People have said that reserve at United sucks compared to other airlines. I’m not familiar with how other airlines do reserve, what is something that the others do that could improve reserve at UAL?

 

Field Standby

 

Have a limit the on the amount of short call

 

That’s it?

 

Pretty sure WN gets more days off.

 

Saying our reserve sucks more than others is debatable. We have limited ability to switch days because the company manipulates the pool display (the number of required reserves on any day), schedulers create as many or as few short calls and field standbys as they see fit with zero oversight or consideration for commuters, and scheduling can target specific people for assignments by building short calls. There are also a lot of little barbs like last day of reserve going into a lineholder month, global reserve rolled days, and visiting reserve that can bite you when you least expect it.

If you live in base and are willing to learn the in and outs it isn't bad. This is my third airline that I have sat reserve at and reserve is not meant to be enjoyable at any of them. Like any airline you will fly a ton in the busy months with a lot of unknowns in your schedule. First officer staffing is heavier than captain reserves so it is slightly more forgiving. The locals tend to scoop up the short calls and the commuters pick up the late shows. I have seen comparisons to delta where "they only can be on short call 6 times a month" but I haven't had six shortcalls unless I was actively looking for the extra pay.

It could be a lot better but it isn't the hellscape that some make it out to be.

 

Here are 4 things United does differently:

- has field standby, 4 hours
- cannot preference long-call, AM, or PM reserve. You are awarded long-call but generally get reassigned to short call.
- you cannot pick up extra flying on an off-day that goes on top of your credit.
- you cannot work any premium trips

 

If you VDO is that above guarantee or towards it?

 

If you VDO on reserve is that above guarantee or towards it? If you get used obviously

 

Just look at how senior reserve goes at different airlines and you will know how good/bad it really is.

At AA, reserve typically goes fairly senior to guys that live in base, then a bunch of line holders, and then reserve at the bottom of the seniority list. Being senior on reserve is cake, and lots of people choose to do that. I know people that could hold good lines that prefer to bid reserve because it is pretty easy with lots of chances for premium. Even getting premium on reserve at AA, you can often get your day off back if you work it right and know the tricks - and get paid 150% plus the credit for the reserve on those days, so about 250%.

Asking how good/bad reserve is won't tell you the whole story unless you see how senior/junior reserve goes.