FWIW, I hear that is going to change. Delta is going to be a GLOBAL Airline with US "bases" that will feed the world. LAX from what I was told will grow to make better feed for the world. Also, there is not one real dominant carrier in LA, so someone wants to SNAP it up!

TYG

LA will grow. It will grow a lot.

My guess is if DAL has its way, they would love two international bases in a few years.

Any talk that there may someday be overseas domiciles available?

Lots of Guam rumors a while back. Died down now.

Maybe in the future but the union and management would have to work out a lot of details.

Some sort of "TDY" arrangement? Premium pay, housing, 6 months, no family? DALPA would have to sign off.

Sal Island?

And the lawsuits will follow the regs, & not just from pilots. I see management fighting it too. If they are forced to force us to live in base, then they'll end up having to give us COLAs determined by our domicile. I can live in DTW for a lot less then I can live in NYC. Am I really doing my daughter a favor if I move her away from Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and for my wife her Mom, Dad, & sister?

If the gubment tries to change that, things are gonna get much more messy.

Not only that but what about the "locals" (NYC, LA, etc) with their 2-3 hour drives in heavy traffic. Is that "worse" than a one hour flight commuter? What about the guy 5 minutes from the parking lot but with a screaming baby at home? We all should have cameras installed in our homes so government safety experts can monitor us for the greater good.

Don't even suggest that.

There has been talk off and on of a few international bases, but there would be a ton of details that would need to be worked out to make them a reality. I can see us doing that, but it is at least a few years off.

All those issues can effect a commuter exactly the same as a local before he even begins a commute. I commute even today. I have done it for most of my career. You can argue all you want but this issue is in doubt even as a write this post. It looks like ALPA will win this time but one more accident and its going to get ugly.

There is a bill in congress right now to require rules for commuters. The ATA has not made a peep about it. In fact they often bring up commuting when ALPA pushes for better rest rules. It looks like this bill will die in committee. As I mentioned another accident and it ALPA wont be able to kill it next time.
Pilots can sue all they want. They wont get far. There must have been at least 100 or more lawsuits about age 60 over the years. The courts always ruled the FAA can control items regarding flight safety.
We as pilots don't help ourselves much in this regard also. Most pilots commute so they are properly rested before a trip. We have however many who don't.

Yeah I know I was being sarcastic of course. Wouldn't put anything past some people though.

I hope people are right in saying commuter restrictions have died in committee this time around (at least).