Originally Posted by
60av8tor
Everything is relative. I heard a lot about WB being a different airline, how good the QOL is, etc, but you truly don't appreciate any of it until you experience it. They say to go WB FO when you're able to hold NB left seat with the seniority you want for QOL so, if you can't manage your rest and it kicks your ***, you can upgrade. The problem is that if it suits you it is difficult to think about going back to multiple legs, airplane swaps, inbound is late, short overnights, etc. So many more dynamics to eff up a day, trip, etc. I imagine similar to if you were a CA now with the more efficient operation and had to then operate in the NK environment. What you used to deal with as a matter of fact is now exponentially more painful😂
Occasionally I look at the NB CA PBS awards for my seniority, and while not horrible, I do question wanting to go back to that mess.
Having said all that, if anything will push me back, it will be missing flying - honestly. I really wish there were a middle ground.
I'm not knocking the legacies, but a lot of what you describe primarily applies to the multi-day trips at NK.
Doing mostly day turns you won't deal with nearly as many headaches. It's pretty much show up, fly two legs and walk back to the car after setting the parking brake. Most of the time I don't even see the FAs working in the back.
Occasionaly I may time out and get stuck, but honestly that is mabye once a year for me.
Overall I am much more healthy being home most nights: eating real food at home, working out in my local gym, going for a run on the beach, sleeping in my own bed, etc...
I am no stranger to the 4 day trip life, and I don't miss the hotels and garbage airport food. It's just not for me and I get sick more often living that kind of lifestyle.
WB flying did interest me at some point, but knowing what that kind of flying does to the body I think I would pass if it were an option.
It doesn't look cool and sexy on IG, but non-redeye NB out and backs are about the healthiest kind of flying one can do. However if all one cares about is running up the W2 every year, then the legacies are the way to go. No question about it.
Obviously if NK ceases to exist then none of this matters.
EDIT: Please don't rebut this with the outlier 27.5 year CA who lives in base at xzy legacy and who just started doing day turns toward the end of his/her career. I realize this is possible but I am discussing the kind of flying that one can reasonably do for the bulk of their career in a tax friendly red state.