Ah ha! Thanks!

Newbie here and trying to understand SC vs LC. Forgive me if this answer is hidden somewhere above.

SC: be within 2 hours of the airport. Does this time depend on domicile? I assume people either live locally or use a crash pad/hotel if they have to commute.

LC: 12 hour window. Does this mean the airline gives you a minimum 12 hour notice so you can commute to domicile if called? If so, what happens if you get call at say, 8pm for an 8am flight, but all flights from your home airport are done for the day? Are you SOL?

Also, how long are you typically on reserve as a NH?

Is this a correct assessment between each type of reserve? Looking to see how feasible it would be to live away from domicile.

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You will hear this a lot, but SC is not 2 hours, it is “reasonably available”. While it’s generally agreed that 2 hours is about right, traffic in any domicile, or weather may extend that beyond 2 hours. It is intentionally vague. Safely report as prompt as your reasonably can.

LC: that is correct. 12 hours minimum. That’s a firm time. The company expects you to report in 12 hours, so if you have a ‘dead zone’, they expect you to position yourself in a place where 12 hours is feasible. In practical terms, that mid-evening call is very rare, You will almost always have 18+ hours notice, but nevertheless, it is possible to get the 12:01 callout.

Getting a line depends on the fleet, I wouldn’t expect to be stuck on reserve very long with all the hiring we are doing. 6 months or less is very plausible for the bottom line holder. Good luck!

Fangs explanation is correct. There is a exception for NYC shortcall. You only need be reasonably available for one of the 3 airports. As a general rule you are allowed an hour extra for the other two. Just don’t switch which airport you are reasonably available to reach with the same scheduler in the same week!
The witching hour on long call could be eliminated with a 14 hour call out for most pilots. Currently it’s pretty tough to meet a 12 hour call out for many pilots commuting. The company has been pretty lenient on this but as contract negotiations resume and heat up that could change.

Last month on reserve I had two 12 hour call outs and I’m a commuter. So it does happen. 😩

I was once in a smaller international category where it was understood if you were sick and would not be flying your trip calling in at least 16 hours prior was expected. If you got ill inside that window waiting till 11:30 seemed to be the norm. Calling in sick 12:30 minutes prior to report would result in a loss of free beer from the Captain on layovers!

Everything above plus: This situation drove me to commute in the day prior and spend the night just in case. OR, one technique I used was to commute into base the day prior so as to be in position if that call did come. If not called and if there was still a flight home later, I’d take that, as long as there was a morning flight I could take back ( good loads/jumpseat available, etc.). That’s a bit of butt pain non-reving but it suited my purposes sometimes.

As a new hire, I also think it's appropriate to YS so as to prevent the above situation as much as possible. I'd rather do that than fly in with no flying on my schedule

Thank you! Please do not call in sick between 12-13 hours. Either do it early or wait until just inside of 12.

Also good. I did this a lot too. Plus it helps to get consolidated.

My only caution is they can (and do) no-opp trips assigned by YS or reserve assignment. Then you’re back on LC and might be hard-pressed to be in position for a subsequent assignment. This happened to me a lot at peak COVID. It’s not as likely now; once they have you assigned to a trip they’ll likely not mess with it. Unless they do.