Those on Reserve at Airtran

[Secret Squirrel]

What are the ups and downs between bidding the two different reserve options. Do they use one more than another? Does either get Airport appreciation more than the other? CDO's? Flown more? I have heard FO reserves are not flying much lately. Can you call and volunteer or pick up trips you see in open time?

Thanks

 

[PCL_128]

I've actually been very happy with reserve overall, but I live in base. I never bid for early reserve (0400-1600), so I can't tell you much about that, but I've been on the later reserve (1000-2400) for a while. Ever since the beginning of fall, I've been used probably about 60% of the days I'm scheduled on reserve, and many of the days they use me are only one leg to or from home. Overall, I spend quite a bit of time at home. The pay is excellent, as I've averaged about 80-85 hours credit on 30-40 hours block. This month I've flown a bit more than usual, and I'm already over 90 hours credit. I only get CDOs occasionally, and airport appreciation seems to be rare. On days you're on reserve, you can call scheduling and ask for a trip that you see in open time, and they'll usually give it to you unless they've got someone on the list that is way low on credit, but you can't pick up anything on your days off. Hope that helps.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Does R1 go senior or junior? Do they call you often right at the 2 hour limit or do they usually give you some notice?

 

[PCL_128]

I wouldn't really say that R1 goes either senior or junior. It's kind of all over the map, but there is definitely more R1 available than regular RSV. I held R1 from my very first month on reserve. I've been called a few times right at the 2-hour callout, but it's usually a few hours more than that, and sometimes even the day before. If they call you to give you the 2-hour callout, it's usually for ready reserve, and they have something for you by the time you get there.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Well the award is out and I got R1. It works out better for me because of the commute from the north side of Atlanta. I was worried about getting the call at 6am to be there at 8am and getting stuck in traffic. We will see how it goes. Thanks for the info.

 

[another cfii]

I've actually been very happy with reserve overall, but I live in base. I never bid for early reserve (0400-1600), so I can't tell you much about that, but I've been on the later reserve (1000-2400) for a while. Ever since the beginning of fall, I've been used probably about 60% of the days I'm scheduled on reserve, and many of the days they use me are only one leg to or from home. Overall, I spend quite a bit of time at home. The pay is excellent, as I've averaged about 80-85 hours credit on 30-40 hours block. This month I've flown a bit more than usual, and I'm already over 90 hours credit. I only get CDOs occasionally, and airport appreciation seems to be rare. On days you're on reserve, you can call scheduling and ask for a trip that you see in open time, and they'll usually give it to you unless they've got someone on the list that is way low on credit, but you can't pick up anything on your days off. Hope that helps.

I have at least 16 days off so far this month on reserve. I even volunteer to fly last month (to catch an earlier flight home on the last day), and the response was "Sorry, you have too much credit already", and i had 75 hours credit at that time.

Though, i've seen some reserves hog up lots of flying, and make 100+ these couple months.

If they do call you and ask for you to show up inside the 2 hour window, please politely decline it. Scheduling already has been strictly enforcing the contract, i.e. deny dropping of reserve days, "herb" removing RSV days w/o pay. If we continue to let them erode our existing contract, who knows what they'll do next.

 

[PCL_128]

If they do call you and ask for you to show up inside the 2 hour window, please politely decline it.

It's a great way to get out of having to work, too. "How quick can you be here? We really need someone quick!" Oh, I don't know. Probably take the full two hours. "Nevermind - CLICK."

 

[another cfii]

It's a great way to get out of having to work, too. "How quick can you be here? We really need someone quick!" Oh, I don't know. Probably take the full two hours. "Nevermind - CLICK."

Yep... It isn't the regionals anymore, we shouldn't have to bail them out time after time. (Since they herb me 2 months in a row)

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Yep... It isn't the regionals anymore, we shouldn't have to bail them out time after time. (Since they herb me 2 months in a row)

"HERB YOU"?????

 

[ATLboeing]

I think it's URP - unused reserve period...