Originally Posted by
Auzzie
I'm in the December 18th class and looks like class we go right through the holidays. Debating on moving it back to January now.
What do you guys think? Training through Christmas and New Years or take some time off and start in January?
You're insane if you skip a class date for two holiday days off.
If you really want to be an airline pilot, and intend on spending more than a year in this job, you need to get your priorities straight and train your family to never expect you to be home on a holiday (or any specific day for that matter). It's better to be upfront about things ilke this, and to set a realistic level of expectation with your loved ones before you even start groundschool--it'll save your marriage, relationships, and mental health if you just clear that up for yourself and your family NOW.
20 numbers of seniority can (and often does) mean:
1) Having a job vs. being furloughed for 8 years
2) Being stuck as a CA for 8 years vs. being stuck as an FO for 8 years
3) Holding a line for 8 years vs. being on reserve for 8 years
4) Commuting for 8 years vs. being based where you live for 8 years
5) Having the experience to get hired at a legacy 8+ years earlier than the guy a class behind you who missed upgrade/got furloughed
6) Having more money and better QOL over the next three decades of your life because of all of the above and more.
If I had been ONE class earlier when I was hired at Mesa, I would've been a CA 3-6 months earlier, and I would've been a lineholder roughly a year earlier--that's a lot of coin to give up just for a couple of days at home, and you'll probably be too anxious about groundschool to relax and enjoy your holidays off anyways.
Long story short--SENIORITY IS EVERYTHING. Buck up and take the earlier class date--there's a chance you'll still get one or both of those holidays off (check airmen/instructors aren't known for liking to work on holidays). And anyone in your life who can't handle you missing the holidays is going to be a problem in your pursuit of this profession in the future anyways--get it out now don't put a bandaid on it.