This is copied from another board, *************, and is pretty good info. I hope it answers some of your questions.
Cheers,
WG

"As a junior guy you bid on open time lines with 12 days off built into them. Maybe first 6 and last 6 or 12 in the beginning,mid, or end of the month. You can sell 6 of them back to the company for xtra money if desired. Some will just because they did not work on some of the days they were on the hook so to speak so they sell a few days back when they can. The known flying is built into bid lines with anywhere from 12 days to 18 days out. I think the average is something closer to 14-15 day bid lines. The travel day is built into your trip so you are being paid THP/perdium. The THP (trip hourly pay) is paid at 4.8/day on a 65 hour monthly grntee. So at 13.5 days out you are making xtra money. This helps to keep the company from sitting somewhere waiting on a trip as they are still paying you. You are paid the higher of Grntee/THP/Hard time in the seat.

They have announced plans to hire 46 in the near future. This will likely be in the right seat of the DC-10 as we are losing 3 MD11's and gaining 3 DC10's. As well 3+ 747-400F coming in 08. They have started sending Mechs to school and the initial cadre of checks should be going soon."