Today, February 28th, is my last scheduled Day Off in my Reserve month. Tomorrow, I start my final block of 3 duty days before I begin flying my March schedule to Amsterdam on the 4th.
Given all that information...
Do you think I'll fly this month?
Friday, February 28, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
TONY: Rats! They found me.
I have been dutifully checking my schedule in CCS every night at 9pm, as directed by my peers, for my "acknowledgements" from Crew Scheduling. As of the 23rd of the month, I've received 3: all the same, all re-confirming that I am Call-Out G and on duty the following day from 1100 until 1900.
It was always the same. Until last night, that is. Although I'm not a fan of the phrasing,
"Sh!t just got real!'
Shortly after 2100, I realized that I hadn't yet checked for an acknowledgement coming from my 2 scheduled days off. So, I picked up the ipad and signed on to CCS. I couldn't believe my eyes! "AAA/0555" (Airport Alert at 5:55am). Was this some kind of cruel joke? It seems a little unreal, in light of the way the month has gone thusfar. How could I be assigned something so radically different and never even have to answer the phone? (The last time I sat Reserve, in 1984, we had no computer, no cell phone and very few people had beepers. The "mechanics" of reserve were totally different.)
Every duty day this month, I've had everything packed and ready "to go to work" at 1100: clothes, food, toiletries, medications, etc. Since we're approaching the end of the month, I suppose I'd been lulled into a false sense of security, a false "reality" that I wasn't going ANYWHERE in February. When I saw my AAA assignment, the adrenalin went from "time for bed" to DEFCON 5 in an instant.
My "travel yogurt" expired on 2/17 (who knew?), my pill case had 2 days-worth of supply, the PB&J I'd packed (great shelf-life) before leaving to help Mom in Atlanta was, in a word, disgusting, my bedraggled beard needed a trim and the shaved parts of my face needed attention that would be perilous at 0330. In short, all the things I normally accomplished in preparation for the 1100 start of my regular duty period had to be done ASAP and I had to get to bed...FAST. Well, as adrenalin will tend to do, it aids in getting the job done but isn't very conducive to sleep. I was in bed by 2205. I was still WIDE AWAKE at 0008!
Of course, when the alarm sounded at 0340, I was just getting comfortable in my REM sleep, the deepest and most restful phase of the sleep cycle. A not-so-friendly elbow to the ribs said that I was the only one NOT responding to the clock. Here's what I remember:
0340 wake up, coffee, shower, dress, trip-over-the-dog-in-the-dark-so-as-not-to-disturb
0417 out the door (approaching the employee parking lot, a herd of 8 deer appear in the fog and mist, peacefully grazing between the road and lot. Shouldn't I be grateful for the opportunity to appreciate this rare bit of natural serenity?)
0515 crew room: Wow, there are Supervisors at the duty desk at this hour! I sign a piece of paper and check in with CS on the "bat phone".
"Thank you, Tony. I'll release you to your cell phone now."
"Wow, thanks J. Are you releasing me to get something to eat or for the whole 4 hours?"
"No. You're released to your cell phone for your whole AAA assignment."
0641 The Osaka crew came and went. Guess I'm also good to cover the Narita trip before I go off duty at 0955 (and probably some Latin America trips, as well).
I keep running into folks who want to stop and chat; some old friends, some new friends (nice to meet you, Jo Palmer!), some just curious about what I'm doing here. As traumatic as my short night and early wake-up have been, it's just another cog in the wheel, another piece in the puzzle of my reserve experiement. I wouldn't trade it for anything...(well maybe for a few more hours of sleep).
0810 Using my time wisely: I spoke to Elizabeth H, my union Grievance Chairperson, about how my request to reinstate duty days to make-up for my EDNP was handled earlier this week. After a phone call "downtown", we decided that a grievance is in order and the process has started (I should have been allowed to make-up for 2 of the 3 lost days per the contract and that's what I'm asking for as relief.)
0910 My friend Debrah Davis checks in for NRT and the crew room comes ALIVE! Congratulations Debra on your 35th Anniversary with the company! (As I took my turn to put my arm around her for a photo, I asked Debrah, "Girl, have you lost your mind flying a 6-day?"
Without skipping a beat, she looked at me straight-faced and replied, "Chaser Baby!" (she's flying the 3-day "load" position).
If my phone doesn't ring for another 45 minutes, or so, this will have been quite a fun little adventure. I've seen faces that I haven't seen in years. What an interesting place the IAH Crew Room can be.
0955:02 "Scheduling, this is I."
"Hi, I. This is XX93 Tango. Can I go back to bed now?"
"Why would you want to do that? You're already up now."
"You guys shanghaied me with this. I wasn't prepared. You aren't going to do it to me again, tomorrow. Are you?"
"No. I swear. Go back to bed."
"Thanks I. Laters..."
What are the chances that tomorrow's gooing to be like Groundhog Day (0555 AAA all over again)?
Sunday, February 23, 2014
TONY: Reserve Lost Time Make-Up (5-45.19)
I posted the following message in a couple of Reserve-oriented Facebook groups knowing that if anyone had insight, THAT's where I'd find it:
"Wasn't ready for this...
I got back from my family emergency today, 2 days early (a GOOD thing), and have 2 scheduled days off (SU/MO). I call CS to attempt to convert at least 1 of those days to duty so that I can make up some of the time I lost for my Emergency Drops (3 duty days @4 hours each) and was told that there's no way to do that.
Asked for a supervisor and received the same answer, "per the contract". So, my guarantee stands at 71 hours (3 lost duty days) and I'll be in Houston and available but can't make up the lost time.
Shouldn't the contract be flexible enough to allow lost time "make-up", as long as the F/A stays within duty limits?"
Within minutes, I received the feedback I'd been looking for...on BOTH groups! The Flight Attendant contract does, in fact, address this very situation:
"p. 5-45:
19. Subject to Company agreement, a reserve flight attendant who loses a duty day(s) due to illness, injury or emergency drop will be allowed to make up the lost day(s) on her/his remaining day(s) off that month. The day(s) on which the make-up occurs is subject to mutual agreement. When a lost day is made up in this manner four hours (4:00) will be returned to the flight attendant’s reserve guarantee."
So, I called CS again and asked to speak to a supervisor. Luckily, the SAME supervisor who had perfunctorily dismissed my earlier request was still on duty. When I referred her to the appropriate section of the contract, she excused her earlier mistake with, "Oh, I am sub-UA..." But because time "make-up" requires mutual agreement and only had 2 days where I could "legally" make-up the time, she had to consult coverage numbers AND email the sCO contract expert on how to implement this policy. She committed to have an answer before her shift ended at 2200.
And she did. Shortly before 2200, she phoned to say that 79 Reserves are already on for Sunday and over 100 for Monday, so my request would be denied.
