Won’t commute from the east to hold CA in OAK (or wherever). I can make up the difference in pay by picking up a few turns/month in OT or TTGA in my base. This is based on the current 10 year pay scale (roughly a $6K difference... needing to pick up 35ish TFP/month above LG at the 10 year FO rate). So, spend a few extra days/month driving to work to fly a few turns and come home every night, or commute cross country to sit reserve in OAK. With all the commuting and extra nights in a hotel, I won’t be interested in picking up trips in my own base when I am home... plus I would be low on the OT bidding food chain as a junior, out of base CA.

The OT/TTGA market is getting healthier. I’ll wait til I can hold CA in base (which thankfully is not ATL or MCO). Plus don’t want to get stuck out west when the music stops again. The risk you take really is the loss in LTD/LOL pay should you lose your medical.