Originally Posted by
Timbo
I agree about the time off/money equation. That's why I fly international. The long legs cram more flight time (and pay) into fewer days away from home and you spend less time sitting around the airport waiting, not being paid.
I don't particularly enjoy sitting in a tube for 17+ hours per leg, but that one 17 hour leg would take 3 days of flying domestic. The other leg was 14:30. That's 31:30 flight pay, in two legs, I slept for half of that, and only 58 hours away from base.
Oh, and when they fed us for the third time on that 17 hour leg, I wasn't even hungry. I only ate the French toast because I know there are children starving in MD88's all over America!
.
As Sailing said, I raised my fork and 'toasted',
"Here's to YOU Mr. Mad Dog Driver!".
That's great that long haul flying doesn't bother you too much and I mean it without any sarcasm. Some people (if any) can handle multiple time zone changes and eventually, it leads to accelerated aging. Regardless of how efficient the ACM is on your aircraft, breathing 17 hours of recycled air is not good for anyone. I flew long haul in my 20's and I was a zombie for days after a trip. Days off didn't much matter; it was more like days recuperating. Perhaps, you are different. To each his own, I guess.
I'll fly my entry level narrow body 737 until I retire. I'm fine with that. I lost my ego long ago so I'm happy with my lot in life. btw, I rarely fly more than 2 legs a day.