Pros

This is a job where you can make the job anything you want; it can either be a career or a profitable stop off on the way to a career, OR a nice way to retire. One can eventually manage one's schedule into a more part-time arrangement (via computerized 'trip trading and/or 'shift' give away) or it can be more than full-time career (via computerized trip trading and/or pick up). Everyone creates their monthly schedules to their desired goal. This is not a perfect system of course as the industry is fickle and depending on the demands (or lack thereof) of flights to be covered AND one's seniority there is ultimately a limit to the flexibility.

There are individuals who make the absolute most of the opportunity and I think the general public would be a little surprised to learn just how much money some of my more industrious and clever (again, the computerized trip-trade/give-away system) co-workers are making; beautiful homes are bought, families are raised, nice cars and boats are purchased, vacations to Europe are taken ... it is definitely not just a 'silly' little job in terms of the money.

As for the more profound issue of 'job satisfaction' ... again, you make it as meaningful or as meaningless as you want ... working with people, even in this seemingly rather benign situation can be sometimes wonderful/heartbreaking/frightening and always interesting. Our use to people can be from the ridiculous to the sublime.

The company management has done and appears to be continuing to take into account 'quality of life' issues and does what it can to accommodate as many of these needs as is possible ... and still be viable.

Cons

For some of us who are not as clever with the computerized system and I, in particular, am not clever about my schedule AND I require a tremendous amount of sleep so I don't pick very productive trips and don't work a very strenuous schedule so ... My pay check reflects BOTH of these factors. Also, the major downside for me is that I have to commute across country to start my trips and this eats up 1/2 day or more sometimes (no pay) on either end of the trips I work. This leaves too little time at home to have a full home life. This is also workable for some however but is, with everyone, a common complaint to a certain degree.

I would say that the other down side is that 'the lifestyle' can be a trap ... very few people, once they are making decent money (3 years in) have a very hard time giving up the job...Not sure why this is.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work. Most of your employees respect and honor the good effort you put into everything and the absence of employee abuse or management arrogance.