Need out of the South
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Need out of the South
Hi all,
Unsure if this is the best place to post this but looking for advice from folks who are based outside of the South. I'm a cityflyer FO but I'm wanting to move closer to family in the north west of England in the next 2-3 years. Ultimately I'd like to be in a stable position to drop down to a part time roster to help look after parents when they'll need it (though hopefully this won't be anytime soon!).
I don't necessarily want to take a pay cut but money is less important to me than good work/life balance. I also would like to work for an airline with good staff travel so I can take advantage of the free time I have now! I don't think I can handle much of a commute so it seems my options with these criteria are TUI, Virgin, Aer Lingus UK, and easyJet (although I'd rather not pay for my type rating). An e190 rating not so useful here.
Looking for suggestions for other options in my future career, and for advice on how to navigate the e190 of it all! Appreciate your time and your advice
Unsure if this is the best place to post this but looking for advice from folks who are based outside of the South. I'm a cityflyer FO but I'm wanting to move closer to family in the north west of England in the next 2-3 years. Ultimately I'd like to be in a stable position to drop down to a part time roster to help look after parents when they'll need it (though hopefully this won't be anytime soon!).
I don't necessarily want to take a pay cut but money is less important to me than good work/life balance. I also would like to work for an airline with good staff travel so I can take advantage of the free time I have now! I don't think I can handle much of a commute so it seems my options with these criteria are TUI, Virgin, Aer Lingus UK, and easyJet (although I'd rather not pay for my type rating). An e190 rating not so useful here.
Looking for suggestions for other options in my future career, and for advice on how to navigate the e190 of it all! Appreciate your time and your advice

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 72
Likes: 142
From: UK
Eastern may be worth monitoring. They are growing their E190 fleet due to getting a lot of KLM Cityhopper work. If, like me, you live in the Northwest, a HUY base would be a tiring 2 hour plus commute, but they may open up other northern bases in the future. They were doing some MAN-AMS-MAN routes recently but not, I think, last winter schedule.
Supercharged PPRuNer


Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 15
From: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
BA mainline? Many, many commuters from around the UK and beyond. It would be a struggle to make it work if junior on short haul, but long haul would be more do-able - especially if you are part-time.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 8
From: Either the back of a sim, or wherever Crewing send me.
Joined: Sep 2022
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 328
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From: Perpetually circling OCK for some reason
Last edited by Speed_Trim_Fail; 14th April 2025 at 14:40.

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 14
From: UK
If you don’t mind busy trips away and weekend work you will get the trips away in either seat at mainline.
SH has the agreement of 2 weekend days off a month. Probably won’t be days together but it’s a nice to have if you like weekends at home.

Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 18
From: London
Apparently you sometimes get money off a Jet2 holiday, but that's all he can think of. I don't think that's quite what the OP meant, or anyone else, when they say staff travel.
Apologies if I'm sharing wrong info - always a chance I've misunderstood.
Last edited by clvf88; 14th April 2025 at 21:16.

Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 53
Likes: 6
From: US
I have seen a chart of flight only prices for staff, but they seemed to be more expensive than headline prices on other carriers. Likewise, the headline prices for the holidays looked very high, so a discount coupon might be illusory.
Virgin Manch? - the base was reasonably achievable I believe. DHL?
Virgin Manch? - the base was reasonably achievable I believe. DHL?




