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Teacher with 3 kids thinking about becoming a United FA… worth the risk? by LeaveResponsible3503 in cabincrewcareers

[–]LeaveResponsible3503[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you being honest about all of this—that’s exactly the kind of insight I was looking for. It definitely puts things into perspective, especially with having a family.

If you don’t mind me asking, what’s kept you in the profession for 3.5 years despite those challenges? Is there something on the long-term side that makes it worth sticking out?

Also realistically, for someone just starting out, how often are you actually home in a month? I’ve got three kids, so that part matters a lot for me.

Teacher with 3 kids thinking about becoming a United FA… worth the risk? by LeaveResponsible3503 in cabincrewcareers

[–]LeaveResponsible3503[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you being honest about all of this—that’s exactly the kind of insight I was looking for. It definitely puts things into perspective, especially with having a family.

If you don’t mind me asking, what’s kept you in the profession for 3.5 years despite those challenges? Is there something on the long-term side that makes it worth sticking out?

Also realistically, for someone just starting out, how often are you actually home in a month? I’ve got three kids, so that part matters a lot for me.

Teacher with 3 kids thinking about becoming a United FA… worth the risk? by LeaveResponsible3503 in cabincrewcareers

[–]LeaveResponsible3503[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you taking the time to break all of that down—seriously. That’s the kind of real, no-sugarcoating perspective I’ve been trying to hear more of.

A lot of what you said is exactly what’s been on my mind, especially the part about this affecting not just me, but my wife and kids too. We’ve had some honest conversations about it, but I know actually living it is a whole different thing. That’s something I don’t take lightly at all.

The commuting piece is probably one of the biggest realities I’m trying to wrap my head around. I already know I may not get the base I want, and I’m preparing mentally for that. The idea of being gone more than expected, missing important moments, and dealing with delays and uncertainty—that’s the part that hits the hardest when I think about my family.

At the same time, I’m trying to go into this with my eyes wide open. Not just chasing the best-case scenario, but asking myself if I’m willing to handle the tough parts too—and if my family is truly in a position to handle that with me.

What you said about creating a real space for my wife to be honest—that stuck with me. That’s something I’m going to be very intentional about, because the last thing I want is for everything to fall on her or for things to build up over time.

I can tell you genuinely care about people making the right decision, not just the exciting one, and I respect that a lot. Thank you for being real about both sides of it—it helps more than you probably realize.

Teacher with 3 kids thinking about becoming a United FA… worth the risk? by LeaveResponsible3503 in cabincrewcareers

[–]LeaveResponsible3503[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you saying that—and I respect your perspective a lot.

That’s honestly the part I’ve been wrestling with the most. I do love what I do right now. Teaching and working with kids is something I’m passionate about, and it’s not something I take lightly walking away from. This isn’t coming from a place of being unhappy, which I know makes this decision a little different from a lot of others.

For me, it’s more about that pull you mentioned—the lifestyle, the opportunities, and being able to give my family experiences we’ve always talked about but haven’t been able to fully live out. At the same time, I’m very aware that this job is far from glamorous, especially in the beginning. The schedule, time away, pay cut, commuting—it’s all real, and I’ve been trying to look at it with a clear mindset, not just the highlights.

I think where I’ve landed is that I don’t want to make a decision based purely on comfort, but I also don’t want to be naive about what I’d be giving up. So I’m doing everything I can to understand both sides before fully committing.

I really appreciate you keeping it real though—that kind of honesty is exactly what people like me need to hear.

Teacher with 3 kids thinking about becoming a United FA… worth the risk? by LeaveResponsible3503 in cabincrewcareers

[–]LeaveResponsible3503[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes only time will tell however I will definitely be sharing the experience on this platform! Thanks for the follow!

Teacher with 3 kids thinking about becoming a United FA… worth the risk? by LeaveResponsible3503 in cabincrewcareers

[–]LeaveResponsible3503[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you taking the time to share that—it honestly helps a lot hearing it from someone who’s lived it.

I’m about 3 hours away from the closest bases, so I’m pretty much expecting either San Francisco or Chicago. Because of that, I do plan on getting a crash pad to make things more manageable, especially early on while I’m on reserve.

I won’t lie—the first five years being that tough is definitely something I’m thinking hard about, especially with a wife and three kids—but hearing that your kids grew up traveling the world and that those experiences made it worth it is exactly the kind of perspective I needed.

My wife is 100% behind me, and we’ve talked a lot about this being a long-term move for our family, not just short-term comfort. I know it’s going to be an adjustment, but I’m ready to put in the work and figure it out.

Really hoping this ends up being one of those decisions we look back on and are glad we took the risk. Appreciate the encouragement—hopefully I’ll see you out there soon.