I think you have a very rare story. I had early release granted exactly one time when I was on reserve. I was a commuter and was sitting RDY at LAX. I was due to be on RDY until 4 but there was a 3pm flight home for me. I called just before they started boarding and asked if I could have early release and they said no. They called me back right after the door closed at 3pm and said they changed their mind and I could be released. I ended up sitting there until 6 waiting for my next flight home anyway. That was my one time being granted early release.

I've rarely ever had any situation where they've been willing to help me out, but I've had a lot of situations where they expected me to help them out. I've had a few times where I've tried to help them out and it's resulted in me getting over nighted in base with no hotel room as a thanks.

 

Be careful 1900, OO is a good place to work but our reserve rules are lacking and CS accountability is non-existent. As soon as things start hitting the fan it can get ugly in a hurry with no credit toward good deeds or favors already paid.

 

Ya that does suck! Well I only commuted for a 5ish weeks and the three times I called for an early release they gave it to me, guess I got lucky!

 

Ya I appreciate the advice! After that I probably won't be acknowledging trips on the computer anymore.

 

SAPA reserve guide…you know what it says.

 

OO seems like more of a by-the-book place on reserve. I don't mean that in a bad way, but more of its a larger, less personal company. Many facets are more automatic, i.e. a computer deciding whether you'll be released early or not. At the last place I worked, driving a 1900, it was a much smaller more personal company and I think you'll agree that developing a good working relationship with schedulers was possible that allowed some give and take. Especially wrt commuting home on go-home day.

Given this, my reserve mantra is to play by the book, by ready to go or answer my phone on a RAP.... but never outside that. They can leave a message and I'll decide whether to call back or not. I don't give up my time off either. I would always at least check out what the assignment is (you can do so without acknowledging, I think with the button to print the pairing). If it ends up being beneficial to you (i.e. you finish earlier on the last day), then why not take it?

 

The problem with them being 'by the book' is that 'the book' is extremely vague without a union. Look at the release into rest issue where certain people in CS abide by it and others just throw it completely out the window and give you a SAD. They also feel like granting 117 extensions is just the norm rather than thinking they actually have to ask you about it.

A lot of the contempt for CS from reserves comes from them redefining or pushing the limits of what 'by the book' means.

 

I know nothing about how reserve really works, so here's a basic question. Let's say you've got 4 reserve days in a row and then 3 days off. If they call you on your 3rd day of reserve, are they limited to giving you a 2-day trip or can they spring a 4-day trip on you?

And when you're on reserve and they call, is it usually a quick trip or a 4-day trip? Or is that just totally the luck of the draw?

 

The trip they assign has to finish within your reserve period or you can refuse it. That doesn't mean you won't end up getting stuck somewhere for an extra night due to weather or a mechanical issue though, but that could happen to anyone.

What you get assigned is luck of the draw and kind of depends on the base. When I was based in FAT I almost always got locals or very short trips because people would drop turns. In larger domiciles there will be more 4 days to go around to reserves.

 

Hi,

Theses days, how long does it take to hear back once you submit the application?

Are they able to fill the classes to its max capacity?

I have heard large construction in SFO and that will minimize number of flights in/out this year. Would this make it that much more difficult to get SFO out of training or even transfer several months later?

Thank you!