iadfo

Someone else on the board shared a CAL contract with me and I spent some time reading the scheduling and reserve section. The following observations are a comparison to UA reserve for UA pilots interested in going there when the offer comes.

-The CAL guys on this forum are absolutely correct when they say their reserve system sucks.

-All reserves are short call (Three hours to push instead of 4) except the top 25% unless they want it. (LC= 9hr to push instead of 13@ UA) All reserves are LC at UA until converted.(max 7 per month and you are bypassed after 5)

-Assignments are made in inverse seniority order (with many caveats) vs strict FIFO @ UA

-4 movable RDOs a month VS 0 @ UA

-You are bypassed for an assignment if you have less than 4.5 hours remaining to guarantee for someone who has flown less.

-Long call reserves are only released from phone availability for the 9 hours prior to their show time vs released when assigned for UA.

-Unlimited SC conversions for CAL long call reserves, VS 7 for UA. (you do get 1 hr of pay for each conversion beyond two at cal)

- SC reserves can be given phone availability window prior to scheduled show time.

CAL guys please correct me if I got any of this wrong, I'm just trying to highlight some of the major differences in UA reserve to help them make an informed decision. I'm not saying UA reserve is wonderful, it just sucks less.

Dicecal

Well said, UAL work rules need significant improvement as it is...

APC225

We'll find out in about six weeks or so a true comparison from the CAL "new hires" that will have been under both reserve systems. Looking forward to their view. I fully expect them to be in total shock at flying to the FARs, but maybe not.

LeeFXDWG

Although I won't be participating....practice bleeding isn't my thing, I'm sure a few of the furloughs got a little taste of the CAL type reserve during the LCO reserve system put in place with BK1 contract. 10 days off. Movable RDO's and extension to trips. 95 hours a month. Etc.

About the only good thing about that was timing out on the 25th or so of the month. Of course, you dealt with your 4 day turning into a 6 day, 29.59 trip, etc. Oh, and at least we got a day off in domicile.

Even with all that, the LC/SC rules when that came to UAL is still better than CAL's from what I've read.

Okay, better is a truly relative term in this case. Should have said sucks less.

Frats,
Lee

Probe

I am a voluntary furlough. I worked under UAL reserve for about 5 years out of my 12 working there. At first, reserve was OK. 4 hour callout (unofficial). FIFO (first in first out). You knew where you were on the list. Then the "mandatory rest period". Now you had no idea where you were on the list. Made the system worse. Then the short call-long call. I did this last one for my last 3 years ending 3 years ago. It was the first big improvement to the reserve system. It worked pretty good for most of us. It was the probably the only improvement in quality of life in my 12 years. Every other "change" was for the worse, minus the short term C2000 paycheck.

I don't know anything about the C-teams reserve system. UAL's, at the end, was actually pretty good. Not the best, but not the worst either. The rest of the work rules? They may not have been FAR's, but they were not far off.

EWRflyr

For the most part, I think this is a good thing. We can debate this fact, but why should one reserve be used on all his days and exceed guarantee when other reserves sit home and many hours below guarantee? Remember we aren't talking seniority here as there are times when even a senior reserve can be flown a lot while a junior reserve hardly flies. The company essentially does what it has to within call block assignments to cover trips, seniority isn't the primary consideration all else being equal.

Then the opposite happens as well. One month I was the most senior pilot on reserve and I flew 0 hours that entire calendar month. Sat in the crashpad on call. It actually got to be fun the last week seeing what would pop open and making sure the company used the reserve assignment rules correctly so I wouldn't fly. Yes, being a commuter, it sucked sitting in a crashpad, but at that point I wanted one month where I didn't do squat.

I can see both sides of the argument, but so little of our contract actually honors seniority I'm open to hearing other's opinions.

Except on the first day of reserve. If a long-call reserve aggressively picks up a trip during the 0900-1100 window for the next day (his first reserve day), he is released until show. That's great if you can find a late afternoon, evening show, especially if you live in or near the base.

liquid

Iad,

Thanks for taking to time to be informed.

liquid

SlickMachine

WILL be given a phone availability window. The only time you won't is if your duty day is edging against legal limits, and even then they will typically give you a window of 30 minutes prior (as an example) so they reserve the right to change your assignment at the last minute.

SlickMachine

Its good for the company. Its called "leveling" and it is a cost benefit for the airline. Personally, if I've been worked all month and i'm approaching guarantee, I would like the ability to continue flying and benefit financially from breaking guarantee since my QOL is already wrecked. Also, there was NOTHING more annoying than arriving at 4.5 hours from MPG as a reserve commuter with 4 days of reserve to go, and consequently being unable to aggressive pickup that 4 day in open time that started later and ended earlier. Aggressive pickup is the only thing that works to help commuting reserve pilots, and even that is limited thanks to this leveling provision.

APC225

If there are any days over coverage later in the month (and that's a big "if"), you can personal drop it and can "back into" being within 4.5 of MPG since you've just lowered your MPG. I've done this on more than one occasion.