nibake
Powder hound
After many years of writing off the airlines as something I didn't want to do, I have started to rethink that stance. I'm very interested in starting to fly at a regional, but there is a lot I don't understand about the schedule. I thought this would be a better place to get answers (and maybe to be called crazy) then say, talking to a recruiter, although I have done that.
I have a child who is about to turn 5. I am a single parent. The grandparents have offered to help, but I still need to fill in a lot of pieces as to what this would actually look like.
I understand that new hires can expect to be on reserve or "on call" for some time. With more seniority, one can bid bases, lines, and time off. (Stop me if I'm misunderstanding something). When you can bid lines, does that still mean you will be gone for days at a time, or are there lines that take you out and back to your base on the same day? Would the 2-5 day trips be something that goes away after a while or something that I would have for the rest of my career?
Scenario 1: I try to get scheduled for 2 weeks on and 2 off. Child stays with grandparents the entire time I'm on and with me for my block of days off. This would be ok for some time, but obviously not forever, hence my previous question.
Scenario 2: Child stays with me in base. This means when I get a call child has to a babysitter within the hour and may be there for several days. I imagine there are a lot of childcare options available in bases since they are all metros, but this extreme scenario seems like it might be tough. Also, if I were able to find such an arrangement, it could be hard on my child. Child does excellent with different people and babysitters and is used to a lot of this, after having been raised in a single parent home for over 2 years, but even so, this seems like it may be a stretch. I can see this working out would be if the caregiver(s) were literally "like" family.
Has anyone done this? Is it feasible? Is the scheduling and sacrifice of airline flying temporary, or permanent?
I have a child who is about to turn 5. I am a single parent. The grandparents have offered to help, but I still need to fill in a lot of pieces as to what this would actually look like.
I understand that new hires can expect to be on reserve or "on call" for some time. With more seniority, one can bid bases, lines, and time off. (Stop me if I'm misunderstanding something). When you can bid lines, does that still mean you will be gone for days at a time, or are there lines that take you out and back to your base on the same day? Would the 2-5 day trips be something that goes away after a while or something that I would have for the rest of my career?
Scenario 1: I try to get scheduled for 2 weeks on and 2 off. Child stays with grandparents the entire time I'm on and with me for my block of days off. This would be ok for some time, but obviously not forever, hence my previous question.
Scenario 2: Child stays with me in base. This means when I get a call child has to a babysitter within the hour and may be there for several days. I imagine there are a lot of childcare options available in bases since they are all metros, but this extreme scenario seems like it might be tough. Also, if I were able to find such an arrangement, it could be hard on my child. Child does excellent with different people and babysitters and is used to a lot of this, after having been raised in a single parent home for over 2 years, but even so, this seems like it may be a stretch. I can see this working out would be if the caregiver(s) were literally "like" family.
Has anyone done this? Is it feasible? Is the scheduling and sacrifice of airline flying temporary, or permanent?