Not sure I totally understand the problem. Looking at schedules for April number 214 EWR '73FO (out of about 410 active) has 17 days off and 74 hours. If a person wants to be home with the young 'uns I get it. I was the same way and dropped to 50 hours for almost 5 years (lucky me - my wife had a great job at the time). The keys are a) don't commute b) learn to bid well and use drops well c) bid WB FO. The WB job at United is like working for a whole different company.

For whatever entertainment its worth I was hired in '96 and spent my first 2 years on reserve working every weekend and holiday with 11 or 12 days a month off, and I may be remembering incorrectly but we were ALWAYS on short call. There was no long call. Man Power planning had beefed up the ORD '73 ranks in anticipation of a '73 airplane order, but the company ordered A320s instead and I went from number 242 out of 244 to something like 178 out of 180 in ORD during my first 2 years. I know . . . I know waaaa waaaa. Anyways just meant as an entertaining thought.