Truth is, with some seniority not only can it be done it can be quite good. These whale guys completely ignore the Z which can bring you 2 week on off trips with DH/CML’s at either end or both. I flew with 2 guys living in Asia going this and were absolutely killing it. If their bid award didn’t have DHs they would trade into them when possible. They would also pickup short filler trips that had DHs on both ends to operate 1 or 2 days in Asia. That’s 4 extra paid days, big pay too, they got for 1-2 days of actual work. They were more mid pack on fleet vs senior. You can start holding 2 week Asia trips here and there on VTO/VTOR (secondary lines) quite early. Probably pull off commute to Asia with 50 below you. 100 below to start doing it without pulling your hair out. Mid pack and above you’re living large.

If I were to do it now I’d go domestic 76 and drop/trade into whatever works for commuting. Spouse would have to work to cover loss income. Get some bodies below you and either go to whale or Z and do same thing. Once you get close to mid pack Z I’d go there and never look back.

Either way you’re gunna have to get some seniority to do it. But once you do it’s fantastic.