Originally Posted by sailingfun

Mike, I would suggest you might not know how international flying works at some airlines. With DH's and other issues you normally work less then domestic schedules. I often bid a 12 day trip with DH's at both ends and a 2 day US layover in the middle where I go home. Total time worked comes out to 9 days and 6 days not in my bed.
I once said I would not fly international because of what you state as did most of my friends. Once they went over to the dark side all that went out the window. There is a reason international F/O often goes senior to domestic CA while paying less money.
The beauty of working for some airlines is you have the ability to do both. Get burned out on domestic and you can switch to international or the opposite. It's like making a complete job change. I think I would have gone crazy a long time ago in this job without that ability.
There is nothing like enjoying a rooftop dinner in Rome under a full moon drinking a toast to those poor SOB's in Jackson MS on a 10 hour layover!