Very true ! The trick lies in finding a good contract. I'm on my second expat contract (first in the ME and now Japan) and so far very content with my decision, especially since I get to live almost halve a month in the States. I'm in my mid 30s with all the bells and whistles (4 year degree, TPIC, heavy international time,clean record etc ), will I ever return to the US airline scene, well, at this point I just don't know.