you didn't do well in statistics did ya?
the guy said "the 90% who don't commute to reserve" not "90% of system reserves"
let me splain for you
90% (more like 95%) of the 12,000 don't commute to reserve - because they either hold a line or live in base.
🙄.

 

A little more blunt than I would have been, but you explained it correctly lol

 

I'd like the throw up the commuting is 100% by choice BS flag here. Not everyone has the freedom to uproot a family to move to base. Technically, yes it's a choice but it very well could yield horrific consequences on ones personal life (hint... divorce. Not like that isn't common in this industry).

Some examples of the "choice" not really being reasonable... You make your wife quit her good job that is not transferable, move your kids that are in middle/high school that are deeply rooted with friends in sports, school activities, etc, move away from family members maybe some with special needs, illness or in their later years of life, disassociate you and your family from long term friends and the social life that comes with that.

If one has the ability to uproot and not face the consequences of one or all of the above scenarios, that is fantastic! Enjoy the job even more so living in base. In the meantime people like myself will continue to commute to enjoy the stabilized life I have. I don't believe commuters should be looking for sympathy or special treatment, but a little bit of understanding as to why people can't just up and move would be appreciated.

 

Again, you are talking about making a CHOICE to not uproot your family. The company isn't forcing you. I completely get it and commuted for a while for some of those same reasons. But at the end of the day it's your choice. The company will pay to move you to be within 200 miles of your domicile. I love that we have that flexibility with our jobs and we already have a number of contract items addressing commuting and protecting it. If someone chooses to bid every upgrade the moment they can and spend most of their career commuting to reserve, they shouldn't complain on forums about how bad it is. (Not directed at you, just saying in general)

Downsized, fleet changes, displacements and back on reserve, that's the companies choice not the pilot.

I have yet to meet a local domestic reserve who doesn't think it's a great gig. I know many relatively senior people who bid reserve during the non peak months because they usually average one trip per month or less and pick up SCs every chance they can. Could it be better, ofc but it's the best I've seen in my 20+ years at UAL.

WB guys being rolled into days off, that's a different story.

 

Wait, didn't you bid WB by choice?

To make more money? Knowing full well what the global reserve rules were?

Would you just taste the soup....aha!

 

You were making good points until this... what's the different story here? I could hold WB but I don't want it for afew reasons, one being rolled days. My friends that did bid up, well that was their choice and need to accept the rules of the road when it comes to global reserve. No sympathy from me when they could be 20-30% on the NB fleets with 17-19 days off.

 

I could have been more specific. I was referring to reserve changes that need to be made. Domestic guys love it, WB guys not so much due to rolling days.

You are right, it absolutely is a choice. I just personally don't think that different fleets should have different reserve rules. Flash backs for me of Ted

 

I see what you're saying and I fully agree!

 

Other than new hires, who is sitting reserve in a base that didn't take an upgrade from something they were holding a line on?

And if you say "Displacements" well those guys could have taken a junior pilots displacement to a BES they could have held a line on. Because all the guys I know who left their lineholding 737 FO to go commute to a 787 on the west coast all knew they would be on reserve forever.

 

Well, right now in DC, a whole mess of guys as the company just moved the G line by 50 numbers. Just like that the flying disappeared. And I suspect that the way UA has played musical with the flying that we're not the 'yuuuge' exception that I constantly read about either. I was a line holder when I bid this seat. No more. So, myself and 40 or so other (non new hire whiners who should just quit I suppose) guys. Its not that clear cut, despite what guys fulminate about here on APC. I have been bumped from solid line holder to reserve maggot at least 4 times during my time on the property. Amazingly, and much to the chagrin of some, I haven't quit yet!