Warren, perhaps I wasn't as clear as I could have been. By basket of flying, I mean the normal cut and thrust of short haul - additional flying that crops up, cancellations, reserve call outs working days off, etc in addition to normal rostered flying.
Keg is correct.
Take an additional MEL-SYD-MEL that all three Captains get asked to do on a day off, the QF guy gets $750, Jetstar $1400 and virgin $1100 (approx). In a 30 day roster both JQ and
VB have 11.5 days (average) off, so there is good scope to pick up this flying. Of course the companies are going to try to maximise hours worked on those days. Working just two days off a month is very lucrative, and it takes the number of days off to match the QF guy.
Still, I wouldnt be sneezing at 1/696th after 58 if someone offered it to me.
As a general rule, I don't work days off. Life's too short to spend them at work as well.