Trip Length & Home Life

[phill1174]

It took a few days to put myself out there but I feel this is the best place so here I go…

Has anyone dealt with the amount of time on the road changing the dynamics of their home life? Since 2976 here at Brown particularly in my base we’ve been seeing a lot of 7-8 day trips. There’s a few lines with them back to back with a day off in between equating being gone 13-14 days. I had that last month and this month. Apparently being more senior doesn’t work

Long story short my lack of presence at home isn’t going unnoticed, and this is coming from a partner who is self sufficient and does their own thing even when I’m home. Tbh the amount of time gone sucks the motivation from me going to work even without my partner mentioning it. I’ve never been a fan of long trips but knew what I was getting into coming to the cargo world. It’s also why I never bid international here. Personally after 5 days I’m ready to be done.

TBH I’m not sure what I’m asking here other than venting and wondering if anyone else has dealt with the blues of being gone from home for an extended period of time.

 

[Roger Roger]

we’re de facto limited to 6 days on by 117, I’m always over it by then. Sorry to hear, it always sucks when the whole dynamic gets changed on you for no fault of your own.

 

[ASpilot2be]

It definitely works different for every family. I work 17 on, then 14 off. But it's the same days every month, all year long. By day 17 I am ready to go home, and my wife is ready for me to be home.

People change in this career and figure out what works for them, and what doesn't. Always here if you need to vent. The cargo guys definitely are in a unique group that other people don't always get.

 

[DE727UPS]

It took a few days to put myself out there but I feel this is the best place so here I go…

Has anyone dealt with the amount of time on the road changing the dynamics of their home life? Since 2976 here at Brown particularly in my base we’ve been seeing a lot of 7-8 day trips. There’s a few lines with them back to back with a day off in between equating being gone 13-14 days. I had that last month and this month. Apparently being more senior doesn’t work

Long story short my lack of presence at home isn’t going unnoticed, and this is coming from a partner who is self sufficient and does their own thing even when I’m home. Tbh the amount of time gone sucks the motivation from me going to work even without my partner mentioning it. I’ve never been a fan of long trips but knew what I was getting into coming to the cargo world. It’s also why I never bid international here. Personally after 5 days I’m ready to be done.

TBH I’m not sure what I’m asking here other than venting and wondering if anyone else has dealt with the blues of being gone from home for an extended period of time.

I'm not sure if you're within reserve distance of ONT but it might be something to consider? I know Erik S used to do it so if you're farther out than that it's not gonna work. He was on the fringe. I only bring it up cause if your already doing two weeks away from home you might get an extra couple of days off here and there that makes it better than what your doing now. Move to PSP? (just kidding). Blocks of hot standby? Lot's of driving but you'd be home more I think. I used to trade for back to back hot RFD's and would be gone two weeks. It was fine for me but I'm single other than my six cats. They didn't mind. Only other thing I can think of is a different base or fleet where you could hold weekends off close to home or have commercials to and from say, LAX, that buys you a few extra days cause you already live nearby. I know I'm not answering your question. It would be horrible to start over but what would it look like to be based in LA area for AS or SWA? Five days and ready to be done used to work for some of the short block flying but it sounds like they did away with it.

 

[luke3]

When i used to do 135 government contracting overseas it was tough. The standard was 21 day trips which often extend to 30. I noticed around the 2 week mark you hit a wall where you REALLY want to go home, but after pushing through that your mind switches into the mode of "ok I guess I live here now" and it gets easier. The same happens to your partner. The scary part, which ultimately drove me to 121, was the first couple of days of transition to being back home. I felt like a ghost in my own house. My partner had gotten used to life without me and we just kind of did our thing in parallel until we slowly came back to being together over the course of two to thee days. Mind you we'd been together more than 10 years already. Before that I was doing a regular 8 on / 6 off 135 schedule and it was perfectly fine.

It's probably not helpful but I guess the point of it is try to stay on the first side of the wall to avoid a rough transition every time. I'd say 15 days in a row max. If you have to go through it make sure there's plenty of time off to follow so you can get back to your old routine, which is something my gov contracting job didn't guarantee.

 

[///AMG]

we’re de facto limited to 6 days on by 117, I’m always over it by then. Sorry to hear, it always sucks when the whole dynamic gets changed on you for no fault of your own.

Yeah same. I just did a back to back 3 day/6 day total rotation, with luck of release timing in the early AM after the first one allowing me an afternoon back home on day 3 to do laundry/grab new uniform/hang with family. But even with that respite, I was very done at the evening of day 6 driving home. I dont know how you long haul guys do these 11-14 day trips. My family is very self sufficient, but they’d not like that. Though maybe if it was just that one trip and done, with 30 days off between two bid periods in between, and it’d be fine. But I get tired of being on the road for sure by day 4.