Oh well, it was worth a try. This issue should be addressed in a future contract. The Reserve could be financially devastated without means to make-up the lost time.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
TONY: Home Again
Returning home from ATL for my final 2 Reserve duty periods (3 days each), I'm reminded how capricious our vagabond life can be. My intention was to remain in Atlanta with my Mom (eventhough we learned yesterday that she was "out of the woods" and well on her way to meaningful recovery) until my Dad's birthday on Monday. Fate deems otherwise: all flights ATL/IAH both Sunday and Monday are chockablock full on UA and DL. Having been afforded the opportunity to fulfill my familial duties while on Reserve, I'm just not the sort to push the envelope and not make it home to fulfill my duty requirements which start again on Tuesday morning. To put it in 21st century parlance, "that's just not how I roll."
Generationally, my current-day Reserve colleagues and I couldn't be more different, for the most part. Generally speaking, we are at distinctly different "times of life", with a few exceptions. I am at the age where aging parents are likely to fall seriously ill, suffer a serious accident, or worse. Most of my Reserve peers are at the age where their parents are just approaching MY age! It's a monumental difference that, I think, makes the Reserve Life a little less traumatic for the young ones (many likely relish the thought of escaping the proximity of their parents, at least for a while.)
To face the definitive conclusion of the definitive interpersonal relationship is life-altering. To face it while attempting to navigate the vagaries of Reserve is incomprehensible, at least to me. This trip home and the compromises required to make it while on Reserve, have convinced me that any long-term prospect of Reserve duty at this stage of my life would be a "deal-breaker", significant enough to make me consider other employment, even after 30 years of service. But perhaps my relationship with my family is unique; I can only speak for myself.
I learned yesterday that I will be back to flying 3-day trips in March, to Amsterdam. I'm already back to the old cycle of looking to add a trip here, deduct one there, just as though the reserve experiment weren't still in progress. Interestingly, my first Amsterdam in March is on the 4th which is the 1st day of the March bid month. I have a 3-day Reserve duty period 3/1, 2 & 3. So, the potential for a month-to-month conflict is significant.
Beyond my schedule, I'm looking to bring my Mom to AMS with me next month, while the loads permit. Big illnesses can be deflating, moreso to someone of an advanced age. If they are fit enough, it's important to remind them that life isn't over until it's over.
Don't squander what you have. Tomorrow may surprise you by taking it away.
Generationally, my current-day Reserve colleagues and I couldn't be more different, for the most part. Generally speaking, we are at distinctly different "times of life", with a few exceptions. I am at the age where aging parents are likely to fall seriously ill, suffer a serious accident, or worse. Most of my Reserve peers are at the age where their parents are just approaching MY age! It's a monumental difference that, I think, makes the Reserve Life a little less traumatic for the young ones (many likely relish the thought of escaping the proximity of their parents, at least for a while.)
To face the definitive conclusion of the definitive interpersonal relationship is life-altering. To face it while attempting to navigate the vagaries of Reserve is incomprehensible, at least to me. This trip home and the compromises required to make it while on Reserve, have convinced me that any long-term prospect of Reserve duty at this stage of my life would be a "deal-breaker", significant enough to make me consider other employment, even after 30 years of service. But perhaps my relationship with my family is unique; I can only speak for myself.
I learned yesterday that I will be back to flying 3-day trips in March, to Amsterdam. I'm already back to the old cycle of looking to add a trip here, deduct one there, just as though the reserve experiment weren't still in progress. Interestingly, my first Amsterdam in March is on the 4th which is the 1st day of the March bid month. I have a 3-day Reserve duty period 3/1, 2 & 3. So, the potential for a month-to-month conflict is significant.
Beyond my schedule, I'm looking to bring my Mom to AMS with me next month, while the loads permit. Big illnesses can be deflating, moreso to someone of an advanced age. If they are fit enough, it's important to remind them that life isn't over until it's over.
Don't squander what you have. Tomorrow may surprise you by taking it away.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
TONY: Complications of Reserve
During my Dad's 3 year decline (he passed on Labor Day, 2012), I was frequently with he and my Mom in ATL. Doctor visits, exotic treatments, help around the house, help administering care and just the ability to be with two of the most important people in my life during the time that they NEEDED me most, were the very tangible benefits of my job as a lineholding Flight Attendant. Holding, trading, dropping, and picking up just the right trips allowed me the freedom to be where I needed to be, when I needed to be there.
Now, my Mom has a potentially life-threatening condition (blood clots in her lung and leg) which required hospitalization last week and convalescence at home for up to the next 6 months, the first 1 to 2 months of which will be critical. My situation and the ability to be of tangible help is VERY much impaired by my Reserve status. For example, in order to relieve my brother who's been providing 24/7 care since Mom's hospitalization, I am bridging my 2 periods of DAYS OFF with 3 duty days for which my supervisor is allowing emergency drops, without pay. I did make furtive attempts to manipulate my scheduled days off by trading with the "pool" but was unsuccessful. Even if I had been successful, the result would have been a "drop in the bucket" compared to the level of need for my time.
As a lineholder, my ability to successfully address this personal scheduling situation would be very much different, as it will be when I return to LH status in March. Moreover, the financial impact to do "the right thing" is potentially enormous! In order to bridge my days off to allow 6 consecutive days for me to care for Mom, I'm losing 12 hours from my 83 hour guarantee. (Lest anyone get the wrong idea, I am very much prepared for this eventuality financially. I undertook this "reserve experiment" with the foreknowledge that anything can happen, literally. I planned for it and am prepared. Imagine the potentially disastrous impact on someone who is not prepared and doesn't have the prospect of a "regular schedule" to fall back on in the coming months.)
As our family members age, it's inescapable that we find ourselves questioning their ability to press on under their own steam. Even if physical health is good, it's difficult to determine the level at which their faculties are functioning: 100%? It's much more likely some percentage LESS than that! The more time we spend together, the better able we are to assess. While the need to be vigilant is there, so is the need to allow aging family to live their own lives independently, if possible. Love isn't just being there when needed, it's having the sense and courtesy to NOT be there if unwarranted.
So, here we are! I'm on Day 19 of my February Reserve Experiment and have just finished the second of my two multi-day, large exposure duty blocks. Other than CQ, I have had NO assignments, thusfar. I have three 3-day duty periods remaining, the first of which has been dropped EDNP (Emergency Drop, No Pay). I suppose that it's possible I will be used in the remaining two blocks, especially as CS begins to "level" toward month's end. Of course, now my March bid takes on new importance as I plan my return to ATL.
The trip to ATL this morning provided a reminder of just how unsettling it can be to travel under these circumstances. From my Facebook timeline:
"The beauty of choice...
Upon landing in ATL, I learn that the oversold RJ (with 23 stand-bys) which was scheduled to depart at 0715 will now leave at 1100.
Glad I'm already here!"
