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! ;)

With as big as an airline as this is with as many bases as it has I expect there are always non-new hire non-vol reserves due changing staffing levels--some more abrupt than others--due to reactions to shifting demand and, more substantially, to the revolving door of senior managers who always have the new idea for where to base the fleet. It's less disruptive than changing the CEO every 18 months while still making the shareholders think that someone's doing something. As such, reserve affects all but the most senior pilots at one time or another, even if they react instantly to bid away from it.

Then you have two choices. Deal with it, or bid to something you can hold a line on.

Its a fact that things change, and just like we lost our 767-400s in EWR you lost some 777 flying. But I'll bet you didn't care one bit about reserve rules until it happened to you.

Is it me or does it seem like international/global flying is down for the month of April? Does anyone have the total hours from the schedule committee folks?

If you go to the bottom of the bid packet you can see the total hours for each BES for March and then compare it to April. Ccs-bidding-bid packages.

b52…

"Just saying"?

What exactly does that mean? Am I being admonished for taking this bid? Of course no one forced you to take that bid just as no one forced me to take mine. Did I complain about my latest bid or infer that I somehow got the shaft? Does offering suggestive criticisms automatically imply that I’m clueless as to how I wound up in this seat? I merely commented about a system which our union placed as one bullet point during the proposed contract extension. I bid this seat fully aware that there was a good chance that I’d be on reserve. Reserve duty is nothing new to me. But by the time I went to training and checked out I was a line holder. It was a pleasant surprise. Svergin suggested that “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?"

I answered his question by pointing out the 40 some odd guys in one seat, at one domicile who have beed bumped to reserve. None of whom were new hires.

Ok, misunderstood what he/she meant in the post. I get it now.

You might want to take a vacation, because it sure seems like you need one.

Svergin

Oh I’m dealing with it. Quite well in fact, especially now that the SC secret is getting out. You asked the question and made an assumption while doing so. It seemed to me as though you were also pointing the big ol’ digit squarely at me. I then provided you with one simple example of guys bumped to reserve who once held a line. Therefore, they obviously did not choose reserve duty. As a rebuttal you then offered me your paternal advice “you have two choices” Thanks Dad! The funny thing is, I actually love reserve at times like this. Does that mean that I cannot comment on the current reserve rules? Why have a forum if we can’t carp and learn from each other?

As far as your assertion that “I’ll bet that you didn’t care one bit about reserve rules until it happened to you” you got me. You’re exactly right. But not in the way you think. Before you take your victory lap, allow me to explain.

As a new hire, I spent my first two years as the dead last guy on the 727 in domicile. Needles to say, I became reserve rules expert on day one. (1)
The company then parked the 727 and I was bumped to the 757. I held a line for about a year and was then bumped to reserve. (2)
I was then bumped to the 737. I held a line for a bit, but was again bumped to reserve. (3)
I was then bumped to ORD where I held a line until I was bumped to reserve. (4)
I was then bumped and escorted to the curb of Terminal Two under United’s "Work Release" Program. I didn’t bid it.
When I returned I was on the Guppy. Of course I knew that I’d be on reserve. (4.1) But soon enough I held a line.
I then bid the 757 where I held a great line, but after a while UA got rid of the guppies and I was of course bumped to reserve. (5)
I was then bumped to the Airbus where I held a line, until don’t you know I was bumped to reserve. (6)
I bid the triple knowing that I’d be close to the G line but I held a line for a year. Alas now I have been bumped…guess where? (7)

Are you with me so far? Out of 7 stints on reserve I only volunteered for 3. Taking the job as a new hire, returning from furlough and then potentially the 777. Of course I could bid the guppy and be super senior, fly my tail off and SRM and all of that. But why would anyone do that when they can make the same money (or more) on another fleet and work much less? There’s stupid is and stupid does of course, but I prefer what I’m doing now, even it that means being on reserve. Thanks for the advice though. As far as "its a fact that things change", I think I addressed my first hand experience with your trite truism in paragraph 3 above.

So even you can see that I’ve been interested in reserve rules since I was hired. And when the topic of improving them comes up, sometimes I type. And when someone posts something easily dismissible I type even more because I don’t want new hires to be lulled into this endless cycle of hazing and disinformation. And I like to leave things better than I found them for those who follow. Because I’m on reserve I have all day to type. Meanwhile I’m stocking up on feed corn and life is pretty darn sweet.

It’s interesting that when a FNG comes on here and suggests that our res system is inferior to the one he enjoyed at his commuter airline, no one here seems to say anything or even take note, other than guys on reserve. Its also interesting that the other forum has TWO stickies at the top pertaining to the goat rope that can be reserve. And its interesting that when I (along with others) make constructive criticisms about the system, and offer concrete evidence of ways in which it USED TO BE BETTER, a whole mess of guys just tune up the “tough, you bid it, or, why don’t you quit refrain”. I must be be getting under some guys skin. ;)

Its a big contract and i’m not looking for a carve out. Just subtle improvements across the board. Why that rankles so many I don’t understand. Its not like we’re making BK wages anymore.

I’m not a MIL guy so I’ll never use that part of the contract, but I fully support every page in that section and would like to see it strengthened and improved upon for my fellow pilots who are.

Same thing, Career move.
Same thing, Maternity leave.
Same thing, LTD.
Same thing, EAP etc.

I don’t ridicule or lecture guys who have issues they’d like to see improved in the contract and I am bemused by guys who do.

I'll give you one reason to not upgrade for the money....so you don't have to be on reserve.

Yes reserve sucks, but according to a recent poll (i.e. the TA extension ratification vote) 81% of the pilot group would rather have a 15% pay raise than any improvements to reserve work rules.

And between pilots who are lineholders, as well as reserves who live in base, apparently there aren't enough pilots left over to really care about reserve rules.

And sorry about all your previous furloughs and displacements, but we are talking about people on reserve right now and not when United was shrinking pre-merge.