I would love to live in Hawaii (based in SFO)...but I can't imagine 10 extra hours each trip for the rest of my career.

We would do it for just a few years for fun.

The only thing remotely fun sounding about that would be the mainline pay check (and my wife is from Maui) I'd rather stick to living in base in the Great Lakes.

Yeah, some people like running marathons too. It's all in what you make it.

I've been commuting out of Maui for a year at three to four times a month, and off and on for three years prior to that. I end up in the Jumpseat ~10% of the time, a middle seat ~5% of the time, an exit row ~40%, and comfort +/economy plus/main cabin extra ~30% of the time, and a regular window/aisle seat ~15% of the time. Been the most stress free commute I've ever had. Only time I've not made it on was a weight restricted 737. The fact I get to look forward to going home to Maui makes it all worth it.

Thanks! Maybe there is hope.

There is! That's coming from me, a regional guy with almost the lowest boarding priority. Also, FWIW, the pilots aalmost aways say it is very rare that they have someone in the jumpseat.

Having done a ton of Hawaii flying this Year I can say I never had a single flight with a guy on the jumpseat.
I think there might be the rare time you see a senior guy with family who is getting home and the family gets seats and he gets the jumpseat but the Stars have to align on that one.

Also, except for the 737, I believe most metal we have going to the islands have 2 jumpseats.

Are you a line holder on west coast? If so, I'd do it in a heartbeat if my wife was on board with the commute… grew up in Hawaii and making the switch for a few years would be fun time… you can do anything for 2 years.