Now, my Mom has a potentially life-threatening condition (blood clots in her lung and leg) which required hospitalization last week and convalescence at home for up to the next 6 months, the first 1 to 2 months of which will be critical. My situation and the ability to be of tangible help is VERY much impaired by my Reserve status. For example, in order to relieve my brother who's been providing 24/7 care since Mom's hospitalization, I am bridging my 2 periods of DAYS OFF with 3 duty days for which my supervisor is allowing emergency drops, without pay. I did make furtive attempts to manipulate my scheduled days off by trading with the "pool" but was unsuccessful. Even if I had been successful, the result would have been a "drop in the bucket" compared to the level of need for my time.
As a lineholder, my ability to successfully address this personal scheduling situation would be very much different, as it will be when I return to LH status in March. Moreover, the financial impact to do "the right thing" is potentially enormous! In order to bridge my days off to allow 6 consecutive days for me to care for Mom, I'm losing 12 hours from my 83 hour guarantee. (Lest anyone get the wrong idea, I am very much prepared for this eventuality financially. I undertook this "reserve experiment" with the foreknowledge that anything can happen, literally. I planned for it and am prepared. Imagine the potentially disastrous impact on someone who is not prepared and doesn't have the prospect of a "regular schedule" to fall back on in the coming months.)
As our family members age, it's inescapable that we find ourselves questioning their ability to press on under their own steam. Even if physical health is good, it's difficult to determine the level at which their faculties are functioning: 100%? It's much more likely some percentage LESS than that! The more time we spend together, the better able we are to assess. While the need to be vigilant is there, so is the need to allow aging family to live their own lives independently, if possible. Love isn't just being there when needed, it's having the sense and courtesy to NOT be there if unwarranted.
So, here we are! I'm on Day 19 of my February Reserve Experiment and have just finished the second of my two multi-day, large exposure duty blocks. Other than CQ, I have had NO assignments, thusfar. I have three 3-day duty periods remaining, the first of which has been dropped EDNP (Emergency Drop, No Pay). I suppose that it's possible I will be used in the remaining two blocks, especially as CS begins to "level" toward month's end. Of course, now my March bid takes on new importance as I plan my return to ATL.
The trip to ATL this morning provided a reminder of just how unsettling it can be to travel under these circumstances. From my Facebook timeline:
"The beauty of choice...
An oversold 50-seat regional jet which 24 hours ago had 30 open seats (explaining the 23 stand-bys)
OR
An empty Airbus where eager-to-please staff assign one an empty row in Economy Comfort?
Both depart and arrive within 5 minutes of each other. Hmmmm.
I'll select the option that represents the least stress and anxiety and be thankful to have the choice.
Glad I'm already here!"
Sunday, February 16, 2014
TONY: EDNP
My Mom's health scare-related hospital stay has come to an end. My brother took her home over the weekend and has been staying with her round-the-clock ever since. She was diagnosed with 2 blood clots in her right lung and 1 in her right leg. The fact that she survived long enough to be diagnosed and have treatment started means that she'll likely recover...but at a cost. Mom will be taking daily blood-thinning injections in her abdomen and oral blood thinners for the next few weeks and will require frequent doctor visits and blood tests (to monitor the effects of the treatment.) She's 75 years old, will need help at home (just north of ATL) and I have only the one sibling. So....
My supervisor has offered to grant Emergency Drops/No Pay for the duty days that I need to take off to support my Mom and relieve my brother of sole responsibility. To have my support be of any real significance, I need to be with her for a week or so, to start. In looking at the remainder of my Reserve schedule for February, I've decided that my best course of action is to "bridge" 2 sets of days off by having my Supervisor EDNP a string of 3 duty days between my upcoming single day off and the following block of 2 off, giving me 6 off in a row. Although I'm still waiting for Payroll to verify it, I'm guessing I'll lose 12 hours from my 83 hour Reserve guarantee to do so (4 hours for each of the 3 duty days missed).
This situation would be MUCH more manageable as a Lineholder as I could trip-trade and/or pick-up time later in the month to minimize the impact of the time off. As it stands, I suppose I'll end the month with 71 hours rather than 83.
Oh well, the "unforeseen" is one reason I chose to do this experiement during Profit Sharing month!
My supervisor has offered to grant Emergency Drops/No Pay for the duty days that I need to take off to support my Mom and relieve my brother of sole responsibility. To have my support be of any real significance, I need to be with her for a week or so, to start. In looking at the remainder of my Reserve schedule for February, I've decided that my best course of action is to "bridge" 2 sets of days off by having my Supervisor EDNP a string of 3 duty days between my upcoming single day off and the following block of 2 off, giving me 6 off in a row. Although I'm still waiting for Payroll to verify it, I'm guessing I'll lose 12 hours from my 83 hour Reserve guarantee to do so (4 hours for each of the 3 duty days missed).
This situation would be MUCH more manageable as a Lineholder as I could trip-trade and/or pick-up time later in the month to minimize the impact of the time off. As it stands, I suppose I'll end the month with 71 hours rather than 83.
Oh well, the "unforeseen" is one reason I chose to do this experiement during Profit Sharing month!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
TONY: CQ feels just the same when you're on Reserve!
I have to admit that, in the back of my mind, I wondered would CQ (the dreaded annual FAA-mandated recurrent [some say "redundant"] training that flight crews are required to complete) "feel" the same on Reserve as it does as a lineholder. After all, it's likely the ONLY duty time I'll have to put it all month! Surely, it must feel "different"! It doesn't.
The relatively new AQP concepts used for CQ these days has really picked up the pace of the drudgery of reviewing the same topics year-after-year. But other than the occasional, "hey, how's reserve going?", it felt no different than in years past. I almost forgot that this was the first time in 30 years that I've attended CQ (formerly RT) as a Reserve. As a matter of fact, I NEVER attended as a Reserve before. When asked, "Now why, exactly, are you on Reserve?", I tried to explain my rationale so that it made some semblance of sense: experimentation, proving/disproving the chatter about how awful it is, knowing the sCO Reserve system before being asked to vote for it or something different (i.e. the sUA "shared reserve" approach), etc. Of course, I got one or two skeptical looks and cynical shakes of the head.
But the fact is that, as of 2/15, I'm halfway through the month and have yet to perform any F/A duties or even be contacted by Crew Scheduling. The ONLY times I've spoken to a Schedule have been when I've called them. I'm quite conscious of the fact that my results are FAR from representative of the typical Reserve experience. Many of my R peers in domestic bases have been flying their a$$es off because of February's horrific weather systems. In fact, many of my International-based Reserve colleagues have been pressed into service to cover the surfeit of uncovered domestic trips. But not me.
I seem to have circumstance on my side; at least thusfar in the month. When I return to my "Call Out" line on Monday, I am very near the bottom of the FIFO list and on Tuesday, as well, before going to another "day off". Afterward, I will have 3 duty periods of 3 days each, during which I have 1 or 2 day off breaks that CS can "roll", if they see fit. I may yet FLY in February!
