Take the first class date available.

This is the debate I’m having right now. I’m currently flying a desk and coming home at 5 everyday (with occasional overnights) once I got the seniority I wanted at xjt, I could get 15 days off. The pay was tough but at least where I am now I could “part time” it and still pull an occasional commission.

The other issue is kids. I have a 7 year old that struggles with behavior issues at times. He does great for a month then loses it for a few days.

The good news is, on my days off it could just be us.

Don’t worry all will be forgiven after you get on at Fedex you’ll be rolling in dough taking the family to the French Riviera on a yacht lighting up cigarettes with 100 dollar bills. All because you took the first avail class before the next crisis hit......

I deferred a class date for two weeks (wife wanted to take a planned vacation). They were running classes larger than 50 pilots, figured it wouldn't matter much.

Ended up in the same very small base with several of my classmates (senior by lottery) for about a decade, they upgraded and I missed it. When I did upgrade I was stuck working weekends and holidays. If I had taken the first class I would have upgraded 4-5 years sooner and bid 30-40% instead of 60-70%. In addition to CA QOL that would presumably got me out of the regionals about five years sooner. I did enjoy good QOL as an FO before upgrade, but I'd recommend grabbing seniority when you can and then you get to choose what to do with it.

Sometimes a furlough does good things. I had a friend that was very comfortable at a regional. He's still there. My other friend few months jr got furloughed. Forced him to get another job at a less desirable regional, and get his time and get out. fast forward 15 years. He’s upgrading at a major. The comfortable regional captain is finally applying for the majors.. but in the end. You don’t leave life with your job. But I'm sure you leave it with your family... So it’s always a easy choice for me..

Yes, I fly with CA's now who were FO's with me at the first (crappy) regional. They had motivation to GTFO early and often...

Many pilots were screwed during the last recession. Only a select few got lucky, many many more we’re not as fortunate first class or not. I know, I was one of them. If you think you can control anything in this industry, your dad is a 777 CA or you’re delusional. There’s no way I would turn down a family event for this job, if I had a choice.

Mostly I agree with the last, ie call in sick if you have to (just not on xmas). But there are some career-defining moments where your choice can reverberate over the years... I'd try to be aggressive at those moments, once you have a schedule at your career-destination airline you'll have pretty good family life from that point on.

There’s a lot of us on this forum that left the industry for a bit when things got rough, leaving 5-10 years seniority on the table. A lot of us don’t regret it either given the circumstances. I wouldn’t stress too much over a few months. You really don’t have as much control as you think you do, so try not to get TOO carried away with thinking long term and try to enjoy your present

Man, while seniority is key. But at the same time family time is important too, plus you never know sometimes you may see a family member again. So enjoy your time with your family and take the later class and just don’t look back.