Reserve at SWA...

[needmo]

Do you have the flexibility with your reserve schedule to drop/swap in order to break guarantee?

 

[SWA Bubba]

Do you have the flexibility with your reserve schedule to drop/swap in order to break guarantee?

Not so much, in the flexibility department.

You can swap or give away reserve blocks with/to other pilots, but not with the company. You can't break a block up and give part away either, with one exception: if you have a multi-day block, and you fly a pairing leaving you with one day left (e.g. get back on day two of a three day block, or on day three of a four day block), then you can give away the last day. This actually gets done a lot, and often a single day gets picked up by someone living in the domicile, because it's a lot less likely that the company will use a single day, and someone gets paid 6 tfp to stay at home.

The other thing a reserve pilot can do, is pick up extra flying on your non-reserve days. If you do, this is computed separately, and is over and above your reserve guarantee. However, the computer assumes block for the unused reserve days on your line (6 hours/day if your block is =< 3 days, and 5 hours/day if >= 4 days), so you won't be able to pick up extra, if it causes a 30-in-7, or 100-hours-in-month violation. This is so you don't pick up and fly a bunch right before a reserve block, and then the company can't use you due to FAA block hour limitations.

Also, for reserve lineholders, the entire month is looked at for guarantee, not individual blocks. That means, if they fly the crap out of you the first two blocks, and then don't use you on the third, you still may not break your guarantee. On the other hand, if a regular lineholder should pick up several reserve blocks from someone, they're accounted individually for overflying or guarantee.

The reality is, that if you have a reserve line, you're usually stuck with it as is. Typically, the only thing you can give away is a single day, as mentioned above. This is especially true in the months where there's a lot of flying to be done, when it's harder to give anything low-paying away to another pilot; everyone's trying to give away, so they can pick up premium from the company.

A lot of people are unhappy with some parts of how the way the reserve system works (there's a whole chapter in the contract about it, and you should familiarize yourself with the minutia if you're going to be on reserve). No one ever cared about it until the last few years, because no one was ever on reserve for very long before getting a regular line; therefore, it wasn't worth the "negotiating capital" to change it. But now, after that 2-year period of no hiring, and the current "flat growth until 15% ROIC" mantra, the junior guys in each seat are on reserve for a lot longer. These guys are therefore feeling the reserve pain for a lot longer, so now it IS worth the union's effort to change it. In fact, it's one of the three priorities in the current section six negotiations. Hopefully, it will be much improved with the next contract.

Hope that answered your questions!

Bubba

 

[fam62c]

What is the reserve guarantee and minimum days off on reserve lines? I've heard that everyone is on short call, is that the case? I've also heard that if they assign a trip to a reserve the trip continues to appear in open time until the reserve reports for the trip and can be "taken" by another pilot, is that true? I would imagine since SW has such a low percentage of the pilots on reserve compared to other majors that the reserves are flying most days?

 

[HowardBorden]

What is the reserve guarantee and minimum days off on reserve lines? I've heard that everyone is on short call, is that the case? I've also heard that if they assign a trip to a reserve the trip continues to appear in open time until the reserve reports for the trip and can be "taken" by another pilot, is that true? I would imagine since SW has such a low percentage of the pilots on reserve compared to other majors that the reserves are flying most days?

Minimum 15 days off. All reserve is short call, 2 hour minimum show time. Trip is available to be picked up by others until the reserve shows. A reserve line at SWA is similar to holding a line, You will be assigned to fly the vast majority of the time. During the year or so I spent on reserve I estimate not being assigned a trip less than 5% of the time.

 

[needmo]

Thanks for the replies. Just trying to figure out if it's better to stay reserve at the domicile I reside in or commute to another base as a line holder. Trying to maximize the paycheck!! Any constructive advice is welcome. Thanks again!!

 

[FlyinGuy]

Reserve at your house is always better than a commute. That is one man's opinion.

 

[Tripower455]

Reserve at your house is always better than a commute. That is one man's opinion.

Amen. Driving to the worst line in the system beats commuting to the best line in the system.

 

[Ty Webb]

Amen. Driving to the worst line in the system beats commuting to the best line in the system.