But tomorrow, I'll be reporting back to IAHIT (Inflight Training Center) for CQ, Day 2, as scheduled.
The relatively new AQP concepts used for CQ these days has really picked up the pace of the drudgery of reviewing the same topics year-after-year. But other than the occasional, "hey, how's reserve going?", it felt no different than in years past. I almost forgot that this was the first time in 30 years that I've attended CQ (formerly RT) as a Reserve. As a matter of fact, I NEVER attended as a Reserve before. When asked, "Now why, exactly, are you on Reserve?", I tried to explain my rationale so that it made some semblance of sense: experimentation, proving/disproving the chatter about how awful it is, knowing the sCO Reserve system before being asked to vote for it or something different (i.e. the sUA "shared reserve" approach), etc. Of course, I got one or two skeptical looks and cynical shakes of the head.
But the fact is that, as of 2/15, I'm halfway through the month and have yet to perform any F/A duties or even be contacted by Crew Scheduling. The ONLY times I've spoken to a Schedule have been when I've called them. I'm quite conscious of the fact that my results are FAR from representative of the typical Reserve experience. Many of my R peers in domestic bases have been flying their a$$es off because of February's horrific weather systems. In fact, many of my International-based Reserve colleagues have been pressed into service to cover the surfeit of uncovered domestic trips. But not me.
I seem to have circumstance on my side; at least thusfar in the month. When I return to my "Call Out" line on Monday, I am very near the bottom of the FIFO list and on Tuesday, as well, before going to another "day off". Afterward, I will have 3 duty periods of 3 days each, during which I have 1 or 2 day off breaks that CS can "roll", if they see fit. I may yet FLY in February!
But tomorrow, I'll be reporting back to IAHIT (Inflight Training Center) for CQ, Day 2, as scheduled.
CYBILL: HAVING A LIFE
An update on my schedule this month. I really am enjoying having a life and being able to make plans more than one time a month. Being able to sleep without having nightmares that I missed a call from scheduling is the best thing ever.
I love the crews I'm flying with they are all very sweet and welcoming. I just can't wait until the day that I am holding a line in all bases. I'm enjoying this month more than anything in the world.
I love the crews I'm flying with they are all very sweet and welcoming. I just can't wait until the day that I am holding a line in all bases. I'm enjoying this month more than anything in the world.
TONY: Happy Valentine's Day!
At 1901LCL, I realized my phone was not going to ring.
The lovely Bordeaux that Philip bought for Valentine's Day was already breathing and I was relaxing. With the first sip I thought, "I wonder if I'll get any closer to a trip this month than I just did?"
Up next: a quiet evening at home and CQ bright and early tomorrow.
Life is good!
The lovely Bordeaux that Philip bought for Valentine's Day was already breathing and I was relaxing. With the first sip I thought, "I wonder if I'll get any closer to a trip this month than I just did?"
Up next: a quiet evening at home and CQ bright and early tomorrow.
Life is good!
Friday, February 14, 2014
TONY: "It's Valentine's Day. Can I be released?"
1750LCL (my duty period ends at 1900.)
"Scheduling, this is L. May I have your employee #?"
"Hi L. This is Anthony Reece, XX93 Tango."
"Hi Anthony. What can I do for you?"
"Since I only have a little more than an hour left in my duty period and have CQ tomorrow, I was wondering if you could release me."
"Uh, we're really tight right now and you're #1 on the list. I might have to use you for a pre-board later on this evening."
"Oh, OK. Guess I'll just hang out for another hour or so, then. Thanks! Have a nice evening!"
"You too, Anthony."
My brushes with destiny are nothing if not eye-opening!
"Scheduling, this is L. May I have your employee #?"
"Hi L. This is Anthony Reece, XX93 Tango."
"Hi Anthony. What can I do for you?"
"Since I only have a little more than an hour left in my duty period and have CQ tomorrow, I was wondering if you could release me."
"Uh, we're really tight right now and you're #1 on the list. I might have to use you for a pre-board later on this evening."
"Oh, OK. Guess I'll just hang out for another hour or so, then. Thanks! Have a nice evening!"
"You too, Anthony."
My brushes with destiny are nothing if not eye-opening!
TONY: JUST ANOTHER DAY!
My 4 immovables were just that. I'm back on duty at 1100 today and am good for only 1 day. Ironically, this one day is as high as I'm likely to be on FIFO for the month; I'm #7. I have scheduled CQ for tomorrow and Sunday, breaking my 5-day duty period in half. When I come back on duty Monday and Tuesday, I'm buried toward the middle to end of reserve availability.
When I printed my 2/16 payroll voucher I got a bit of a shock. My "clean-up" pay was there as usual but the normal 25:00 flight hours showed "0" and "0.00" pay. I called Crew Pay yesterday morning and they must really be busy. Got a prompt to leave a message, which I did. The return call came this morning. In the meantime, I checked my "Pay" screen under "Schedule" in CCS. It showed my February 2014 guarantee to be 0:00, except for the 5:00 hours credit I'm receiving for CQ. Apparently, when the Crew Scheduler did my line trade with Cybill, she did so manually, trip-by-trip, resetting my guarantee to "0". When she re-instated my line with the Reserve duty, the 83:00 hour Reserve guarantee was never updated. So, I was only paid for my clean-up time from January. SW in Crew Pay said she would immediately put in the claim for the missing 25:00 hours but that Payroll wouldn't act on it until Monday and it probably wouldn't be paid until Wednesday. Oh well...
On another note, my Mom is experiencing a pretty significant health issue in North Georgia and was hospitalized on Wednesday. Because of the weather, there was no way for me to get there since all flights to Atlanta were cancelled for the entire period I was off. Although my brother lives only 50 miles away, he couldn't get to her either because of the non-emergency vehicle restriction declared by Georgia's governor. Yesterday, he successfully drove the 50 miles in spite of the restriction (he and I certainly considered his trip an emergency, anyway) and that is a relief! But this situation presents another interesting consideration for my Reserve experiment:
Since I go back on R duty today and will be on duty for the next 5 days, including CQ, I would have to ED some or all of those days to get to my Mom. (ED is Emergency Drop and, under the circumstances, my Supervisor advises that it would be with NO pay.) Both my Mom and Brother assure me that all is well there and that I shouldn't worry about it but that's easier said than done. Each day I EDNP, I will have 4 credit hours deducted from my 83 hour guarantee. It's easy to see how being a lineholder in this situation would be an obvious advantage over facing the same situation on reserve!
Some days I think that I'm living proof that no good deed goes unpunished. Then, I take a deep breath and see it for what it really is: just another bump in the road. If it weren't this, it would be something else...maybe something more severe. I will take it as it comes and be happy with what I have.
One more day of living a dream!