 

[derg]

It can be tough.

My wife is cat-like, she loves her free time and I think she largely tolerates me around the house for the most part.

Maybe your partner doesn't feel included in your work life? Maybe call a little more often and "data dump" a little bit so they know you're not just shuttling around the world in first class, doing no work and someone throws money at you for nothing.

Plus, it may be helpful (somewhat) if you got your partner connected to another person who is with another pilot to bounce ideas off of or a little guidance. They're familiar with Kristie and I'm sure she'd take the call or text anytime. ILL MAKE HER!!

 

[Roger Roger]

Yeah same. I just did a back to back 3 day/6 day total rotation, with luck of release timing in the early AM after the first one allowing me an afternoon back home on day 3 to do laundry/grab new uniform/hang with family. But even with that respite, I was very done at the evening of day 6 driving home. I dont know how you long haul guys do these 11-14 day trips. My family is very self sufficient, but they’d not like that. Though maybe if it was just that one trip and done, with 30 days off between two bid periods in between, and it’d be fine. But I get tired of being on the road for sure by day 4.

You know what’s funny for me, it’s a race between missing home and the fam, vs just general irritation at being at work. Annoying van times, rampers not doing their jobs, captains who won’t shut up about rampers not doing their jobs, crappy hotel gyms, flow times, etc…

 

[Karnage]

You know what’s funny for me, it’s a race between missing home and the fam, vs just general irritation at being at work. Annoying van times, rampers not doing their jobs, captains who won’t shut up about rampers not doing their jobs, crappy hotel gyms, flow times, etc…

Totally feel this. The trips where I’m not missing home I’m missing FOs that gave two shakes about doing their job beyond the bare minimum or wanna talk about nothing other than their green slip problems. Otherwise it’s mostly me sitting in the room debating which is more important, waiting an hour for Uber eats to bring me cold food or going to sleep hungry to get a human amount of sleep on my 11:03 layover.

 

[///AMG]

You know what’s funny for me, it’s a race between missing home and the fam, vs just general irritation at being at work. Annoying van times, rampers not doing their jobs, captains who won’t shut up about rampers not doing their jobs, crappy hotel gyms, flow times, etc…

I mean, I hope none of us actually would prefer being at work? That is just crazy thinking. If I could retire right now, I would. I actually find the annoyances of this job to be pretty minimal (maybe thats just comparing things to my past/other life?). But even though the trips are only 3 days now, vs 11 months, it isn't easier. It's probably less easy honestly. Just in and out so much, vs gone for an extended time, then home for an extended time.

 

[///AMG]

Totally feel this. The trips where I’m not missing home I’m missing FOs that gave two shakes about doing their job beyond the bare minimum or wanna talk about nothing other than their green slip problems. Otherwise it’s mostly me sitting in the room debating which is more important, waiting an hour for Uber eats to bring me cold food or going to sleep hungry to get a human amount of sleep on my 11:03 layover.

Some of the guys will probably lol at me, but there are some CAs I miss, and wish I could fly every trip with. Some of them I even keep in touch with. They can make a • trip a pretty fun time.

Edit: I still remember an LA guy I flew with early on while on reserve, former VX guy. We giggled like children I think the entire time, to the point where the FA's asked if everything was ok, since they could hear it through the FD door the whole flight. I definitely heart the LA guys (and gals). If it made logistical sense for me, I'd 100% bid into that base

 

[Roger Roger]

I mean, I hope none of us actually would prefer being at work? That is just crazy thinking. If I could retire right now, I would.

Of course not! I’m just saying that by day 6 it’s about 50/50 whether I want to be at home vs don’t want to be at work.

I actually find the annoyances of this job to be pretty minimal (maybe thats just comparing things to my past/other life?). But even though the trips are only 3 days now, vs 11 months, it isn't easier. It's probably less easy honestly. Just in and out so much, vs gone for an extended time, then home for an extended time.

Well, your previous job was to be abused by Uncle Sam for… I’m not actually sure what the greater goal was tbh. My previous job was the most fun one I’ve ever had

 

[///AMG]

Of course not! I’m just saying that by day 6 it’s about 50/50 whether I want to be at home vs don’t want to be at work.

Well, your previous job was to be abused by Uncle Sam for… I’m not actually sure what the greater goal was tbh. My previous job was the most fun one I’ve ever had

I mean, that question led to me "quitting" (though I certainly only quit in technical terms, since it mostly occupies every weekday of every week of my life now, even if I'm on an airline trip). There were great times too though. But this flying is super chill in comparison. Even • weather in SE to mins or advertised "mins" to a GA is far more chill. I imagine you have a similar perspective in a different walk of life/flying.