When I was single, way back in the 2000’s, and a lowly regional FO, I nonrevved all over the world. In one year I calculated that my nonrev tickets valued about $40,000. (I went to several international locations in FC, including Australia). That’s more money than I made that year, gross.
It’s a huge benefit. Maybe not to everyone, but definitely to some. I still use nonrev benefits with my family. I don’t nonrev during the middle of summer, I plan accordingly. I just went to the UK for a week, nonrev, for free. There were over 100 seats open. It’s a great benefit. I’m not ashamed of saving $1,000 plus. I paid $12 for a bag of chocolates for the FAs. It was a good trade.
I don’t commute anymore, because commuting sucks. And believe it or not, even commuting is a privilege.