Originally Posted by nopac6

You're saying that if you're on reserve at SW and you pick up a trip (ON your reserve days), you get paid for that trip over and above the reserve guarantee? By picking up the trip, you're making yourself unavailable for reserve duty. Why would you get paid for the trip you pick up AND for being on reserve (when you're no longer on reserve).

Like Dave said, it's always been that way at UAL (and every other major airline that I know of). Picking up trips on reserve just gives a person more control over their schedule which makes commuting WAY more tolerable.