jaflapilot

Amen! I don't know why all airlines don't do this, and don't give me the "paying your dues" crap. The majority of the seniority list didn't sit reserve for 2-3 years. I've been on reserve for 2+ years, most guys sit reserve for 2-3 months. The biggest drawback about reserve is finances. Line holders have the opportunity to credit 80,85,90,95 hours each month, where on reserve you will VERY RARELY break guarantee. It always turns my stomach when I hear some guy bragging how he's crediting 110 hours this month. Also, if you commute, you have to maintain a crash pad (150-300 a month depending on where you are based) and a second car if you don't live by public transit to the airport.

Reserve compared to holding a line is like two different jobs. When movement is stagnant, guys stuck on reserve bear the brunt continuously until hiring picks up or guys retire or whatever. Line holders may see some decrease in line credit value or quality of trips or whatnot but nothing compared to being stuck on reserve with no end in sight. I don't understand why this wasn't fixed years ago. When movement is stagnant for lets say, six months, then we should go to a system where the bottom 75% of the seniority list has some days of reserve on their schedule. If your senior, then maybe you only have one or two days. If your junior, then maybe seven or eight.

Of course this will NEVER HAPPEN! Understandably, no one is willing to give up anything to help out the junior guys. Don't be sold on the whole "brotherhood" stuff. It isn't there, it doesn't exist.