I personally feel the FT bubble was - ironically - always likely to be the wrong sort of place to seek real-world advice, given the forum’s known proclivity (or in some cases, a near-obsession) for premium cabin travel.

Will still offer an opinion, mind you : take the job which you clearly see as a fine opportunity. Look at the bigger picture whilst remembering that this is not some lifetime commitment (unless it’s a particularly strange contract ....!). Make the very most of this chance to enrich your skills and develop potentially valuable industry contacts ; and worry less about a few hours of relatively minor discomfort once a month - an issue which, in any event, has been compensated for in hard cash, and will be yours to spend just as you wish.

Alternative option ? Run the risk of (potentially) not receiving an offer quite as attractive, for quite some time - if indeed ever. Not to mention subsequently learning that the candidate who WAS eventually appointed went on to great things, whilst you, by contrast, find yourself plagued by misgivings and regret.