Originally Posted by MrBigAir

^^^^ THIS

Nothing is actually done in "spirit" though many things are sold that way. JetBlue is not an exception, this is how the world works. The 8hr Reduced Rest overnight was in "spirit" supposed to be relief for extenuating circumstances beyond airline control and to be used sparingly. Instead, schedules were built upon it, and now we are going to be dealing with 117.

When it's time to toe the line, "spirit" is about as worthless as yesterday's wind. This is true in any industry, with any sort of contract or regulation. "Spirit" is just a vaporous notion that can be swept side-- work rules need to be forged in hard details and specific definitions and bound by a legal contract. Otherwise we are mercy to the whims of those above.