Open time: Commuting vs. living in base
 

How much easier is it to pick up open time if you are living in base vs commuting?

It's easy to pick up open time regardless of where you live. The difference is this: do you really want to pick up open time if it means spending half your day commuting?

When the company gets desperate, crew scheduling will throw in positive space and/or commuter rooms if you negotiate for it.

I live in one base and they will positive space me to the other base to pick up flying.

What are majority open time trips? Are they mostly out and back? Also, how hard is it for someone living in base (EWR) to bid 1-3 day trips instead of all 4 days?

There are virtually no 1 day trips.

Bidding for 1-3 day trips depends on seniority.

Open time can have a wide variety from reserve to 5 days. Availability varies.

3-4 day trips is like 75% of the flying. Even if you live in base you will have to do 4-6 days on the road in a row. Day trips are nonexistent, and 2-days are very rare.

Can anyone approximate the number (percentage wise) of trips that are commutable on both ends, commutable on one end and non commutable on both ends?

Thanks.

You have described approximately 100% of the trips.

Depends. What is the earliest that you can be in base and what time does the last flight leave to the city that you are commuting to / from.

I’d define commutable trips on both ends with a show time at or after 2pm and finish around 3pm or earlier.

Rough percentage of trips that are commutable on both ends and on one end?