When I printed my 2/16 payroll voucher I got a bit of a shock. My "clean-up" pay was there as usual but the normal 25:00 flight hours showed "0" and "0.00" pay. I called Crew Pay yesterday morning and they must really be busy. Got a prompt to leave a message, which I did. The return call came this morning. In the meantime, I checked my "Pay" screen under "Schedule" in CCS. It showed my February 2014 guarantee to be 0:00, except for the 5:00 hours credit I'm receiving for CQ. Apparently, when the Crew Scheduler did my line trade with Cybill, she did so manually, trip-by-trip, resetting my guarantee to "0". When she re-instated my line with the Reserve duty, the 83:00 hour Reserve guarantee was never updated. So, I was only paid for my clean-up time from January. SW in Crew Pay said she would immediately put in the claim for the missing 25:00 hours but that Payroll wouldn't act on it until Monday and it probably wouldn't be paid until Wednesday. Oh well...
On another note, my Mom is experiencing a pretty significant health issue in North Georgia and was hospitalized on Wednesday. Because of the weather, there was no way for me to get there since all flights to Atlanta were cancelled for the entire period I was off. Although my brother lives only 50 miles away, he couldn't get to her either because of the non-emergency vehicle restriction declared by Georgia's governor. Yesterday, he successfully drove the 50 miles in spite of the restriction (he and I certainly considered his trip an emergency, anyway) and that is a relief! But this situation presents another interesting consideration for my Reserve experiment:
Since I go back on R duty today and will be on duty for the next 5 days, including CQ, I would have to ED some or all of those days to get to my Mom. (ED is Emergency Drop and, under the circumstances, my Supervisor advises that it would be with NO pay.) Both my Mom and Brother assure me that all is well there and that I shouldn't worry about it but that's easier said than done. Each day I EDNP, I will have 4 credit hours deducted from my 83 hour guarantee. It's easy to see how being a lineholder in this situation would be an obvious advantage over facing the same situation on reserve!
Some days I think that I'm living proof that no good deed goes unpunished. Then, I take a deep breath and see it for what it really is: just another bump in the road. If it weren't this, it would be something else...maybe something more severe. I will take it as it comes and be happy with what I have.
One more day of living a dream!
Monday, February 10, 2014
CYBILL: END OF TRIP 1
Time to head home (from FRA). Great trip and awesome crew. Now home for the week and back at it Saturday.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
TONY: RESERVE PREFERENCE
I assume that many sCO lineholders are like me and have never seen a "Reserve Preference" screen display in CCS. It's no big mystery really, you have 4 options: Reserve No Preference (RNP), Request To Fly (RTF), Request Minimize Flying (RMF) and Airport Alert (AAA). The first time you display it, your Reserve Preference screen is defaulted to RNP for all scheduled duty periods. One has the option of changing preference for EACH duty period using a siimple "drop-down" menu. In my experience, changes can be made until the acknowledgement window which occurs at about 2000 the night before a duty period begins.
Here's my current preference screen for February 2014:
Here's my current preference screen for February 2014:
Once the option to change preference is no longer available, the drop-down menu is replaced with the preference indicated.
I have CQ on my schedule for 2/15 and 2/16, so that 5 day duty period is pretty much a wash.
TONY: VACATION ON RESERVE
CORRECTION: My assumption about CQ credit being added to my R guarantee is INCORRECT. The 5 hours credit for CQ is included in my 83 hour base guarantee unless I actually fly more than 83 (which is exceedingly unlikely this month). Thank you Rose O'Neall for the correction!
Two reasons that I chose to conduct my own Reserve experiment in February were: (1) I have February CQ and (2) I don't have February vacation. The CQ adds 5 additional hours to my guarantee since it is 2 days this year. As for vacation, there are just too many variables that I didn't want to gamble with, such as:
"**RANT** As a reserve, I think it's unfair how if any of our days off touch our vacation days, we lose those days off. As a lineholder, if your trip touches your days off, they drop the trip(s). Especially if a reserve is awarded a line they didn't bid. **RANT OVER**.
Two reasons that I chose to conduct my own Reserve experiment in February were: (1) I have February CQ and (2) I don't have February vacation. The CQ adds 5 additional hours to my guarantee since it is 2 days this year. As for vacation, there are just too many variables that I didn't want to gamble with, such as:
"**RANT** As a reserve, I think it's unfair how if any of our days off touch our vacation days, we lose those days off. As a lineholder, if your trip touches your days off, they drop the trip(s). Especially if a reserve is awarded a line they didn't bid. **RANT OVER**.
TONY: OFF ON A TANGENT
Was cruising through my Facebook newsfeed this morning and ran across this comment to a post that I thought might be an interesting addition to this "informational" blog.
The OP (original post) was from a F/A who was submitting a transfer to the Newark/Intl base. He asked for general information about life for Reserves there, parking, tips, etc. A friend who's been there for a while responded as follows:
"Best base to be reserve by far....I've had one quick call in 2 years, barely sit AA (never put no preference)...November is awful cause lineholders are working their balls off for Xmas money. I had one trip all month. Summer is rad, winter is ok...my class has hard lines Domestic in like, every sub base but I wouldn't trade NTA for anything. One leg a day. One. No sit time, no hotel confusion. Worst case scenario you go to London and wait 30-45 min for a room with croissants and coffee...best years of my life. NTA reserve. "
The response made me think just how subjective a topic like "Reserve" can be! So many factors determine one's overall impression of the experience. I tend to believe that "base" can be the most influential "determiner" of all, as my friend so eloquently illustrates. There's likely a correlation to the length of time that one can expect to be on Reserve in those more desirable, less volatile bases as well; bases like Houston and Newark/Intl.
In my own experience, I could reaonsably expect to be paid for a month where I didn't fly a single trip in the Houston/Intl base in February. The experience would be far different in the Houston/Dom base: not only would I expect to fly, I would expect to be DHed to other bases to sit AAA due to weather-related operational issues.
In summary, the uncertainties and lack of control that one feels on Reserve, in general, are just compounded when sitting Reserve in a domestic base, as opposed to an international one.
The OP (original post) was from a F/A who was submitting a transfer to the Newark/Intl base. He asked for general information about life for Reserves there, parking, tips, etc. A friend who's been there for a while responded as follows:
"Best base to be reserve by far....I've had one quick call in 2 years, barely sit AA (never put no preference)...November is awful cause lineholders are working their balls off for Xmas money. I had one trip all month. Summer is rad, winter is ok...my class has hard lines Domestic in like, every sub base but I wouldn't trade NTA for anything. One leg a day. One. No sit time, no hotel confusion. Worst case scenario you go to London and wait 30-45 min for a room with croissants and coffee...best years of my life. NTA reserve. "
The response made me think just how subjective a topic like "Reserve" can be! So many factors determine one's overall impression of the experience. I tend to believe that "base" can be the most influential "determiner" of all, as my friend so eloquently illustrates. There's likely a correlation to the length of time that one can expect to be on Reserve in those more desirable, less volatile bases as well; bases like Houston and Newark/Intl.
