiting hotel standby to 10 hours, limiting airport standby to 4 hours and 5 times a bid month and not back to back, 2 hour call out for MEM and disruption pay for less, an aggressive pick up window, automatic release after block in or reserve assignment, RLG=ALV, as some examples from other airlines. This way there would be more senior reserve bidders like the one you referenced. Then maybe reserve can be a choice for everyone, rather than something everyone has to go through at least once. By the way, I’m no longer a reserve pilot and unless a base for my current aircraft opens up in my home town, I don’t currently plan on being on reserve again.

Speaking of system form, it is changing. IND now has two more sort times. I would guess that that may be coming to MEM as e-commerce volume increases. So it may be four departure banks and two arrival banks every day of the week.