New FO with a few reserve questions if someone has time to answer.

I'm trying to figure out when a person sitting reserve is most vulnerable to getting called vs not.

I am about to start 6 days straight of reserve. On day 1 there are 2 of us with 6 days of availability. But since 4 day pairings seem to be the max in the ERJ, can I assume that everyone with 4 and 5 days available are also in my "bucket"?. If so, are they likely to call the 4 day people first, then the 5 day guy before they burn a guy with 6 days left?

So are you most vulnerable when you have 2-4 days available on reserve?

I'm not trying to break any rules here and I certainly want to do my "time" but seriously there are like 50 FO's at any given moment sitting reserve in ORD on the ERJ right now. Seems abhorrent to pull people away from their families so they can just sit there with their thumbs stuck where the sun don't shine with no chance of ever flying. Buddies from my class have been there 3 weeks already and haven't flown once. If I'd known I would have just stayed in the Air Force, where sitting around wasting life is the MO. At least I would have been making 3x more money for getting my thumb dirty.

1, you should've picked crj. 2, read the ppm, it addresses your question.

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In short, they will use the 4 day guys before they even look at a5day. Or a 6 day. So yeah you're pretty safe.

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Thanks! I'll read the PPM today. Haven't even opened that manual yet.

They will use the person with the least days available. So if it is you with 6 days and a person with 4 days, and a 4 day trip comes the person with 4 days left is getting it. If you want to fly make sure you list yourself "call first". Also watch​ open time. Volunteer for stuff that isn't in your reserve period, it will go on top of guarantee. Make deals, sounds like you are a commuter, watch all the open time in all the bases. If they are low on reserve someplace and something comes into open time which is during a reserve period call crew support and ask if you can do it. Turn on all the notifications for open time across the company. Reserve can suck a lot, take some suck out of it by being proactive if you want to work.

Commuting to reserve sucks. Most of us have been there. It gets better, I promise.

Junior FO at a regional is not really a good gauge of airline QOL. It will be better in 2-5 years when you're at a major, or 6-10 years if you stay at SKW (depending on domicile).

Getting caught being intentionally out of position is very bad jus jus and will likely get you fired the first time. That and lying are about the only two things they go hard-over on.

Thanks for the advice! Appreciate it.

Don't bother with open time during your reserve days because CS won't give it to you. I've seen trips at 150% and asked if I could have it (on my last day of reserve) and they've told me no we can't make requests to pick up open time. You can only do it on your days off. I usually fly 2 locals a month on my days off that credit around 6 hours. It pays about $200 more on each paycheck and definitely worth it.

It seems the last 2 months they've been giving out a lot of ready reserve on the last day of my bucket. Works out well for commuting because they'll usually do a 5:30-6:00 am show so you'll be released earlier. If you are commuting make sure you figure out what works best for you (AM/PM/LCR). I have friends keep bidding PM then have to commute day before and then home day after. AM is easier and over half the time I never get called even on first call preference.

Anyone know where to click to submit your updated medical? All that red on schedplus is getting obnoxious.