Tornado, maybe you should change your name to patronising tw@t.... I'm not playing into the hands of anyone... I'm taking advantage of a chance to take more time off to be with my family at a time that suits me....meanwhile you can carry on working your normal roster if you want because that suits you... You're not working any harder because of me... You're just not working less ... So what's your F'ing problem.... If you were at BA or easyjet would you begrudge guys who choose to go on a part time roster for part pay?.... It's options like that that allow their crew to do other stuff as they please outside of work... Not everyone wants to, but some do... It's called flexibility... Its very poular and it suits the company and the employee....God forbid Cathay should ever offer part time .... that might suit so many crew that you might have to work your normal roster indefinitely.