Thanks! I probably wouldn't attempt commuting to Australia on reserve but that depends whether reserve stays at 9-12 months or reduces to only a few months in the most junior bases. At this stage I am looking at all my options and won't be applying to anyone until the end of 2022 due to family commitments in Australia.

So, I have close to 1.5 M NM commuting over a 7 year period, (without Covid). You do you. My advice: Live where you work, so either be happy living in the USA, or be happy working for Qantas.

Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to commute from Australia. There’s not a word in the English language that could describe how deeply miserable you would be.

The way the reserve grid here works is the company has X amount of reserve buffer on top of the typical. So long as open time that day doesn't cut into that buffer, the day is green and you can drop. If open time cuts into that buffer the day is red and you're stuck with whatever pairing you have that day even as a lineholder.

Like I said, in theory it can be done but living in the real world I think Mainline and Symbian got it right. Either be happy living in the US or be happy flying for Qantas as there aren't words in the English language fit to describe that kind of misery.

Yeah and hear I am *****ing every time I have an hour commute into base lol. I couldn't fathom the hell that a 16 hour commute would be. I mean sure, once your senior enough you could in theory drop a bunch of your flying and then build a line around the red days/trips, but even having to do that commute twice a month would be soul crushing to me. I suppose we are all different though and one persons hell is another ticket to paradise. Good luck on whatever option you choose.

Do NOT do this!!! It may be possible but I don’t want to be flying with you. You won’t be sharp even after you’re acclimated because you’ll be working nonstop for weeks at a time. Do NOT do this!!

Thank you for all the replies - it seem's commuting would not be an option despite the flexibility in schedules afforded by Spirit. Are there any FLL or DTW FO's that would mind sending me information on their schedules - typical overnight length/port and legs per day? Would be interested to know how senior West Coast overnights go. TIA

Not sure there is a “typical” schedule.

Foot print of trips:

1 day: -turns greater of 5 hours credit or actual block

2 day: -red eye turns 5 credit or actual block
-Single over nights(2 duty period) 10 credit or actual block

3 day: -two overnights (3 duty periods) 15 credit or actual block
-something like Lima, late flight down 22 hour layover, red eye home. 2 duty periods but actual block is 12 so it pays that

4 day: -three overnights (4 duty periods) 20 credit or actual block or duty rig
-two overnights with a transcon red eye somewhere in it that typically credit between 16-18 with duty rig

Duty rig is time away from base / 3.5

Layover cities shift around a lot between bases, but the footprints stay the same. 1-4 legs a day. Layovers typically 12-19 hours. Short stays of less than 17 are airport hotels, long stays are “downtown”

“West Coast” layovers aren’t really junior or senior, it more depends on the pairing footprints you bid for, commutability, aversion to red eyes, etc. You can end up with 6-8 LAX overnights a month as a junior line holder for no other reason but they are pairing footprints that no one else really cares for.

The only things that go really senior are easy day turns that you can make a Mon-Fri 9 to 5 no weekend/holiday line from, or occasional unicorn trips like 48 hours in Santo Domingo that happen once a month.

Defo be a bloody stuffed drongo to commute from woop woop for this job, mate.

well played, very well played