I'm doing the same planning. By my math, min guarantee with no flying will be just enough to get by. I'll be eager to hold a line or at least fly on reserve and make some per diem.

I commute from a tiny city that's not going to be on Spirit's route map for awhile. It's still possible for me to do X list trips as they call with enough notice most of the time. I've had to turn down one or two for lack of a way to get there but that's the exception.

unless you live within driving distance of your base, its not realistic to do X Lists trips. occasionally they will call the night before but usually its for the next morning. not saying its impossible but its unlikely. best bet is waiting for “company designated premium trips” but those get gobbled up fast

I did one last month and two this month. All were commutable from my outstation home in the amount of time I had from call to show. Granted, the first two flights from my home airport arrive in Chicago before 8 in the morning Central Time so commutable for me is not what it is for many.

Depending on the base. Most of the trips in Vegas starts with a red eye. CS usually call around 8AM - Noon, for a 11PM departure. I would say 90% of there time those X list trips are commutable.

No matter how commutable these are or seem to be, these are NOT something to count on to make end's meet for a new hire.

For those who aren't here, premium calls are made based on the premium credit you've earned from premium trips for the year (if you've earned premium credit you go below someone who has earned less premium credit than you).

So just keep in mind that once you do one or two, your chances of getting picked up get lower and lower if you do more.

Have had three X-list trips in the last 3 months. Commute to work, had them buy me positive space every time (OAL twice).

Not that that really matters. Lineholders do 150+ hours X list in one summer month if they play their cards right. I agree it's not a way to try to make ends meet as a new hire though. You won't get enough months as a lineholder (better X list opportunities) to make a difference, especially at $57.

And this is the point, just because one guy is lucky enough to be off and X/Y listed on the right days and gets called often, it doesn’t mean another guy is sure to get called on his off days. A first year pilot might get lucky some months, but I wouldn’t come here with the expectation that I can pick up a couple thousand dollars of premium flying every month.

and not all bases are equal for frequency of calls!