I hear you on that. We have used our benefits frequently. To get out to cruises, take the kids to DisneyLand. When they were little we had season passes because we could do two days in DisneyLand for the cost of a hotel and a couple subway sandwiches after we upgraded the first park hoppers. I have taken my kids to Paris for a couple days and my spouse and I flew to Europe for 4 days when I was fortunate to have someone pick up a 4 day trip of mine. Total cost was $500 and we flew business class both ways.

I hate to spend days off in airports, but it usually means I am doing something fun with my family. It gives my kids a chance to see things they would not normally experience and makes the crap I put up with bearable. Other airliners with enforcible work rules can usually get 7-10 days out of a couple vacation days. And there is a reason that SW Inc wants to take it away so bad. If you get relief from your moonlighting gig and can get 3 or 4 days off, give it shot. It's fun to go to the airport with absolutely no plan but to get on the first flight that is open. That is the next thing my kids and I are going to do. Of course, it will probably be at my next gig when I can actually get some planned time off and not have to work extra to make up my hours the rest of the month. But a good mini vacation does the soul good. Happy traveling!!