Exactly! LCAL did not have a meaningful per day rig so the pairings could be very unproductive, but because there was no meaningful per day rig there were pages and pages of one and two day trips in the 737 bid package. Once we got the rig the vast majority of trips became four days to reduce paying the 5 hours a day. A 3 day trip that ended early on the last day was joined to a 2 day trip that started late on the first day yielding a 4 day trip that paid a min of 20 hours vs the 25 hours the original trips paid with the new rig.

Some liked the old system because shorter trips allowed a great deal more flexibility in PBS line construction and in the ability to drop, trade, and pickup extra flying. Some didn't like the old system because seniority played a big factor in getting the really productive trips (27 hour four days) while junior folks got the 16 hour four day. Now the lines are so homogenized that everyone gets a 20 hour four day, little ability to drops, trade, or pickup, but at least everyone knows they're getting 5 hours per day average. The different systems also had some effect on commutability.

So, as you said, pick your poison.