The Reserve Life

[lowoleo22]

Hey there, I know it's about 6 years at YYC to hold a block, but how is life on reserve? Do you find you get time off you request? Is there overtime available or any open flying at all? Financially are you able to travel and live well?

Additionally, I've heard talk about one seniority list with Encore but I thought they were split? Is this trying to change?

[kiaszceski]

AFAIK there are only around 100 pilots left on this list, you should be fine.

[Canadaflyer46]

It's becoming a lot less than 6 years on reserve now. I would say more like 1-2 with the current movement.
Lot of people will still leave for AC, even more so once the new contract comes out there due to the (not changing) 10-15 year upgrades at WJ. Just get in and get your seniority number, worry about the rest after.

[Lurch]

It's becoming a lot less than 6 years on reserve now. I would say more like 1-2 with the current movement.
Lot of people will still leave for AC, even more so once the new contract comes out there due to the (not changing) 10-15 year upgrades at WJ. Just get in and get your seniority number, worry about the rest after.

Not Sure where you are getting 1-2 years, I know 3 pilots who have all been at WJ for less than a year who are already off reserve and holding full blocks. I know 2 pilots hired early 2023 that are going to be off reserve in 8 months, if they stick to the 27 pilots on reserve that they have for the last several months. The list provided on Comply is not an accurate representation of what is happening.

[Nashbandicoot]

Hey there, I know it's about 6 years at YYC to hold a block, but how is life on reserve? Do you find you get time off you request? Is there overtime available or any open flying at all? Financially are you able to travel and live well?

Additionally, I've heard talk about one seniority list with Encore but I thought they were split? Is this trying to change?

It's definitely less than a year to get off reserve in yyc currently

[lowoleo22]

Thanks for the answers so far. Still wondering if there is open flying available and if all the Encore pilots will slot over ahead of me in seniority?

[dontcallmeshirley]

Thanks for the answers so far. Still wondering if there is open flying available and if all the Encore pilots will slot over ahead of me in seniority?

Currently, all Encore pilots who got their reserved seniority number on or before December 31, 2022 are above you in seniority. Time will tell what will happen to the new Encore pilots' seniority.

[N181CS]

How can you not have enough seniority to hold a so called block of flying rather then reserve if there is socialized bidding?

[dontcallmeshirley]

How can you not have enough seniority to hold a so called block of flying rather then reserve if there is socialized bidding?

WestJet uses a mix of bidding styles for different aspects of it's operations.

As far as reserve, they do Reserve, Line, and Mixed blocks. Reserve blocks are handed out from the bottom up. If you can hold a line block, you'll use socialized bidding to fill your schedule. Aircraft and base bids are full seniority whereas vacation uses auction bidding.

[goleafsgo]

How can you not have enough seniority to hold a so called block of flying rather then reserve if there is socialized bidding?

The bottom 10-20% of each position is assigned reserve.The bottom 10% will always be reserve and the company can raise the reserve lines to up to 20% each month depending on their need