Roster normalization
I have one of those off-the-wall question I'm just interested in knowing how it works....
In reading the pprune FH section, it seems like based pilots have what are called A days the day before their assigned legs, thus acting as reserve. If they get called out, how is the roster ever normalized? Example, Pilot #1 is supposed to operate LAX-HKG on the 15th, Pilot # 2 on the 16th, etc. But Pilot #1 calls in sick and has the flu so he isn't flying for a week. Pilot #2 takes the flight but now his flight on the 16th is not covered. It would seem you can't just call in every pilot the rest of the month on his A day, but maybe that's it. Or do they fly someone from HKG to make up the flight on the 16th or 17th?
Like I said, innocuous question that doesn't really matter, just wondering. Thanks.