At United when you pick trips in open flying you do not get paid over guarantee if you are on reserve. The pick up window for reserves would open 28 hours prior to departure to allow line holders to trade before that.

I lived in Indy and commuted to Chicago so if i had the chance to pick up something that I knew I was gonna get anyway I would much rather pick it up and buy myself sometime or an extra night at home.

Not sure why this is a big deal? Plus if you don't fly you do not get per diem which might not seem like a lot but to guy that is going to get furlough every little bit helped.