If you are awarded WB as a new hire you can only bid up during the first two years. You could bid NB captain, but not FO. If awarded NB as a new hire you can always bid up. You could get 320/737 as a new hire, and then bid 756 or WB fo on the next vacancy. Reserve times could change when we get a new contract. If the current reasons not to advance are resolved, it might take much more seniority to hold a WB award, much less a line. Same goes for captain vacancies. If you have a choice, bid NB so that you have options to bid away if you want.

Thanks, so what about the following rationale/way of thinking: bid WB FO initially now because if the new contract significantly improves work rules, it may be much more difficult to get WB flying opportunities (WB flying will become more desirable). I'm pushing 40 and would rather experience crossing time zones and enjoy fun int'l destinations when my body can more easily handle it. Does that make sense? (ignoring the current abysmal nature of global reserve). The appeal of UA to many of us is the widebody int'l flying.

I would plan on reserve getting tweaked or improved somewhat, but be prepared to not to get significantly improved rules. Like it or not, most voters are not on reserve and they place their emphasis elsewhere. If they are significantly improved that will be great, but just don’t plan on it. Until we get a new contract and see how that shapes things, I’d just leave my options open. Bidding a NB fleet will give you options. If the contract provides something that you are interested in on the WB fleets, you can always put in a bid at a later time. If not, you will be where you will build relative seniority the fastest. You still have 25 years. Don’t feel like you need to be in a rush. Move forward with the seniority of your choosing.

^This^

But I have been wondering (as I am on reserve now, and trying to figure out the tea leaves).
Those who are "really" arguing for major changes in the reserve rules- Are you junior pilots who want the quick upgrade and thereby would be on reserve as a junior Capt?
As others have stated- YES, there needs to be changes to some of the reserve rules. Delta will be an even BETTER template now, with their TA. But as has also been stated, the reason for our FSB and "some" of the Short Call shenanigans is because we value a line holder and their schedule higher than a reserve and their schedule.

Yes, once we have a new UPA there will be a massive shift in Capt upgrades along with who bids to be a PI/LCA. Only real question should be.. who pays for this problem/solution? The Pilots or the Company (or is it a bit of both?)

Always
Motch

Thank you everyone for your replies. What a time to be a pilot; I hope we are all appreciative of that--I know that I am. I may be naive, but I truly think improvements to work rules can be a win-win, and not pilots vs company, one vs the other.

Effectively, there is no long call. Everyone not tagged with a trip will sit SC, and some of those will convert to FSBY after sitting SC for a little bit.

SC Pay (#3-5) goes to mpg instead of add pay which means if you fly enough, even unused SCs # 3-5, won't be paid extra. This is favorable to the company, obviously, and there is no need to offer SC lines when you can just do it as you go.

Also after a trip you immediately go back on long call without any real intervening rest period. I got back at 1130pm once and got a call at 6am to inform me of a SC that evening. You can put yourself on the no contact list before 7am. But they can break that if your departure is too early in the day to give you 10 hrs of rest when they call.

These rules are/should be non starters for anyone not living locally, and even then it's a tough sell. This is reflected in NBCA and WBFO going so junior and unfilled.

Global rsv is worse

Speaking of SC conversions…


If you are LC and they convert you, does that start immediately? Or do they have to give you the same notification as if it were a trip?

In practical application, if I’m on LC sitting on my couch in Dallas and they convert me, am I immediately on the hook for getting to the airport within 2 hours?

It's always a quid pro quo, right? The pilots get better reserve rules, and the company gets... pilots volunteering to fill captain vacancies.

Reserve can be fixed without spending a dime of pilot negotiating capital.

you still get your 13 hrs. But usually SC assignments get scheduled the day before so you're likely to have 13-24+ hrs notice. You might pick one at 11am the day before -for- an 1800 the next day.

100% right