I've heard there is a UAL 777 CA and a UAL 747 CA, both voluntary furloughs, are in the first CAL training class. They might be able provide a good comparison between the operations. Although, if they haven't been on reserve at all for 25 years, it could be a rude awakening.

 

That is great to see, Im sure CAL mgt never thought that two of their highest paid pilots would be 737 F/o's. Wonder if they will stick around when UA recalls?

 

I'm in the first class also and was a 320 Capt. Lots of reserve time in that seat so should remember right away the good, bad and ugly of reserve and a comparison of the 2.

 

I look forward to hearing your comparisons and your almost assured "no" vote when the time comes.

 

Good for those/you guys..... making of mockery of their Jeffed up airline. You will be truly shocked at life on reserve at CAL during busy months.

 

Well, per the contract you are still going to benefit financially if you know your contract.

If you get within 4.5 of your MPG you can ask scheduling to release you for your remaining reserve days. If and when they don't you are going to get 4.5 hours of pay for each of those four days you mention (18 hours) or the value of the what you actually flew (including DH), whichever is greater.

So if you are a B reserve and you requested release at 72 hours (w/ a 76 hour MPG) and they didn't, you will get a minimum of 90 hours of pay for the month anyway. Remember it gets added to your total credit line value and not your guarantee.

If they DO release you, you don't get any reduction in guarantee and then have more days off for the month. So you are either getting pay or more days off.

It's not like you can't benefit from the "leveling" mechanism you mention. You made it sound like you are stuck at less than guarantee because you can't pick up a trip. You just have to call to be released for your remaining reserve days so they note it on your master schedule. Then, of course, follow up with a pay claim like I did on the first day of the following bid period.

 

There are dozens of things I'd to hear the comparison on. CRM, CA's authority, CA's respect among other employee groups, level of enthusiasm for helping the company, treatment by scheduling, quality of trips, treatment by CPs, to name a few.

 

You aren't following along here. Your example is a reserve already at 71.5 hours who calls in for RMPG. I'm specifically referring to leveling with regard to aggressive pickup. Maybe I wasnt clear in my post. Example: pilot has a 4 day block of reserve remaining for the month, and currently has 51.5 hours of credit going into this last work block. In this example, I am unable to aggressively pick up a 4 day trip that is worth 20+ hours since that would take me to within 4.5 hours. The reason I want to pick the trip up is that it benefits my commute to do so. Instead, I sit on a$$ because I can't pick up and Scheduling also bypasses me for trips because they will bring me to within 4.5 hours of MPG. Other reserves with less time get the trips, I sit without ever reaching the trigger point of 71.5 hours. The company benefits, you don't.

 

And don't forget the opposite of leveling which is, once you have gotten with 4.5 of your MPG, you are now first to fly, and on the most butt-kicking productive trips. If they're paying you an extra 4.5 per day, they're going to get their money's worth. It almost seems like they're punishing you for letting them make you fly so much.

 

Yes those highly most butt kicking productive trips on reserve. All the line holders drop their productive trips into open time for less productive ones.