Not on this side of the partition!

Our best trips are commutable on both ends, and have 1 or 2 legs per day

Our worst trips begin with a flogging and finish with a redeye arrival at 0715

Sign me up for commuting to a good trip. . . . Especially the 24 hour layovers in Aruba, Cancun, Punta Cana, LAX, LAS or SFO.

 

[UALX727]

Actually...for several months I flew nothing but red-eye lines. Basically report 8:30pm for night turn from Mke to Phx and back or Vegas and back. Get done at 5:30 am and catch first flight home. It is great for commuters...key is sleeping during day between red-eyes. I would bid them at SWA if they did them.

Great thread...this is the kind of info I can use. I figured I'd just figure it out when I come over...but any kind of tips you guys have helps give us a head start. Thanks

 

[Tripower455]

Not on this side of the partition!

Our best trips are commutable on both ends, and have 1 or 2 legs per day

Our worst trips begin with a flogging and finish with a redeye arrival at 0715

Sign me up for commuting to a good trip. . . . Especially the 24 hour layovers in Aruba, Cancun, Punta Cana, LAX, LAS or SFO.

All of those trips are better because there is a commute attached to them?

 

[redflyer65]

Not on this side of the partition!

Our best trips are commutable on both ends, and have 1 or 2 legs per day

Sorry you won't find that here. Commute on one end or the other, but hardly ever on both.

And no redeyes, which I'm happy about. But to each their own.

 

[intooclose]

Can I see a show of hands? How many people want Ty to quit posting?

 

[27 driver]

All of those trips are better because there is a commute attached to them?

They are better because they are great lay overs on commutable trips. Not everyone lives in base. Commutable trips for those who don't live in base are huge for QOL. But I'm sure you knew that.

 

[Tripower455]

They are better because they are great lay overs on commutable trips. Not everyone lives in base. Commutable trips for those who don't live in base are huge for QOL. But I'm sure you knew that.

Really? Not everyone lives in base? Whodathunkit!

So, if you lived in base, those trips would be worse than if you commuted?

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think I'd enjoy those trips much more without the hassle and stress of a commute.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

Getting commutable trips when living in base is best of both worlds. Drive to work late and get done early, it's an extra half or full day off at home ( the best layover). Won't see that on the other side. But you guys go on keep justifying how good the am/pm shows are.

 

[redflyer65]

Getting commutable trips when living in base is best of both worlds. Drive to work late and get done early, it's an extra half or full day off at home ( the best layover). Won't see that on the other side. But you guys go on keep justifying how good the am/pm shows are.

The other part of the equation that nobody is mentioning is this...

If it's commutable on both ends, it's probably not going to pay very well. I like good overnight cities just like everyone else. But in the end, I come to work to make as much money as possible for the time away from home...period. Whether you commute or not.

Others might not see things the same as I do and that's their deal. I'd rather have it commutable on one end and pay more than commutable on both ends with low pay.

 

[Tripower455]

The bottom line is......

Driving to the worst line in the system beats commuting to the best line in the system. Every line, even reserve, is commutable when you live in domicile.

 

[vetrider]

The bottom line is......

Driving to the worst line in the system beats commuting to the best line in the system. Every line, even reserve, is commutable when you live in domicile.

+1. At another airline I've been on reserve for 10 of 16 years living in domicile and wouldn't trade with any commuting lineholder. My father went to FE at year 16 rather than commute to Cleveland for an FO position. Even back then his AME told him he could tell the commuters by their physical state alone.

 

[Tripower455]

+1. At another airline I've been on reserve for 10 of 16 years living in domicile and wouldn't trade with any commuting lineholder. My father went to FE at year 16 rather than commute to Cleveland for an FO position. Even back then his AME told him he could tell the commuters by their physical state alone.

I spent 6.5 of the first 10 years of my career on reserve. 2 of them were in domicile. I agree 100%. I'd rather drive to reserve or a crummy line than commute to a great line.

 

[needmo]

Agreed, that I'd prefer not to commute. But, what's the probability that I'll break guarantee on reserve on a regular basis?