Pilot dad worked extra flights to afford a family vacation — when he finally came home with the good news, his young son's question broke his heart
Being an airline pilot can look like a dream job from the outside, with the travel, the views, and the excitement of flying around the world. But behind that lifestyle are sacrifices that can be much harder to see, especially for pilots with families. Pilot and dad Alex Volare, who shares his experiences on Instagram under the handle @alex_volare, felt that sacrifice in a painful way when he returned from a work trip and told his young son they were finally going on vacation. He described the emotional moment on September 19, 2026, but one question from his son made him realize just how much his family was giving up for his career.
Volare explained that he had been working extra trips at the airline to earn enough money for the family's vacation. Before leaving for one of those trips, his son had asked, "Daddy, when are we going on vacation?" Volare told him they would go after his next trip, and his son was excited. A week later, when Volare finally returned home, he reminded his son that they'd go on a vacation the coming week. Instead of celebrating, though, his son paused and asked, "Daddy, how long do we get to keep you? How long do you get to stay here?" That question hit Volare harder than he expected. He said the difficult part of being an airline pilot isn't the flying itself, but realizing that work can sometimes take you away from the people you're working so hard to provide for.
While sharing the story, he struggled to hold back tears. Even though he described flying as an "awesome career," he said that hearing his son ask how long he would get to stay home was painful. Volare also wanted other parents considering an airline career to think beyond the excitement of the job. He mentioned that his wife is a pilot too, so they both understand the demands of the profession, but he advised parents to make decisions with their families in mind. For Alex, one of the biggest ways to make the career work is to protect as much family time as possible. He encouraged new pilots to "live in base, stay home as much as you can," and, when possible, work less while their children are young.
The comments showed that Alex's experience struck a nerve with other people whose careers require them to spend long stretches away from their families. @mikewise thanked him for being vulnerable, writing, "Thank you for sharing this; there are so many of us that felt this." @sammiel33 said, "That’s my biggest fear that’s keeping me from starting my journey to becoming an airline pilot." @familyflippers suggested, "From age 3–13, every parent should spend the most time with their kids. Those are the years they will remember most."
For pilots, being away from family can be difficult, but the possibility of something going wrong before they make it home can make the distance even harder. In another story, pilot Thomas Rogers' small plane lost engine power shortly after takeoff in Georgia. As he realized he couldn't make it back to the runway, he made an emotional radio call asking someone to tell his wife and parents that he loved them before making an emergency landing on a busy road. Fortunately, both Rogers and the student pilot survived with minor injuries.
For more of his content, you can follow @alex_volare on Instagram.