Originally Posted by
FlightDetent
As you describe, later in the career it boils down to a simple equation
(cash-brought-home X family-days) / days on duty.
The formula may miss some square roots, logarithms or exponents, but well noted it does NOT include what the job is like or any soft effects. And is pretty valid for comparing different paths one agains another - later in the career.
You are not there yet, nor were others at your (st)age.
Yeah... I'm almost 40. Should I be worried that I'm still looking for happiness from work rather than looking at work as a means to reach happiness outside of work? Maybe there's something wrong with me and I'm looking an idealized airline life that doesn't exist anywhere anymore. The rest of what you wrote, very appreciated. Interesting comments about the
shiny longhaul metal syndrome I obviously do have and can't hide. For sure this'll make me think. For now I will keep both applications (QR and EK) but I wouldn't drop everything and leave to QR until I'm sure EK are done calling Boeing people for the time being as it seems.