Any "Latest & Greatest about Delta?" Part 2
01-10-2024, 10:15 PM
#4081
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Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,014
Oh, I don’t think the reserve changes are enough to merit changing from flying a line to flying reserve…I just think those who are forced to (or choose) reserve see a better landscape now than they did before C19. And it’s a better experience for those who begrudgingly bid reserve in training/vacation months to benefit from the pay efficiency in those bid periods.
I have a hunch that bidding SCs (not yet implemented) will be a pro for pilots. And if we ever get paid SCC when assigned/started vs just unused…local pilots will soak up the vast majority and everyone wins.
I have a hunch that bidding SCs (not yet implemented) will be a pro for pilots. And if we ever get paid SCC when assigned/started vs just unused…local pilots will soak up the vast majority and everyone wins.
Agree with the last part. If in the future we change SCC to used or unused guys will bid it, especially if it goes up to 2hrs. Currently though, it’s not worth it. I bid reserve by choice and live in base but would never bid SC based on the current language.
01-11-2024, 05:04 AM
#4082
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,614
Reserve QOL is dependent on multiple factors.
-PWA
-Equipment
-Trip mix
-Staffing
-Personal tolerance of variability
Commuting to ATL 350 res is an entirely different animal than NYC 737. The difference between NB and WB is amplified on reserve. I've commuted to WB reserve by choice multiple times, even under the old PWA. I'd never do it on a domestic category.
-PWA
-Equipment
-Trip mix
-Staffing
-Personal tolerance of variability
Commuting to ATL 350 res is an entirely different animal than NYC 737. The difference between NB and WB is amplified on reserve. I've commuted to WB reserve by choice multiple times, even under the old PWA. I'd never do it on a domestic category.
01-11-2024, 05:40 AM
#4083
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Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: stake holder ir.delta.com
Posts: 10,456
I asked the union guys about this during the road shows for C19. I was met with a stone wall. They wouldn't even broach the topic. Other than to say PS was DOA. I like the cap idea and that's what I brought up to the reps. Kinda like S2, but with more horsepower. Give every pilot 6 or whatever a year and let them figure out how to use them. By every pilot, that eliminates the non-commuters complaining that commuters are getting a benifit they are not.
01-11-2024, 05:46 AM
#4084
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Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: stake holder ir.delta.com
Posts: 10,456
From a practical standpoint as a commuter, nothing about the new reserve language entices me to bid reserve over a line. If you check into a hotel and get called out for a trip on SC, then you’ve just lost the SCC that would’ve paid for the hotel.
Above all, SC assignments remain unpredictable and difficult to control. If we had a way to severely reduce/eliminate SC for senior reserves, or at least sequence all monthly SC assignments into one consecutive block, then commuting to reserve would become more practical.
For those reasons and others, the vast majority of commuters continue to bid lines. Our PWA commuter clause falls well short of industry standard and needs improvement.
Above all, SC assignments remain unpredictable and difficult to control. If we had a way to severely reduce/eliminate SC for senior reserves, or at least sequence all monthly SC assignments into one consecutive block, then commuting to reserve would become more practical.
For those reasons and others, the vast majority of commuters continue to bid lines. Our PWA commuter clause falls well short of industry standard and needs improvement.
01-11-2024, 05:54 AM
#4085
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,599
It actually works against you because 2 are all that can be assigned unless everyone already has 2. I don't really understand why commuters would want to do reserve. 18 hours is great but you are going to do some SC and can't pick your trips. Some commuters I know do YS but if you can hold a line, what's the point? Might as well bid a line and exercise your seniority. If I didn't live within the SC drive window I wouldn't do reserve but since I do it's awesome.
01-11-2024, 06:00 AM
#4086
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Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: stake holder ir.delta.com
Posts: 10,456
I think the short call average is slightly under 3 per month. International you might get a 3 day trip and 3 shortcalls. Not a bad life being gone 6 days in a month. Alternating reserve with a regular line can also be extremily lucrative and provide a great QOL if you know the secrets!
01-11-2024, 06:09 AM
#4087
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 10,518
It actually works against you because 2 are all that can be assigned unless everyone already has 2. I don't really understand why commuters would want to do reserve. 18 hours is great but you are going to do some SC and can't pick your trips. Some commuters I know do YS but if you can hold a line, what's the point? Might as well bid a line and exercise your seniority. If I didn't live within the SC drive window I wouldn't do reserve but since I do it's awesome.
01-11-2024, 06:27 AM
#4088
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Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: stake holder ir.delta.com
Posts: 10,456
Exercising your seniority is great. Trips have definitely improved but some of the best deals out there are reserve trips even with being able to SWP after PCS stops. Yes, you're rolling the dice on getting a bad bid packet trip, but I've had plenty of bad bid packet trips as a lineholder that I couldn't beg to be rerouted out of and nothing commutable ever showed up for me to swap into. And, if you're on a 4 day stretch, you can lower your RAW group and days of availability to YS a trip that's 3 days. If you finish after 6pm, you are pretty much untouchable on day 4, especially in low ALV months when senior pilots are panic WSing.
01-11-2024, 06:34 AM
#4089
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Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 10,518
Yeah, I just don't get it. Glad it works for you. I used to bid a line and then drop to roughly the GS trigger -5. Pick up one 4 day GS and and make about 105-110 hours a month working 16 days. Not bad, but not great. However, I knew when and where I was going and could pick my layovers. To each thier own.
01-11-2024, 06:53 AM
#4090
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Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: stake holder ir.delta.com
Posts: 10,456
I'm not trying to convince you to do it. I'm just saying it's not as bad as some people make it out to be. You obviously have to be strategic when you bid it. On the 320, some seniority guys aren't even getting short calls. I have a friend who hasn't had to touch an airplane since early December.
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