Every airline has its own culture and no two jobs will be alike. It really is a rather unique industry and you can get out of it whatever you want if you are talented and hardworking enough.

At the risk of plugging some of my own former writings on the subject in the Trip Reports forum here :

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...00-snoclo.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ings-week.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ine-world.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ord-757-a.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...all-i-got.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...onth-life.html