Machsp

Do you commute and bid LCR? It appears the company makes use of all short call conversions, effectively making all reserves short call reserves, and if you're a commuter, there is 0 benefit. How about we go to short and long call bidding?

Verdell

I think the answer you will get is: it depends. There are guardrails, for example, on speading out shortcalls between available reserves. Also maximum number of short calls. In an understaffed category you might rarely get short calls because open time is assigned and they run out of reserves for SC. Overstaffed you might get several short calls up to, but not exceeding the limit.

I would also call the statement "effectively making all reserves short call reserves" completely false.

ancman

Agreed. I’d prefer to see LC and SC reserve separated during the monthly bidding process, with severe restrictions on escalating LC to SC.

AA does this already. SC goes senior among those who live in base. LC reserves are rarely ever escalated to SC.

As a commuter, 18-hour LC means little to me when the company can randomly assign 6 short calls every month. In most categories, that means either a rotation or SC on the vast majority of on-call days.

Machsp

Exactly my point. I think what would be better is going down to 14 hours LC and add short call reserves in the bid package. No conversions. LC are first to be utilized.

Setec Astronomy

I did notice that there was a huge increase in short call assignment right after the contract was complete and I do believe that this is fleet dependent. With that being said, I had a conversation with a C44 rep during the road show that I was concerned short call assignments would increase due to the LC going to 18hrs, and they were certain they wouldn’t because of the pay bump if you aren’t used. Honestly, I don’t think delta cares much about a few million dollars plus or minus when it comes to utilizing staffing as they see fit so long as flights are covered accordingly. However, I did mention to that rep during the conversation that we need an additional protection mechanism beyond the short call assignment limit and that was “we need to limit short call assignments per fleet, by seat, through a percentage in each base with each percentage being the same”. For example, you can’t short call more than 20 percent of pilots on reserve per day, per seat, per fleet, per base. I’m not saying 20% is what it should be, but for example that was my idea. I think short call assignments may reduce in the future but not sure I want to bet on that and maybe they already have but for a while I was short called every single week for months and always on the first day. Someone else may already have presented this idea and maybe that was something the NC considered but clearly short call is something that we need to make sure isn’t abused in any fleet. I’m not saying this is the answer and someone smarter could chime in but I do think it’s a reasonable move that falls somewhat in line with how we already do reserve if that is the position someone is in or the way they choose to bid.

CBreezy

What?! Why are you trying to give away 18 hour call out? This is a huge gain in QOL for a lot of commuters.

I commute and the new rules in our contract make reserve incredibly beneficial.

CBreezy

I would only support SC lines if it's purely voluntary. A junior pilot shouldn't be forced into SC all month under any circumstance.

In understaffed categories, that MIGHT be the case but that's how it's always been when understaffed. In appropriately staffed categories, you'll get a few SCs and a few trips a month.

Gone Flying

I have commuted to LCR under both the old and new rules. 0 complaints under the new rules, in fact I have bid it intentionally in some months even though I had lineholder seniority.

it’s summer and we are coming out of the biggest IROP we have had in a long time. Having to go sit a handful of SCs a month is part of bidding reserve.

honestly the only change to SC I would really like to see is making YS always go above assigned SCs, if someone wants YSs their 6 th SC and an another pilot does not want one, the YS should get it. Same logic with bidding them in PBS, let those that want them have their fill before we start assigning them to those that don’t.

oh and maybe some pay for any SC, used or unused.

Gunfighter

Are you currently commuting to reserve? NB or WB?Is this question based on experience? I'm genuinely curious about the foundation for the inquiry, because it doesn't match my experience as a WB reserve commuter. I get 2-3 SC per month, which more than covers the hotel/dining costs. Most of my res flying is from LC.

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Valar Morghulis

UAL has, as I understand it, a “no short call” reserve option that is biddable by seniority. Only a small portion of lines are eligible. No pay hit, but the rest of the people on reserve sit 6 SC a month, vs 2-3 that we do here.

Not everything has to be tit for tat, but that’s what the alternative looks like.