A regional pilot's Christmas
- Thread starter chrisreedrules
- Start date
Luigi
Well-Known Member
I spent my Christmas at work, wasn't too terrible, weather wasn't great. Really enjoyed the captain who called me and opened by yelling into the "hey I have a problem with your release." Long story short he continued to accuse me of screwing up when all along he was entering his numbers into the FMS wrong.
Then again I have no problem with that because I completely accept that he probably didn't want to be at work during Christmas either.
Then again I have no problem with that because I completely accept that he probably didn't want to be at work during Christmas either.
The highlight of mine was crushing a Southwest pilot's spirit by saying "Yeah, I know that guy. He actually quit, doing really well in real estate, bought a plane and a beach house" and experiencing SLC approach and tower fumble the handling of three airplanes in their sector and trying to sidestep us, randomly, two miles out.
alaskadrifter
Landing gear operator
You sir win Christmas this year.
BEEF SUPREME
Well-Known Member
Let me guess. Former freight guy that got a job at SW and thinks he is better than all the other pilots. Likely trash talking someone who was not present at the time of said trash talking? Probably mentioned, "never should have gotten a pilots license, not to mention an ATP."
Nope! Not the case.
BravoHotel
Well-Known Member
Hanging out in my hotel in RJTY!
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
This wasn't a regional pilot Xmas, but it was worth throwing in this thread because I feel your pain...or at least I did for about half a day....
12/24 we've got a 9am flight out of DCA connecting in ATL to go to DAL. (Yes, flying SWA.)
Flight cancels after a 20 minute ground stop. All the pax deplane, and the agents are telling us that there's not much they can do for us at the gate, but call customer service or go to the ticket counter.
Mrs. Killbilly and I hustle to the counter (which we timed well because were ahead of 130 pax.) The counter had no idea the flight had cancelled but really tried to help us out. Best they could do?
2pm out of BWI, going through BNA. We'd be pretty late for dinner, but we could make it. So we shrug, get on the Metro to Union Station, a couple of Amtrak tix and then we're at BWI.
Flight is delayed. We wait. Delayed again. We wait, but also list on standby for another flight just in case. Suddenly, screens change and original flight is ready to depart 20 minutes from now. 130 pax are eager to go.
Gate Agent does a PA, announces that plans have changed, so sorry, and the plane is now going out of another terminal and gate.
130 pax stampede to the new gate. They delay boarding looking for pax to volunteer to take a later flight because it's oversold. Nothing doing.
We board. They ask for volunteers again. Two opt in for this, they get out, we should be leaving.
New CS agent comes on board for the PA.
And calls out mine and my wife's names. "You are being involuntarily de-boarded. We have to deadhead some crews to prevent from cancelling another flight."
We're....shocked. A little embarrassed/too. I'm furious at this point. We're definitely missing Christmas dinner. And while I am normally 100% polite and calm, I've now boarded two flights that weren't leaving with me on them today. I'm out of patience.
"We're going to compensate you," she says to me, patiently. I tell her that I don't give a crap about the airfare, I can't believe they're bumping us for crew, you've ruined Christmas for us, etc....the standard upset pax rant....
And then she tells us just how we're being compensated.
I didn't know that they could write you a check right there at the gate. I knew you could get vouchers, but not an actual CHECK.
For 4X the cash fare value.
Each.
Even though we had booked the tickets with POINTS.
We got a lot calmer.
Yes, we're clearly shallow people who can be bought off. Yes, we were late for Christmas dinner, and clearly my principles about missing said dinner had a price of more than $2,000. But we did get there, we did have a good time. Best part? Tara looks at me on the flight to DAL and says, "You oughta put yours toward your Commercial ticket."
Yeah. I lucked out with this one.
12/24 we've got a 9am flight out of DCA connecting in ATL to go to DAL. (Yes, flying SWA.)
Flight cancels after a 20 minute ground stop. All the pax deplane, and the agents are telling us that there's not much they can do for us at the gate, but call customer service or go to the ticket counter.
Mrs. Killbilly and I hustle to the counter (which we timed well because were ahead of 130 pax.) The counter had no idea the flight had cancelled but really tried to help us out. Best they could do?
2pm out of BWI, going through BNA. We'd be pretty late for dinner, but we could make it. So we shrug, get on the Metro to Union Station, a couple of Amtrak tix and then we're at BWI.
Flight is delayed. We wait. Delayed again. We wait, but also list on standby for another flight just in case. Suddenly, screens change and original flight is ready to depart 20 minutes from now. 130 pax are eager to go.
Gate Agent does a PA, announces that plans have changed, so sorry, and the plane is now going out of another terminal and gate.
130 pax stampede to the new gate. They delay boarding looking for pax to volunteer to take a later flight because it's oversold. Nothing doing.
We board. They ask for volunteers again. Two opt in for this, they get out, we should be leaving.
New CS agent comes on board for the PA.
And calls out mine and my wife's names. "You are being involuntarily de-boarded. We have to deadhead some crews to prevent from cancelling another flight."
We're....shocked. A little embarrassed/too. I'm furious at this point. We're definitely missing Christmas dinner. And while I am normally 100% polite and calm, I've now boarded two flights that weren't leaving with me on them today. I'm out of patience.
"We're going to compensate you," she says to me, patiently. I tell her that I don't give a crap about the airfare, I can't believe they're bumping us for crew, you've ruined Christmas for us, etc....the standard upset pax rant....
And then she tells us just how we're being compensated.
I didn't know that they could write you a check right there at the gate. I knew you could get vouchers, but not an actual CHECK.
For 4X the cash fare value.
Each.
Even though we had booked the tickets with POINTS.
We got a lot calmer.
Yes, we're clearly shallow people who can be bought off. Yes, we were late for Christmas dinner, and clearly my principles about missing said dinner had a price of more than $2,000. But we did get there, we did have a good time. Best part? Tara looks at me on the flight to DAL and says, "You oughta put yours toward your Commercial ticket."
Yeah. I lucked out with this one.
TUCKnTRUCK
That guy
I do 175 a year (ish) and the owners move their schedule to make sure the other pilot and I can get home for the holidays.
This Christmas my wife's mom had a brain aneurysm the weekend before (day before my wife's twin sisters wedding) we ended up spending the holidays in the ICU. Owners hired a PT guy to work the two trips I was supposed to be on, and then brought my entire family home on the plane.
They will probably never know just how much I appreciate it. Originally I was working the 22nd and 26th, so was going to leave my wife in FL with the kids until the 26th.. Unfortunately getting a family of 5 home together wasn't going to happen until a few days after New Years, and was going to cost and arm and leg. The logistics were a nightmare. Instead we got to spend quality time with the MIL, and do Christmas together as a family (in the ICU).
The right 91 gig can be an amazing job.
A Life Aloft
Well-Known Member
I hope your wife's Mom will be okay and recovers well. Sounds like you work for an outfit who has a heart and a conscience.
BEEF SUPREME
Well-Known Member
TUCKnTRUCK
That guy
The family was exhausted, we had to stretch a stay from 3 days to 11, which was a challenge in the FLL area right before the holidays.
Being able to drive up to the plane, board, and be home in the driveway 4 hours later alleviated so much stress. Wife actually cried when she learned that I was going to be able to stay with her.
After dealing with cancer, she has anxiety attacks / maybe a bit of PTSD when entering hospitals, I was very glad to be able to help out.
Sounds like a nice place to break.