I'd like an idiot's guide to understanding the airlines' pay scales.

Take year 1 for instance with Continental. I'm making $31 per hour and I'm "guaranteed" 72 hours. How much over that might I fly? Can I also sit another 72 hours of "reserve" in the same month, thus doubling my money?

And speaking of "reserve", is it mandatory that new hires sit a certain amount of it? If I don't live in my base city, am I required to go there and sit in a crash pad, or is it optional just to make more money?

Here's another question: Aircraft type? How is that determined? Do they tell you at the interview whether you're being considered for widebodies versus narrows? That seems to be a big deal in respect to 2d-3rd-4th year earnings!