I think how you bid has a bearing as well as where one is based. JFK is probably the most eclectic of the bases; meaning that the flying is the most varied. This probably leads to more opportunity for things to be put into your schedule and therefore more opportunity for extra hours. Keep in mind that in this ACMI business the only reason one has a schedule is so there is something from which to deviate. What you print out before you leave home WILL fall apart eventually. That's OK and it makes the company able to rapidly respond to customer needs. As to the bidding, what seems to work for me is to just bid the days off all in one group where I want them and fill the other part of the month with all the trips that fit. When I'm on my 17 days of work it really doesn't matter which pairings show up as they will change anyway.