Every month, trips that touch a vacation week of an awarded line holder get dropped into open time before the ILIW. Those trips from those other line holders who have vacation that month are then available to trade with during the ILIW. It is one of the features of our contract that is prized by the line holders. The amount of open time at the opening of the ILIW depends on how big the base is. Houston has many more trips in open time at the ILIW to choose from compared to Cleveland for example.
The number of trips in open time is greatest at the opening of the ILIW. After the ILIW closes 24 hours later, crew planning begins creating lines for the secondary bid that the relief line holders will get. After the secondary bid, there usually isn't much left in open time for the rest of the month.