Originally Posted by
Timbo
I've raised 4 kids. The youngest is 17 today, but when they were small, I stayed on the right seat of the MD11, so I could fly 27 hour 3 day trips ATL-Narita. I was only gone 9 days per month, and I coached my son's basketball and baseball teams on the other 21 days off per month. I could have been a 767 Capt. then, commuting to reserve 19 days a month, but I chose to stay home with my kids over that.
And conversely, the junior WB FO could be getting those same trips. But all over weekends, meaning he could be missing 3 of his son's games.
But that SAME guy could slum it on the NB, have a more work intensive 4 on/3 off or even better a 3 on/4 off like SW has but be home EVERY weekend and catch EVERY one of his kids games. He's also NOT playing catchup on his first day off as badly from the int'l trip time zone changes. Especially if he's getting older.
It's all about the trade offs and personal preference.