SilkBra

Also consider many people do not want to be home every night with the wife and kids. I meet guys that do not want this, and stretches of 4 days on are the "rest time" for them.

During the 2007 hiring boom all the guys that got in to Delta are still there as of now. Lots of talk at the time of quick upgrades that didn't materialize, but either way they are still on the list adding to longevity pay. Many also hired at SWA, CAL, and JetBlue that are still there. UAL guys got shafted. If I was at regional in 2007 and went to UAL it would have only been to get some experience, hope for the best and get some larger jet time because they were one of the few that called me. UAL has been a disaster for years and anyone that went there had to know not to buy a house and car right after getting hired there. Aloha also was not making big profits back then, in fact someone correct me if I am wrong but they had not made money in years before they went out of business. Taking a job at Aloha near the end and then complaining about losing it isn't just bad luck. Going there at all may be was not the best decision unless it was a pilots only decision. Anyone that went to Express Jet in the mid 2000's had to know that eventually CAL would not continue to have all the eggs in one basket when you consider the Comair strike of 2001. It didn't matter how great of an airline Express Jet was, CAL was going to diversify. Getting furloughed from ExpressJet is not ALL bad luck.

BarbieTrash

Try to take a leave of absence...I'm in a similar situation and an LOA is the way to go. Ask your chief pilot tell him a tale of family hardship or whatever you have to, the air lines are gonna be stagnant for at least a couple years anyway...make some money but keep the dooor cracked just in case you want to come back...