Then you screw the reserve person. The penalty is to the reserve who gets the 2 hour call out then, or the standby at the end of the shift getting in to the mind set of going home. It doesnt phase a scheduler, they do a couple of key strokes and call the next person on the list.
Maybe its just me, but the more time I could have before a trip the easier it is to deal with. I could take the worst trip loaded the night before and come in with a good mind set over getting called out 2 hours before, having to rush around and getting to the planes minutes before departure and then checking EQ and setting up a galley.
If I call in sick, its the day before and before reserve assignments are loaded.
First off, let me clarify my response. I know that the scheduler shouldn't care one bit when I or anyone else calls in sick. Second, if I am sick the day before prior to 1900, then I will call in sick. Third, I NEVER call in sick in the middle of the night, that is dumb. All that does is invite a middle of the night call to someone. If I think it might hurt a commuter, then I only call in around sign in. I don't think this hurts any reserve. It either is going to go to a standby, someone who has volunteered for a short call out or leave understaffed. Almost every flight out of IOR after X-Mas but before New Years will be atleast understaffed by one or more. People like the extra cash. If the person is on standby, then they are already on the clock. They just need to work for the money, instead of sleeping on the couch. In the end, I am trying to do my part to stop the 0300 call for 1920 departure and the short call out. I am trying to not inconveience anyone else because of my illness.