Originally Posted by
Cubdriver
The people who do this long term aren't trying to get to a major. They elected to trade all that career climbing for being home at night, every night, which even some majors can't offer. I know several guys who made this bargain and seem happy with it. They are resigned to an income that will probably top out in the $60s and they are happy with that and the slow pace of things, easy working conditions, small company atmosphere, do-it-your-own way nature of it, etc. I am not really among them but I see their point.
Home every night is a funny thing. In OAK (now HWD) the Metro on Monday would have a 0330 show, and be home at 7pm. Tues-Friday a 630 show. The plane was also usually not in base, but stuck in SFO. Sometimes you would drive to SFO, then repo the plane to OAK/HWD, or sometimes it would be the opposite. The old base manager would try and make you take bart from SFO to OAK, miserable! So an hour drive both ways, do the math. How much time are you really at home? How high is the quality of time at home when you are dog tired, you get home at 8pm or later, and have to wake up at 4am. Granted milage with the turbine runs really varies base to base. I just laugh every time I hear the "home every night" brag. I read it as "home for 8 or less hours a night, and in the day you stay in a dilapidated crew apt 5 days a week" How is that a better QOL than being put in nice hotels, and having real quality days off at home?