Every single one of us has/had a passion for flying. If you are miserable at work, then you are gonna bring that funk and bad attitude home, I know this because my father hated his job. My mother is a flight attendant, growing up with her gone made me appreciate her time at home, but she also took me with her on some trips which exposed me to the airlines early on in life. I loved it, and was always excited when my mom came home with cool stuff from around the world, I wouldn't trade it for anything, she taught me to be self reliant and I can't thank her enough for it. Bottom line, my mom came home happy because she loved her job, my dad came home miserable, you tell me what's better to be around as a child?

This job isn't cut out for everyone, but sometimes I think the spouses we pick are not the right ones for us either, we're just too stupid to realize that and blame it on everything else, including our airline jobs..

The divorce rate at my company used to be 10% per year. From the published defined contribution balances it appears many, possibly more than half, have given up half their retirement in divorce actions.
We have one of the better pay scales and should have at least fourteen days off a month.
My experience, its something you both have to work on to make it work.

I agree wholeheartedly. IMO some people take marriage too lightly. Also, if I'm home every night but hate my job & am miserable is that good for my family? Being on the road makes me realize how special my time with my family is, & I don't take it for granted. I have a healthy balance of flying & family, & it works for my family.

It's easy to have your attitude when you make it to a major in 3 years, not so easy for a 7 year a FO at XJT.

I'm at a regional.

I go over and over this in my head all the time. I have a wife and 3 year old son.

Right now with my son not being in school yet I feel like I see him as much or more than a 9-5 parent.

As a kid my dad worked until 6pm everynight and we ate dinner as a family. But 3 hours later we were going to bed. 3 hours a night for 5 days a week is only 15 hours. Add another 15 hours each day for sat and sunday and its 45 hours.

I on the other hand work something like 4 on 3 off. I commute so at the end of my 4 day im usually not home until 10 or 11pm. But then I have 3 days of 15 hours of quality time with my son. On an hours basis it is very similair to what my dad spent with my siblings and myself 45 hours. Every 3rd week or so you get a stretch of 4 or 5 days off between trips and your getting even more time at home.

If you live in base your going to get even more time at home. That 2pm release on your last day now means your spending the same amount of time at home as a 9-5 parent that day.

Living in base makes this job so much easier. I imagine working at a major would increase your time at home even more.


I do worry about the amount of time I will see my kid when he starts school. I guess we will cross that bridge when it comes. Hopefully ill be at a major and be able to move to base. I refuse to move for a regional!

You don't work for a contract 'regional' carrier either. Schedules like what you mention don't go to new folks at Fee For Departure contract 'regional' carriers. That I can assure anyone.

I have pretty decent seniority at my airline and average about 16 days on per month. I can, about every 3 months or so get a group of about 7 days in a row off if I bid max days at the end of one month and max at the beginning of the next.

At a regional expect to work 4-day trips which start early and end late and work about 80-90 hours per month. Not ideal for commuters.

I don't know what major jobs are like, but they are apparently better if you are DAL right side.

I came from the military and for us it was a large INCREASE in QOL for the airlines. Between being in the field multiple months per year or 6-12 month deployments I was rarely around. The regionals have at least been predictable as far as schedules go and get me home every week.

Communication has been key for us since day one. We talk multiple times per day even if just for a few seconds to check in and catch up. Add in skype as well as the iphone where she will email me pictures or videos of our son a few times per day and it really helps. When I come home I am HOME and dedicate my time towards making it quality time.

We were married first year of the Corps and had our son just after upgrade. I was home for the birth and the first 2.5 months of my sons life.

Would it be nice to be home based and/or home more, of course it would. I do know that when compared to the 9-5er friends I have that it works out to be about the same. As soon as JetBlue calls me things will look up even more being home based...until they close it or furlough me....or never call in the first place.

Rascal -

This goes for ANY job that has people away from home, family, and friends - not just the airline world.

USMCFLYR

Reference this post.


Plus, anyone who is a 7 year XE FO had an opportunity to upgrade before the downturn.

The 7 year FOs at Comair have never had a chance to upgrade.

Do you just mean FOs at XJet?