Originally Posted by qazWSX

Back in the day I knew an F/O that made it habit to bid reserve, flew less than max for the day/week/ month, always saw that he got his 24 in 7 , usually at an out station on companies motel with per diem . Then volunteered to fly on his days off at 1.5X or 2X pay. That made him ILLEGAL to fly for his next reserve day and sometimes two days of reserve, but got paid for the min day reserve pay for them by contract. So he got paid on is first 2 days of reserve and flew the next 3 days of reserve. But he then flew his 2 days off at 1.5x or 2X cause he was still legal per FAA. Shampoo, rinse, repeat. Flew 70 hours, billed up to 150+ per month, and still had his 11 days off per contract, usually as a block of time at the end of each bid period. Never had a "home" just rented hanger space at a ratty airport and had the "essentials" for like $200 a month. Always bid TDY assignments......for 24 hour per diem and free motel for the month. Asked for mileage per contract and drove his Yugo from base to TDY assignment , produced gas receipts for verification and cashed in more in mileage than actual expenses. Everything on the "up and up", but made more than the most senior Captain ever hoped to make. Hard way to make a living but he laughed his ass off when the funds hit his bank account.