jam123 yes, I was also getting concerned that Maximum's posts would be seen as applying to all ailines!
As most of you know, I work for Virgin Atlantic. The vast majority of my flying is ultra-long haul (12 hour sectors). While we don't have an open cockpit door, we do have an effective security set up which allows relatively easy access by the crew, and the sector lengths mean that it is impractical (and bloody dangerous) to prohibit excursions by pilots.
I don't work every day, but I do work very long hours, which often do approach the restrictions, even with the extensions permitted by the use of three or even four pilots. I do still get around 12-15 days off at home every month, but sleep absorbs many of them!
The security restricions have reduced the attractiveness, and the availability, of staff travel, and we can't now use flight deck jump seats for family members, but to be honest a busy airline will dump staff travellers in favour of full-fare peeps - and always did! Maybe I'm unusual, but I can't see the point of travelling in my spare time - that's my job!
Anyway, for me the job is still good, but not as good as it was. Trouble is, you've pretty much got to go through a period at one of the airlines like Max's before you can get to something like Virgin.