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10-27-2022 | 06:57 AM

#31

rickair7777

Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 44,882

Likes: 678

From: Engines Turn or People Swim

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticus

I worried who they would be hiring down the road to fill seats when at the time they were already hiring low time flows.

That was why I left the regionals 5+ years ago... turns out it's a real thing.

10-27-2022 | 07:17 AM

#32

ThumbsUp

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Mar 2018

Posts: 3,633

Likes: 209

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusBoi

Hi all,

Interviewing at UA next week. Currently at a ULCC.

I live 30 minutes from Newark. Is reserve so bad that it even sucks living close to the airport? I actually don't mind things like airport standby. It gets me out of the apartment, I can do stuff on my laptop, walk around the terminal enjoying my Starbucks, etc.

Can reserve days be dropped or swapped? Can reserves pick up on days off? Is there an official system for proffering trips in open time?

To answer your other questions:

Reserve days CAN be swapped subject to coverage and whether or not you are the first to call on the day swaps open. It’s not seniority based, but first come-first served. Dropping is subject to the the same limitation. There has to be excess reserve coverage (decided by the company) and you have to be Johnny on the spot before it changes.

Reserves cannot pickup trips on days off. We have a system to pickup & trade trips for lineholders and reserves… any other details on it is in the weeds.

10-27-2022 | 07:22 AM

#33

clearskys

Line Holder

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 57

Likes: 0

From: EMB-135BJ Captain

Does United do airport standby?

10-27-2022 | 08:09 AM

#34

flynd94

Line Holder

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,020

Likes: 23

From: It's a plane and it's a seat

Quote:

Originally Posted by clearskys

Does United do airport standby?

Yes we do. Some like it and some hate it. As a commuter I liked to pick one up my first day of reserve. It helps me control my schedule. I have commuted 2/3 years at UA without having a crash pad. I average 3 hotel rooms a month

10-27-2022 | 08:16 AM

#35

BusBoi

Line Holder

Joined: Sep 2021

Posts: 439

Likes: 30

Thanks. Can you also preference call me first/call me last, and are reserve assignments done by seniority or whoever has the least hours? At my LCC the most junior pilot who is legal and available for the entire trip gets it, unless a more senior pilot (who is also legal and available) preferenced call me first.

10-27-2022 | 08:24 AM

#36

CrayonEater

Line Holder

Joined: Nov 2021

Posts: 77

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusBoi

I came to UAL from probably the same airline you’re currently at. I also live in a junior UAL hub. I had a line here before I was done with OE. 9 months in and I have weekends and holidays off. Reserve won’t be bad at all for you as you live in base. The water is warm. Welcome!

10-27-2022 | 08:47 AM

#37

horrido27

Banned

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 1,629

Likes: 0

From: 756 Left Side

Living in Base..
Says it all.
Yes, our "reserve" rules suck. Yeah, I said it. But it's a bit better when you are local.
Don't look at it as ''how good/bad will life be on Reserve the first few years".. look at it as- "where do I want to be when I'm within 5 years of retiring?"
WB Capt, Senior WB FO? Semi Senior Narrow Body Capt.. BFund, days working, etc..

Good Luck with whatever you choose. Great to have choices like you do, these days!

Always
Motch

10-27-2022 | 11:07 AM

#38

01110011

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Dec 2018

Posts: 432

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueScholar

Sitting reserve in domicile is the best gig you can get, especially if it's convenient to get to and from the airport. People here will certainly ***** about getting "jerked around" by being put on short call or field standby a few times a month, but if you're fine with getting paid to sit home I'm sure you'll be happy. My experience with commuting to narrow body reserve the past 2 months has been 1 field standby and 2 short call stints, and I wasn't used on any of them. Not a bad gig if you were hanging out in your living room.

This is totally BES/Seasonally dependent. NB reserve I was breaking 90 hours a month easily, very few unused days unless you got back so late the night before you were basically worthless for the next one. I was by no means getting paid to hang out at home.