In my own experience, I could reaonsably expect to be paid for a month where I didn't fly a single trip in the Houston/Intl base in February. The experience would be far different in the Houston/Dom base: not only would I expect to fly, I would expect to be DHed to other bases to sit AAA due to weather-related operational issues.
In summary, the uncertainties and lack of control that one feels on Reserve, in general, are just compounded when sitting Reserve in a domestic base, as opposed to an international one.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
TONY: FINALLY, A RESERVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Between 2000 and 2100 last night (my 4th consecutive duty period ended at 1900), I logged on to CCS and was surprised to see my very first Reserve Acknowledgement screen:
I've been logging in every night, as instructed, at various intervals after 8 but before 9 p.m. and this is the first time I've gotten what I was told to expect (previously, just after 2100 each night, I logged in and took a screen shot of the Reserve Availability display showing my Call-Out G assignment for the next day, just in case. [Thanks to the helpful folks on the "Reserve Life" and "HTA Reserves" FB groups for the heads up!]).
Thusfar, my preference of "Reserve Minimize Flying" is working; I've never been closer than half-way down the second page of FIFO to a trip and am usually on page 3, as I am today. So, as I near the end of my biggest exposure (6 consecutive duty days), it's time to start planning for the rest of the month. After all, since the month is an experiment, I'd like to try out all of my options.
After my 4 "immovable" days off next week, I return to a duty day on 2/14, 2 CQ days on the 15th and 16th, and 2 more duty days before another day off. Thereafter, I have 3 duty periods of 3days each, separated by either 1 or 2 "regular" days off. I think I'll preference "Request To Fly" on the first of those 3-day blocks. If a 4, 5, or 6 day trip is available, CS could roll my day/s off to allow me to fly it. (Perhaps I'll even try to "pick-up" a trip from Reserve Open Time [NOT to be confused with regular Open Time] as I come back from day/s off.) If no open flying is available, my next choice would be Airport Alert but I'm not terribly anxious to try out that option!
I suppose that there's a distinct likelihood that I'll go the entire month without having to put on my uniform! If that's the case, I will earn my 83 hour guarantee plus 5 additional hours for CQ for a total of 88 hours but NO per diem. It's still too early to begin drawing conclusions, though.
Maybe next week I'll begin "interacting" more with Crew Scheduling. Now, there's a concept!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
TONY: OOPS! DENTIST APPOINTMENT
I got up and got to the gym, as planned, this morning. But it was one of those mornings where you awaken at the WRONG part of your sleep cycle. It's like the alarm went off when I was in REM phase, leaving me to feel very unenergetic. In spite of that shaky start, I made it to the gym and home again with plenty of time to get ready for "work". After shaving and showering, I checked "Reserve Availability", only to learn that I was in the middle of the 2nd page of the FIFO list, just like I was went I went to bed last night.
So, I settled into my comfy recliner and clicked on some HGTV banality. I must have dozed a little because I came out of the fog when my phone alarm sounded. "Dr. Cope at 2pm"....aw, crap! I scheduled my normal dental cleaning appointment 4-5 months ago, noted it in my calendar and forgot about it until now. What to do?
I'm on duty but still far down the list. I'm pretty sure that the dentist's office would charge me for a late cancellation. What the heck! I dashed around to prepare, forwarded the house phone to my mobile, just in case, and out the door I went. I settled into the dental hygienist's chair and was generally aware that my phone was unmuted and within reach. No muss, no fuss, no call from Crew Scheduling!
Hmmm. I could get used to this. After all, it's all just the way you look at it, right? I always do my manual revisions on the airplane while working because I like the idea of being paid to do them. Isn't this sort of the same thing? Why should I schedule things like doctor appointments on my days off?
I think I just got paid $52.53 to go to the dentist!
So, I settled into my comfy recliner and clicked on some HGTV banality. I must have dozed a little because I came out of the fog when my phone alarm sounded. "Dr. Cope at 2pm"....aw, crap! I scheduled my normal dental cleaning appointment 4-5 months ago, noted it in my calendar and forgot about it until now. What to do?
I'm on duty but still far down the list. I'm pretty sure that the dentist's office would charge me for a late cancellation. What the heck! I dashed around to prepare, forwarded the house phone to my mobile, just in case, and out the door I went. I settled into the dental hygienist's chair and was generally aware that my phone was unmuted and within reach. No muss, no fuss, no call from Crew Scheduling!
Hmmm. I could get used to this. After all, it's all just the way you look at it, right? I always do my manual revisions on the airplane while working because I like the idea of being paid to do them. Isn't this sort of the same thing? Why should I schedule things like doctor appointments on my days off?
I think I just got paid $52.53 to go to the dentist!
CYBILL: Ready to Start the Month
I'm going to introduce myself to you. I am Cybill Bridges the reserve that Tony Reece was so graciously willing to trade lines with. A little background on myself. I am a 07 hire and have been in HTA for about 2 years now. I have flown with many of you and have worked every position except pilot. The line that I was blessed with this month was FRA on Saturdays position fa01.
I have not flown yet I am coming off of being sick. The one thing that this line has done for me is saved me a sick call. As a reserve we don't have the option of staying home if we're not feeling well unless we call out. My mother put it in the best words I ever heard. "How do you get I trouble for being sick. You can't plan that, it's worse than the military!" It made me chuckle. Thanks to Tony I was able to take my time and get well. I am hitting the friendly skies on Saturday.
I have to admit I am a little nervous for the simple fact I am so junior and in a senior position how the crew will except me. I'm not shy by any means but I know how people think when they see a junior person in that position. I have done it myself with new hires. Maybe this month will change my thinking all together. I hope I have a great month and great trips.i look forward to meeting new people and hopefully flying with my friends because I can pick up this month. See you around campus. You'll know it's me because I will have the biggest smile on my face for this month.
I have not flown yet I am coming off of being sick. The one thing that this line has done for me is saved me a sick call. As a reserve we don't have the option of staying home if we're not feeling well unless we call out. My mother put it in the best words I ever heard. "How do you get I trouble for being sick. You can't plan that, it's worse than the military!" It made me chuckle. Thanks to Tony I was able to take my time and get well. I am hitting the friendly skies on Saturday.
I have to admit I am a little nervous for the simple fact I am so junior and in a senior position how the crew will except me. I'm not shy by any means but I know how people think when they see a junior person in that position. I have done it myself with new hires. Maybe this month will change my thinking all together. I hope I have a great month and great trips.i look forward to meeting new people and hopefully flying with my friends because I can pick up this month. See you around campus. You'll know it's me because I will have the biggest smile on my face for this month.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
TONY: MY RESERVE M.O.
