Originally Posted by
ty97
Interesting info in this thread. One question about the (non-positive-space) commuters: What happens to the flight(s) they are supposed to work if they are unable to get on a plane to their base? Are their personnel on standby to step in and work that spot, or does a flight get cancelled?
Yes, there are extra pilots and FAs assigned to be on standby at all of the crew bases every day. They are called "reserve" crews. If a pilot or FA doesn't sign in on time to work a flight, a reserve crewmember is called into service.
From what I've heard, being a reserve crewmember is considered a very undesirable duty. You have to sit around the airport all day WITHOUT pay. (Remember, pilots start getting paid when the parking brake is released, and FAs start getting paid when the aircraft door is closed. No pay for layovers or airport time except in extenuating circumstances.) If you end up not getting a trip, then you've wasted a day. If you DO end up getting a trip, then you will get the pay of the FA originally assigned to the trip who didn't show up. But it could be a trip you did not want to work, like PAP or SDQ.
That's why most FAs who have sufficient seniority prefer to bid for trips they are senior enough to "hold," meaning that they will not get dumped back onto reserve.