Reserve Flight Attendants

[Lucifer]

Does UA require that their reserve Flight Attendants remain in base while on duty? How does your reserve system work?

 

[USCREW]

Good lord, I guess you will post this everywhere.
If you're not in base while on duty, how do you get to your trip on time? If you're new, you will get quick-called; you won't have the time to fly in.

 

[Lucifer]

Good lord, I guess you will post this everywhere.
If you're not in base while on duty, how do you get to your trip on time? If you're new, you will get quick-called; you won't have the time to fly in.


USAirways F/A's ARE the only F/A's required to sit in their base and waste away until they are called out for a trip.
Most other airlines have at least a four hour call out and are not required to be in their base. Or you are not on reserve for the whole month.
So you will see this posted everywhere because I am trying to get enough information on other airlines reserve system because the reserve system at US is horrible and you wouldn't know it unless you've been on it. A proposal needs to be put forth to the union to have it changed.

 

[donttouchthebeauty]

Good lord, I guess you will post this everywhere.
If you're not in base while on duty, how do you get to your trip on time? If you're new, you will get quick-called; you won't have the time to fly in.

THis is INCORRECT... if you are on READY reserve then you have a minimum of a 4 hour call out - they may ask you if you can make it sooner but you are not obligated... if you are on call in reserve then you find out the day before (at appx. between 5 and 6) what you are doing for the next day - I do commute and it isnt hard - depending on your base and where you live. however i never have under 85 hours... so the minimum you will have is 4 hours to report for your trip... there is no such thing as a "quick call"......

 

[Informed1]

THis is INCORRECT... if you are on READY reserve then you have a minimum of a 4 hour call out - they may ask you if you can make it sooner but you are not obligated... if you are on call in reserve then you find out the day before (at appx. between 5 and 6) what you are doing for the next day - I do commute and it isnt hard - depending on your base and where you live. however i never have under 85 hours... so the minimum you will have is 4 hours to report for your trip... there is no such thing as a "quick call"......

I used to work for mainline American and yes, their reserves have to be in base when on duty. However, unlike US, they have a rotating reserve system so you are not endlessly, and for your entire career, on reserve. There is a cutoff in each base for rotating reserve, once you have enough seniority to put yourself in the upper percentage, you no longer rotate. My spouse flies for Soutwest, and they too have to be in base when on reserve. But, like American they have a rotating reserve.

 

[Flyboy4u]

THis is INCORRECT... if you are on READY reserve then you have a minimum of a 4 hour call out - they may ask you if you can make it sooner but you are not obligated... if you are on call in reserve then you find out the day before (at appx. between 5 and 6) what you are doing for the next day - I do commute and it isnt hard - depending on your base and where you live. however i never have under 85 hours... so the minimum you will have is 4 hours to report for your trip... there is no such thing as a "quick call"......
[/quote

4 Hour callout? Are you sure you have done your research? You are talking about foriegn carriers right?


What Unity?]

 

[laura62]

FlyBoy,
You posted this question on the UA board. Therefore I will assume that you want to know what the UA/AFA contract states;correct?
Although it appears that DontTouchTheBeauty works for US his/her answer is, in essence correct.

We at UA have a 4 hour minimum call-out. "Technically" there is no such thing as a short call. If we are given less that 4 hours, we cannot refuse the trip. We are to try to make it. "Try" being the operative word. Yes, That means we may have to show up at the airport but if we're there before the 4 hour period expires then we can't (or shouldn't) be "disciplined" for missing a trip.

My personal experiences when I was a reserve was, during one call that was less than 4 hours, I told them I may not make the "short call" but would try to make it and they released me. Another time I tried the same thing but had to show up at the airport (in 4), but of course the trip was already gone. So I got my call out pay for showing up. Another, I made damn sure I made the trip even as it was less than 4 hours as it was a cherry international trip.

Flyboy, it seems that you work for AA. What are AA/APFA reserve call-out rules?

 

[JAMAKE1]

Just to add to what Laura62 already has mentioned...if you are a new-hire on probabation, it's probably not a good idea to risk commuting home while on reserve. As Laura mentioned, you cannot refuse a trip with less than 4 hours call time, but you will want to make every effort to get to the airport as soon as possible. It's not something to gamble with during the probationary period, especially if you are based where there are co-terminals, such as IAD-DCA-BWI, SFO-OAK, and LAX-BUR.

My best advice is that a new-hire, while on probation, obtain a crash pad and plan on roosting during the duration of the reserve schedule.

On a different note, the lines of flying for February, particularly N. American flying, is appallingly bad. The trip ID's (read trip pairings) are among the worst I have ever seen. To be blunt, the flying sucks in the N. America operation. Early check-ins, long duty days, multiple legs, short field layovers...these trips are detrimental to my spirit and well-being... :down:

 

[jimntx]

"USAirways F/A's ARE the only F/A's required to sit in their base and waste away until they are called out for a trip."

You are incorrect. At AA if you are on reserve, you have to be within 2 hours of your base airport on any day you are on call. And, that is a 24-hour day--midnight to midnight. IIRC, CO is the same. If you are off today, but on call tomorrow (starting at midnight tonight), you would have to commute to base today. Once it hits midnight, the 2-hour requirement kicks in.

At AA, if you are on reserve and don't get to the airport within the specified time, it is a missed trip. And, if you are on newhire probation, it is a termination offense.