TLDR: +1 vote for improvements can be made without costing you your extra dollar of pay next round. Fixing the system benefits you, whether on reserve or not, senior or not.
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Its been said, but the goal is really to capitalize on the fact that so many pilots want different things. Some don't want to work. some want to maximize money. Some want the most money for the least work. Some want specific days off, some will pick up every FSB they can, commutable schedules, etc. etc. etc.

The current FIFO system does not do this. Changing to a system that allows more preference on pick ups benefits everybody, even senior guys, even the company.

When something benefits senior guys, it then benefits junior guys. There are a lot of old dudes that would change their line bid to reserve in a heartbeat if it was more like Delta's. This would benefit junior guys that want to fly a line, or have their weekends off, or the dozen other preference items that would open if we allowed more preference.

This helps the company too. FIFO is mediocre at best for 90% of those on reserve. It prioritizes giving people the same treatment at the cost of the potential good deal for someone that would pick it up.
If we got a system that allowed for more preference in pick ups (seniority based), people would be more inclined to pick up the trips they want. The schedule would probably be covered much better, they'd have to call much less, and there there would be a lot less anxious schedulers/supervisors trying playing Jenga with the schedule/answer up the chain on coverage.

I have a friend that is moderately senior with Delta (13 years). He likes to maximize time off + home time, and with their system he can. He literally does not fly from Sep to March except for a landings class and the occasional pick up. I don't think he gets many short calls. He bids reserve in NY but lives in Dallas. During that time he works another job, practically full time (his employer is ok knowing the chances he might get called). He chooses to commute to reserve and loves it, even though he could easily hold a line with a great schedule. Half the year he gets another paycheck, and sleeps in his bed every night. I'm sure there are a lot of guys in their 60's that would bid like this, and open up their good deal, weekend off, etc. trips to you.

I think we could have this. Those that say, "I'd rather make an extra dollar than fix reserve"...well, that could be a little bit of a false dichotomy. Especially if the company knew they'd be better off with improvements. Yes, they would try to keep a strong position bargaining and threaten the 10 am rule, or no pay for short calls. They know we're not going to budge on those items. If they really knew this would reduce their costs and increase efficiency, they'd bite. Might as well try next round anyway, this leadership team seems to show more interest historically than the others in making improvements.

 

Fantastic post. Thanks.

 

"shack"

turkey shoot winner.

 

We have some great things in our current reserve system, like most of the time you are on long call.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Many, and I'll start with me disagree with this. I can count on one hand in my first 2.9 years how many times I wasn't on short call the first day of work. Now that I'm more senior and seeing weekends off, my short calls and FS usage has gone up because their is less open time vs weekends(I'm narrow body).

As you mentioned, transparency is gone. Yesterday I was released from short call once again, after only four hours, to be put on short call once again the next day. I asked the crew desk, "why such an early release?"
Their answer, "according to the SC matrix we needed this 0500 SC assigned." so the next day I'm given an assignment to deadhead. And now the really fun part. Once you are out of your own domicile, you are now considered a visiting reserve. Section 20 outlines this and unfortunately all legal. So now they can assign you trips from the other domicile all they want to INCLUDE HOLDING BACK OPEN TIME IN THAT DOMICILE(to give to a visiting reserve).I know this because it happened to me several weeks ago, filed a PDR, and ALPA committee member answering the PDR showed me the contract reference. So for the next 3 days I'm flying other domiciles ID's. Legal but not so much fun. And the worse part about this; It's opens time for you line holders that you never see. So for those that don't think improving reserve language can't impact line flying, think again.

 

Iv never sat domestic reserve so this is good gouge and another issue that needs to be added to the list

 

Got flown into an FDO last week under this provision but then, I pack for the block of days plus the FDO since I'm "top of the list" in every base but my own.

 

If I remember, right, AA used to have a provision where every pilot used to have to "endure" reserve 1 month every year. That kept even the bottom guy from having to be on reserve more than a couple months of the year. Every pilot on the list had "skin in the game" as far as reserve QOL.

 

Started a 5 day (Wed-Sun) reserve period and was called the night before my 5 day started to inform me that I was on a 1500 SC on my first day (Wed).

At 0100 on Thurs morning I was called and notified I was being released from my SC and being reassigned another SC starting at 1500 Thurs afternoon.

Then at 0630 Thurs morning, I was called again and when I answered, the scheduler clarified who I was, then I could here others talking in the background. Before I knew it, the original scheduler says to disregard her call and hung up.

Now I'm wide f**cking awake....!
I really wish there was some transparency in the way reserves are scheduled!!

 

That SUCKS man. But the 0630 call could have been avoided. When assigned a SC, you are released until that SC begins. Turn off your phone when you go to bed.

 

Not only that but if they call you again during your required rest period you may refuse the assignment and have them reset your rest.