Tenacvols

Thanks for the explanation.


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Otterbox

What is reserve like for Southwest? I've heard from former co-workers it's 4 days on, 3 days off but what else is there to it (short call? Long call times etc.)?

ZapBrannigan

No long call at SW.

FLY6584

Reserve at Southwest is awful especially if you are a commuter. There's really nothing good to say about it. You are literally a second class citizen. With that said it only took me 5 months to get off reserve and QOL has increased dramatically. I can't imagine east coast guys that had to commute to Oakland for years on reserve. I think I would have quit.

RJSAviator76

I'm currently on reserve and as Zap said... no long calls. You have 2 hours from notification to be at the airport... essentially 3 hours to push.

As FLY mentioned, it is kind of a second class citizen assignment for a number of reasons. For example, you don't have any trip ownership. If someone wants the reserve trip that you were assigned, they can just take it from you, and you're back on reserve. Also, they'll use you up to your guarantee, and then stop using you. Assuming you haven't picked up any additional flying, and you've flown productive trips on reserve and reached your monthly guarantee, you will be sitting the rest of your available days for free unless you're used. It's explained in detail here: https://swreservepilot.dreamwidth.org/384.html

Now, it's not all bad. For example, unlike at other major airlines, reserves at Southwest fly... A LOT. You're far more likely to fly than sit on the ground... and if you're a commuter, that means less time at crashpad or hotel. You can also give away your reserve blocks. I've had 3-day block taken from me, I've also had people calling me offering to take my 1-day reserve from me before my trip got rerouted/extended. This can work in your favor. Lots of good gouge on that blog...

One last thing, lots of hiring going on. Chances are you won't be on reserve for very long, and if you live in domicile, it's a completely different gig than if you're a commuter.

flyguy81

I had a 4 day block last weekend and was used 3 days. Finishing a 4 day block today and not used at all. So 5 days unused this month so far with 2 more blocks left. I live in base so it's basically 5 more days off. Won't break rsv guarantee but I've picked up a couple day trips so I'm above guarantee. Rsv in base is cake.

tacamoflyer

I was a reserve commuter for 18 months. It's miserable. It is a de facto b scale for pay and scheduling. The ONLY good thing about SWA reserve compared to other airlines is you get 15 days off a month.
Agree that it would be better if you lived in domicile, but you still get paid less per day, are scheduling's beotch, and are not eligible for premium pay in a move up, elitt, or a lot of other goodies that line holders get.
The website above has the nuts and bolts of it, but ask anyone who is forced to live with the scarlet R, and most will tell you they hate it.
When I went from sitting reserve to holding a line, I drastically reduced the number of days I work and drastically increased my ability to move days, drop some days, and work extra for more pay. I had a line in May that ended up being 9 days of work. I just added on ad hoc and made a killing and still worked less than I would with a reserve line that paid guarantee.

ZapBrannigan

For those who have worked for other carriers, SW uses reserves completely differently than any other airline. At most airlines reserves are insurance - meant to cover sick calls etc. So you rarely fly, rarely break guarantee, and, if you live in base, can be a great deal to spend time at home. SW uses reserves to cover open time they dont want to pay premium for. So you almost always fly, consistently break guarantee, and lack many of the contractual pay protections provided to lineholders. Also, SW is big about saying "our reserves get more days off than anyone elses" -- which is true IF you live in domicile. Remember that there are only a handful of commutable pairings at SW (reserve or otherwise) so you will typically commute in the night before an AM pairing, or commute home the morning after a PM pairing. So even though you have 15 days off, you'll spend part of 4-5 of those commuting into your domicile. (whether you are on reserve or not)

FLY6584

Hey Zap as someone who recently got off reserve I agree with everything you said in regards to weekend reserves. My experience with weekday reserve is that you sit A LOT which can get very expensive for a commuter like myself. You just have to simply look at ELITT and see the lack of weekday trips that end up in open time and need covering by reserves.

I think our weekday reserves are closer to what other airlines have in terms of insurance. Great if you live in base and want to sit at home, but bad if you're commuting and paying for a hotel.

This is why as soon as I can hold weekday reserve in MCO that's what I'll be bidding for.

ZapBrannigan

I only bid one month of weekday reserve. It was last October and i did it on purpose hoping to spend time at home. Wouldnt you know it? They used me EVERY day and i broke guarantee! Lol