Very true! Took my voluntary leave from HP in 1991 when offered. Flying overseas hmmmm. In some 22 years, I never took a pay cut, no cut backs on medical benefits, accumulated retirement funds not robbed by my carriers which i did not have to rely any union to protect. Business class travel to and from US base airport with confirmed positive space tickets to my home airport. 5 star hotels wit proper allowances. Take advantage of the carrier's network and travel. Being an expat is not for everyone. It provided me and the family with far greater financial income and security, not to mention of living round the world in locations I chose, and not some base where I would have to sit reserve in some crappy crash pad.

There are some negatives, however. Your block off days may not coincide with family events or occasions. You'll lose touch with close friends which will turn into acquaintances or just be an erasure in your address book. It can put a strain on the Spouse, too with young kids in tow.

Still, all in all I would choose the expat route over the boring and sometimes tense corned beef on white bread with mayonnaise life style with any US carrier.

Four year degree? Definitely important should one need an alternative profession if one loses his medical. Required overseas? Some yes, more for FOs, but not DECs. Overseas carriers do require technical knowledge.

Larger well known and stable carriers outside the U.S. will hire low time pilots, however, time on aircraft above certain weight classes are required. The flip side is that upgrades are faster overseas than in the US. Generally upgrades with overseas carriers are not based on seniority, but rather on performance.