Originally Posted by
buckleyboy
I am not a commuter, but perhaps I have something to offer.
If you are not familiar with a yellow slip (YS), it is a preference to fly. That is one way to avoid a crash pad or hotel. You can YS specific rotations (trips), or you can put in a blanket YS with some qualifiers.
Important info follows!!! If you put in a blanket YS saying “I want to fly when I am on call,” it is imperative that you put in a no report before xxxx preference in the template, ESPECIALLY if it is your first day of availability after a day off. Normally you could not get an assignment before 1000 base time on your first day (or 1200 base time if your on call day follows a vacation day), but if you neglect to put in a specific time on a blanket YS, you waive your ten hour rest requirement and can be assigned a 0500 report on your first on call day (which might be 0200 to your body).
^That info might have been shared earlier in this thread. If so, IMHO, it is worth repeating.
When I was on reserve as a NH I made this my go to. Picked trips in open time, did a YS for the ones I wanted. Rarely did I not get one of the ones I asked for. That way you can get full trips instead of broken trips. And the company is picking up your lodging.