Here's my "COG" (Call-Out line G) modus operandi:
I treat a duty day like a regular job work day. I have everything ready to be "at the office" at 1100...right down to putting on "work underwear" rather than "play underwear". My uniform is set aside, ready to go. I have some "travel food" portioned out in the fridge. Then, I put on jeans and a t-shirt and go on my merry way, mindful to have the phone un-muted. I consider myself "at work" from 1100-1900 but free to "goof off", within limits.
Today, I feel a little "looser" than I did yesterday and am in approximately the same spot on FIFO (buried in the middle of the 2nd page). It's my 2nd duty period of 6 in a row and my biggest exposure of the month. I have preferenced RMF (Request Minimum Flying) for this 6 day stretch and plan to try the other options later in the month (RNP: Request No Preferece, RTF: Request To Fly and AAA: Airport Alert).
If I'm not called for anything today, I will put my plan to hold COG to the test. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, I participate in high-intensity aerobic workouts which challenge me more and more as I age. In my 20s and 30s, it was no problem to do such workouts, then turn around and fly to Guam or the Mainland from my Hawaii base of the time. Since I've gotten older, I've been more careful to allow myself recovery time before flying a 8+ hour leg. So February is an experiment in more ways than one!
Things are working out nicely, so far. Our gas clothes dryer developed a leak over the weekend and you KNOW what it's like to get a service call, "well, we can probably come out sometime Wednesday." This morning, the technician called to provide a "precise time": between 1100 and 1300. Philip got in from Rio this morning and is snoring away, so I hope to get the dryer sorted about before CS gets any BIG IDEAS.
I have a regularly schedule dental appointment tomorrow (made back in September or October). I called the office to see if they'd like me to re-schedule. Upon explaining my current "situation", they said, "Oh, that sounds like fun. No, don't worry about it. Just call when you know something if you can't make it."
Who knew that being on Reserve and yapping about it should/could/would be fun? (I guess the whole idea of a 53 year-old man sitting Reserve is pretty funny...even to those who only have the vaguest idea what that means.)
I treat a duty day like a regular job work day. I have everything ready to be "at the office" at 1100...right down to putting on "work underwear" rather than "play underwear". My uniform is set aside, ready to go. I have some "travel food" portioned out in the fridge. Then, I put on jeans and a t-shirt and go on my merry way, mindful to have the phone un-muted. I consider myself "at work" from 1100-1900 but free to "goof off", within limits.
Today, I feel a little "looser" than I did yesterday and am in approximately the same spot on FIFO (buried in the middle of the 2nd page). It's my 2nd duty period of 6 in a row and my biggest exposure of the month. I have preferenced RMF (Request Minimum Flying) for this 6 day stretch and plan to try the other options later in the month (RNP: Request No Preferece, RTF: Request To Fly and AAA: Airport Alert).
If I'm not called for anything today, I will put my plan to hold COG to the test. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, I participate in high-intensity aerobic workouts which challenge me more and more as I age. In my 20s and 30s, it was no problem to do such workouts, then turn around and fly to Guam or the Mainland from my Hawaii base of the time. Since I've gotten older, I've been more careful to allow myself recovery time before flying a 8+ hour leg. So February is an experiment in more ways than one!
Things are working out nicely, so far. Our gas clothes dryer developed a leak over the weekend and you KNOW what it's like to get a service call, "well, we can probably come out sometime Wednesday." This morning, the technician called to provide a "precise time": between 1100 and 1300. Philip got in from Rio this morning and is snoring away, so I hope to get the dryer sorted about before CS gets any BIG IDEAS.
I have a regularly schedule dental appointment tomorrow (made back in September or October). I called the office to see if they'd like me to re-schedule. Upon explaining my current "situation", they said, "Oh, that sounds like fun. No, don't worry about it. Just call when you know something if you can't make it."
Who knew that being on Reserve and yapping about it should/could/would be fun? (I guess the whole idea of a 53 year-old man sitting Reserve is pretty funny...even to those who only have the vaguest idea what that means.)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
TONY: "Reserve" OPEN TIME
I go back on duty in a little less than 2 hours following my 2 scheduled days off. Is it just me, or do days off go by much faster on Reserve than they do when you hold a regular schedule?
One of the cooler Reserve aspects of our current F/A contract, from an outsider's point of view, is the ability to pick-up a trip from Open Time when coming back on duty from days off. It gives the Reserve SOME degree of control over a schedule that, otherwise, is in the hands of Crew Scheduling. I thought I'd investigate the details of how a "pick-up from days off" works and queried my colleagues in various social media groups where our Reserves "hang out". One thing about the Reserve groups: if you ask them a question, you will have any number of answers in NO TIME! While the responses to my inquiry were pretty consistent about "how" to pick-up, some were more thorough than others. The thoroughness of some of the answers tended to "fill-in" the picture more completely.
First of all, there has to actually be an open trip in your base before you can pick it up! In my base, Houston/Intl, there is a dearth of available flying, so nothing to experiement with. There are also caveats: a Reserve can be "bumped" from the trip and/or position by a more senior lineholder. The exception to this is a "golden" trip which must be picked up during a prescribed, smaller window of opportunity. Even on a gold trip, the Reserve can be bumped from his/her position by a more senior F/A at check-in. (These are arguably the most complained about aspects of our Reserve rules; the bumping off of trips and/or positions.)
So, as I explored my potential options in CCS (our schedule-management computer system), I went to the "Open Time" screen as I normally would. I was a little taken back by the header at the top of the display admonishing me that I am a Reserve and may only pickup from Reserve Open Time. Of course, ROT did not show the same, few trips that regular OT showed. I went one step further and clicked on the "Pickup Airport Alert" option (Airport Alert means that a Reserve dresses, packs, prepares as if going on a trip but drives to the airport for a period of 2-6 hours waiting for a trip to be assigned because of operational need). None was available.
In spite of the growing weather threat to our mega-hubs of DEN, ORD, EWR and, potentially, IAD, I'm still pretty far down on the list to be called. But I have everything ready:
bags > packed
food > packed
toiletries > refreshed
meds > packed
grooming > complete
uniform > ready
dog > walked
cat > petted
OK, CS. I'm ready...
One of the cooler Reserve aspects of our current F/A contract, from an outsider's point of view, is the ability to pick-up a trip from Open Time when coming back on duty from days off. It gives the Reserve SOME degree of control over a schedule that, otherwise, is in the hands of Crew Scheduling. I thought I'd investigate the details of how a "pick-up from days off" works and queried my colleagues in various social media groups where our Reserves "hang out". One thing about the Reserve groups: if you ask them a question, you will have any number of answers in NO TIME! While the responses to my inquiry were pretty consistent about "how" to pick-up, some were more thorough than others. The thoroughness of some of the answers tended to "fill-in" the picture more completely.
