Southwest has no Reserves! Is it true?

[crjflyboy]

I heard that Southwest doesn't have Reserve pilots. Is this true? They must have some type of reserve type duty. Does anyone know what Southwest does with the reserve thing?

[20driver]

Southwest reserves

I don't work for them and have no direct knowledge of this but I could see it.

The fly a single type and almost all their routes are high frequency so covering a sudden shortage is relatively easy. Pilots and management get along, the employees all pull together so helping out in a bind is company trait. With correct staffing levels and good rostering you will only need reserves to cover the unexpected. Why pay pilots to sit reserve if you can manage without it?

20driver

[52049er]

AFAIK at least 1 medium sized UK airline has no reserves. Offer enough for day off working (esp on SH) and you dont need them. Unfortunately mine doesnt (I would take home less than £200 for which you wouldnt get a decent plumber) so we do.

[bruce w]

I have been at SWA for 23 years and we have had reserves the entire time. We run a little under 8% of the hard lines. We have am and pm raps plus a 2 hour call out.

[ecj]

50249er is making one assumption - the pilots are not working b@lls out in the first place, at / close to CAP 371 limits.
He and others are quite correct about the concept of treating the staff well and having reasonable manning levels -they will be happy to work days off to ensure the program works.