I don't think you need seniority to plan in advance. You just try to bid or pickup a trip the month in the timeframe that will make it legal to cover your airline fare. Hopefully you will have the bank. It doesn't always work out, of course, and then the ticket comes from your own funds. I'm sure there are commuters that are way more versed in this, as you can save so much money purchasing advance super saver tickets. I doubt the company is adverse to people saving them thousands of dollars