First of all, there has to actually be an open trip in your base before you can pick it up! In my base, Houston/Intl, there is a dearth of available flying, so nothing to experiement with. There are also caveats: a Reserve can be "bumped" from the trip and/or position by a more senior lineholder. The exception to this is a "golden" trip which must be picked up during a prescribed, smaller window of opportunity. Even on a gold trip, the Reserve can be bumped from his/her position by a more senior F/A at check-in. (These are arguably the most complained about aspects of our Reserve rules; the bumping off of trips and/or positions.)
So, as I explored my potential options in CCS (our schedule-management computer system), I went to the "Open Time" screen as I normally would. I was a little taken back by the header at the top of the display admonishing me that I am a Reserve and may only pickup from Reserve Open Time. Of course, ROT did not show the same, few trips that regular OT showed. I went one step further and clicked on the "Pickup Airport Alert" option (Airport Alert means that a Reserve dresses, packs, prepares as if going on a trip but drives to the airport for a period of 2-6 hours waiting for a trip to be assigned because of operational need). None was available.
In spite of the growing weather threat to our mega-hubs of DEN, ORD, EWR and, potentially, IAD, I'm still pretty far down on the list to be called. But I have everything ready:
bags > packed
food > packed
toiletries > refreshed
meds > packed
grooming > complete
uniform > ready
dog > walked
cat > petted
OK, CS. I'm ready...
Saturday, February 1, 2014
TONY: RELEASED!
And my first day of R duty comes to a peaceful close at 1500.
"You are released, Anthony. Enjoy your days off! (But in the future, we don't usually release until around 1600.) "
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you ma'am."
Yee Haa!
"You are released, Anthony. Enjoy your days off! (But in the future, we don't usually release until around 1600.) "
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you ma'am."
Yee Haa!
TONY: Oopsie!
I called CS back to advise that one of the telephone numbers on my schedule hasn't been valid for over a year and I can't seem to delete it.
As we were chatting, the Scheduler asked if I'd like to note which of the two remaining number was a landline and which was mobile. "Yes, sure", I said. Then it hit me....
My cell phone is ALWAYS on mute because I don't want to be annoyed by incoming calls! I mentioned that fact to the Scheduler.
He laughed so hard, I think he just about fell off of his chair.
(He sounded so young, so I asked him what year he was born. Yep, you guessed it! I was a well-established lineholder before he was even a twinkle in his father's eye. Aging is not an activity for the faint of heart.)
As we were chatting, the Scheduler asked if I'd like to note which of the two remaining number was a landline and which was mobile. "Yes, sure", I said. Then it hit me....
My cell phone is ALWAYS on mute because I don't want to be annoyed by incoming calls! I mentioned that fact to the Scheduler.
He laughed so hard, I think he just about fell off of his chair.
(He sounded so young, so I asked him what year he was born. Yep, you guessed it! I was a well-established lineholder before he was even a twinkle in his father's eye. Aging is not an activity for the faint of heart.)
TONY: The First 3 Days of the Month
"Scheduling. This is M. Employee Number?"
"XX93 Tango, M."
"Hello Anthony. What can I do for you?"
"Well, M, I'm a new, 30-year Reserve and am depending on others to help me learn how to do this right. I was told that I should sign in to CCS the night before my duty period between 8 & 9pm to acknowledge my assignment for the next day. It's after 9 now and I've been signing in every 15-20 minutes since 8pm with no message. Since I'm on Call Out Line G, should I just assume that I'm responsible to take calls starting at 1100 tomorrow?"
"Oh, no, Anthony. During the first 3 days of the month, there are no call out periods; everyone is a Ready Reserve. You don't have anything to acknowledge because I don't have anything to assign you."
(GULP! I just enjoyed a glass of my favorite Merlot with dinner. "Ready Reserve" means I'm on duty starting at midnight. FARs require no alcohol consumption 8 hours before a trip. That's cutting it close!)
"Oh. OK. Well, I just looked at the Reserve Availability display and I'm pretty far down..."
"You're also only good for 1 day before starting days off. Looks we'll be starting move-up construction soon..."
"Oh, well you can take me off of the move-up list (def: Move-up lines are constructed when there is a sufficient amount of open flying available in the base and assigned to Reserve Flight Attendants in seniority order.) A move-up would defeat the purpose of my Reserve experiment."
"So, Anthony, you are declining a move-up line? I'll just note that in your record." (During our conversation, M asked me this same question at least 3 times!)
"Yes, M. Please pass me on the list."
"OK, then. It's noted in your record." (I'm thinking this "record" sounds like the "permanent record" you always heard about but never saw when you were in school.)
"OK, M. Thank you for your time. You'll probably be hearing from me again. I'm pretty hapless."
The tone of our entire conversation was light and airy. I had the distinct impression that M was happy to have a "tone break" from the types of calls she normally gets. I admit, it was not the sort of communication that I've heard others complain about whenever they have to speak to a Scheduler, so it wasn't what I was expecting.
I guess that's the whole idea behind an experiment: find your own truth.
"XX93 Tango, M."
"Hello Anthony. What can I do for you?"
"Well, M, I'm a new, 30-year Reserve and am depending on others to help me learn how to do this right. I was told that I should sign in to CCS the night before my duty period between 8 & 9pm to acknowledge my assignment for the next day. It's after 9 now and I've been signing in every 15-20 minutes since 8pm with no message. Since I'm on Call Out Line G, should I just assume that I'm responsible to take calls starting at 1100 tomorrow?"
"Oh, no, Anthony. During the first 3 days of the month, there are no call out periods; everyone is a Ready Reserve. You don't have anything to acknowledge because I don't have anything to assign you."
(GULP! I just enjoyed a glass of my favorite Merlot with dinner. "Ready Reserve" means I'm on duty starting at midnight. FARs require no alcohol consumption 8 hours before a trip. That's cutting it close!)
"Oh. OK. Well, I just looked at the Reserve Availability display and I'm pretty far down..."
"You're also only good for 1 day before starting days off. Looks we'll be starting move-up construction soon..."
"Oh, well you can take me off of the move-up list (def: Move-up lines are constructed when there is a sufficient amount of open flying available in the base and assigned to Reserve Flight Attendants in seniority order.) A move-up would defeat the purpose of my Reserve experiment."
"So, Anthony, you are declining a move-up line? I'll just note that in your record." (During our conversation, M asked me this same question at least 3 times!)
"Yes, M. Please pass me on the list."
"OK, then. It's noted in your record." (I'm thinking this "record" sounds like the "permanent record" you always heard about but never saw when you were in school.)
"OK, M. Thank you for your time. You'll probably be hearing from me again. I'm pretty hapless."
The tone of our entire conversation was light and airy. I had the distinct impression that M was happy to have a "tone break" from the types of calls she normally gets. I admit, it was not the sort of communication that I've heard others complain about whenever they have to speak to a Scheduler, so it wasn't what I was expecting.
I guess that's the whole idea behind an experiment: find your own truth.
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