I would choose to tighten the belt and live on 50 - safe from Corona at home - while this passes.
Of course, I would only be giving up $57 * 22 hours = $1254/month :D (I am a new hire starting Apr 6)

Its the equivalent of making $65-70k a year for most FO’s. Or approach 1.5 times the national average income. Tighten the belt. Take advantage of mortgage holidays. Suspend payments to girlfriends in Peru. It’s a haircut but should be doable unless you’re just living at the edge of the paycheck.

True, but is it both base AND seat specific? The MOU states that the lines are awarded in seniority by position only. I honestly dont know if position includes your domicile.

I'd do it if I were off first year pay.

First year pay is understandable.

If anything, wouldn't it make more sense to take 50 hours at 1st year pay and then do more hours at the higher rate? Assuming you're not paycheck to paycheck.

From a larger perspective, I see this coinciding with the legislation in Congress. If Spirit takes that grant money and only has to pay 50 hours to a significant chunk of pilots, they've sort of won on both accounts.

How so? The amount distributed will be based on Q2-3 of 2019. So there will be money left over if a bunch of guys end up taking the VIL ( and there a ton of lines). But that grant money can only be used for payroll. Spirit doesn’t get to pocket it. They could perhaps stretch those dollars longer using 50 hour lines as I’m not sure the money has to be used up by a certain date.

Thats my thinking.

Dunno about you guys but the timing is perfect. Grow a beard, Enjoy the summer, drink some beer and help keep all our ALPA brother & Sisters on property

This is kinda the way I look at it. Safe at home! Not to mention kids are home from school. Lots of quality family time while getting paid roughly 15 hours less than I normally fly (i'm a quality of life person that drops a lot) without leaving the house! Get a lot of projects done around the house! Get to enjoy my short 3-4 month mid-west summer.....seems almost like a no-brainer!! Only thing that would suck is missing out on the summer gravy!