This is all great info, thank you. Just almost timed out in iAH due to the ramp closure for the TSRA that I understand happen most every day. (We had to accept an extension to finish the day.) Kinda reinforced the reality of commuting to IAH.

Thing is, I want to fly as much as I can. What I dread is sitting in a hotel room for 5 days on my own dime without flying. So now I'm just trying to learn how best to actually fly and not sit. Sounds like the APU at 11 am base time is the only real option?

Also, with an 18 hour callout, I don't have to be an an airport hotel. Are there any nicer areas within an hour or two drive? AUS is a fun place but it's 3 hours away. Where do all the UAL pilots live? Please pardon my ignorance but I haven't a clue about IAH...

That's a really unlikely scenario. APU usually works if you want to fly.

As for where to stay ... hertz has a great united discount. Just explore. (chat gpt has also gotten really good for those types of questions)

Just APU like crazy. I sat reserve for 12 months recently in IAH by choice to get the days off I wanted. I also like to fly and averaged 100 hours credit every month. You could also VDO to try and control your schedule a little too, I had some but rather limitied success with this.

As a side note, I don't extend. If they can't make my day work in 14 hours of duty that's their problem. I'm ugly and need my beauty sleep!

Can someone post United phone leash policy on long call reserve both current and when the switch to 18 hours occurs.Is it like Delta's where there is no obligation to be phone contactable as long as you make a schedule check to insure you can always make a 18 hour call out or a more traditional that requires phone availability at all times with a time designated return call. Basically can you hit the course for 18 holes or head out fishing without a phone or a area of no coverage.

Man, some of you all are making commuting sound terrifying while on probabtion/reserve. So, plan on spnding all days including day before in base? If you miss a commute, you're fired? Is that really the deal at UA?

Which of the junior 737 bases might someone get off reserve the quickest?

No it’s not bad, follow the contract and don’t do anything like sit short call in a different city etc. Aggressive pick up works great especially in busy months.

Holding a line there’s two definitions, one is above the G line where you are guaranteed a line. The other is bidding a line and getting it even though it’s not guaranteed (lineholders bidding reserve creating spare trips). Many times people hold a line by waving elements in their bid such as minimum days off between trips etc.

You also now get paid for unused short call, so that helps with hotels.

So, is there an easy way to see what trips have been assigned each day to regular line holders and to reserves?

Not really. You could take a screen shot of the open trips in the morning and then check "all trips" on crew companion later.

When you try to APU a trip, and it fits your silo or silo -1 for that day reserves, do you automatically just get it (assuming you're the first to bid for it at 11 am) or does it go into some sort of manual process where CS decides if you get it or not?

Seniority based. If a senior reserve wants it they get it. But the crew desk is not involved. (at least i dont remember them being involved when i was on reserve.)