Originally Posted by
dojetdriver
Depends on the circumstances as to wether or not that's a valid rationale. Especially if you're comparing line bidding to PBS.
PBS is arguably more efficient, causes less open time, and results in less bodies to staff the operation.
The inefficiencies of line bidding create more open time, and the requirement for more bodies.
What does any of that have to do with what we call "open time" being the equivelant of "overtime" in other jobs? His question was what was Open Time. The easiest explanation was that it is overtime.... and as other have pointed out, it is more cost efficient to keep the airline around 5% understaffed and cover the open flying with overtime(open time). The 20-50% Open Time override still costs less than providing 5% more employees with health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance... sick time and vacation time, and the additonal costs of training.