You will get frustrated sitting behind the action as a SO.
...
Whilst I would never dispute NC's thoroughly comprehensive financial analyses of FO versus SO, the whole "not part of the action" argument raised here always struck me as fairly academic.
Personally, as (most) airlines work on the "deli counter" principal of seniority then I would opt for taking whatever got me in the company soonest - assuming that all things being equal it was a company you could see yourself working in for 20+ years!!
If, however, your ego requires that you be in a position to "fly" the aircraft, albeit for what amounts to around 10 minutes in a typical 12 hour long haul flight, then by all means go for FO. (I'm sorry if I offend anyone but,
turning a heading bug/speed select or alt select knob does NOT equate to "flying" in my mind. I would also go so far as to say those pilots who "fly" to 15,000+ ft by following FD bars are also deluding themselves as to the amount of "action" they are getting ahead of an SO!!!
)
I would weight lifestyle considerations in either role far more heavily than "flying" the aircraft - It's a safe bet that your average CX SO has a hell of a lot more time off than the FOs. This variable cannot be undervalued when you're a mother/father of a young family. The average SO would get around 3 years of 18 days off a month - not a bad deal when you consider that he/she will still have 20+ years to look forward to a "window" seat.
I guess my point is this: if you're turned on by the thought of getting to fiddle with knobs (& I don't mean talking to management) and get the ubiquitous Breitling sooner rather than later, go for FO.
If you'd rather have a "hobby" for 3 years that allows you live (just), but offers the advantadge of giving you all the time in the world to neglect the kids and/or go on the prowl for Russian hookers and eight balls of crack, then for sh!ts sake... take the SO option!!
