How to eat like a regional pilot

stultus said:
You thought wrong, my friend. I don't think anyone gets crew meals (at least domestically) anymore.
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i beg to differ. i was on an america worst flight about a month ago from new york to las vegas and i saw the crew get a meal while everyone else on the plane including business class got stuck with some yummy pretzels and drinks.
 
True, at the majors, but I have yet to hear of regional pilots gettings meals. Although Eagle did try it for a month when they were trying a special form of abuse that they called "simplification". In other words, long days with nothing but 25 minute turns and no time to get lunch.

I'm not sure if they've modified the plan, but they're no longer giving out lunches...
 
pavelump said:
True, at the majors, but I have yet to hear of regional pilots gettings meals. Although Eagle did try it for a month when they were trying a special form of abuse that they called "simplification". In other words, long days with nothing but 25 minute turns and no time to get lunch.

I'm not sure if they've modified the plan, but they're no longer giving out lunches...
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I think PSA and PDT get crew meals.
 
stultus said:
You thought wrong, my friend. I don't think anyone gets crew meals (at least domestically) anymore.
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Ummm... I've been getting crew meals since day one... Heck, even our passengers still get food!

Bob
ExpressJet FO - AKA CONTINENTAL Express... Continental... you know... the ones (only ones?) who still give you free blankets, pillows, and meals at mealtime... ;)

I wonder if the Midwest Pilots get sick and tired of the cookies? ;)
 
Captain_Bob said:
Ummm... I've been getting crew meals since day one... Heck, even our passengers still get food!

Bob
ExpressJet FO - AKA CONTINENTAL Express... Continental... you know... the ones (only ones?) who still give you free blankets, pillows, and meals at mealtime... ;)

I wonder if the Midwest Pilots get sick and tired of the cookies? ;)
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Bob's right...

"In addition, we provide a quality product which includes our spacious new terminals and serving meals at meal time." -L. Kellner
 
Captain_Bob said:
I wonder if the Midwest Pilots get sick and tired of the cookies? ;)
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Of course not, those cookies are good!

So domestic pilots at leadt get a snack or something?
 
NW004 said:
Of course not, those cookies are good!

So domestic pilots at leadt get a snack or something?
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Depends on what you call a meal I guess...

During lunch and dinner flights we usually get Ham, Tuna, or Turkey Sandwiches, A bag of chips Doritos/Fritos/etc., Carrot sticks, and a tasty treat of some sort. The flavor of the month is the mini Milky Way bar... in the past we've seen Twix, Skittles, chocolate turtles, Take 5's, and a dishonorable mention for some awful peanut chew we had for thankfully a very short time. I always look forward to the MEX flights... that's when we get CHEESE on the sandwiches! LOL! ;) ... and they are a bit bigger too.

When it's not sandwhiches it's beef stick type sliced salami with crackers and a peppercorn parmasan spread... which... I actually like... but a lot of guys have VERY strong opinions on.

Breakfast flights have either muffins (Spice, Vanilla, Cranberry, Bran, everynow and then some funky flavor that can't be identified). Or a Breakfast Bar with Cinnamon Bagel Chips... But the ones I look forward too are the Bananas with cereal and milk... (Rice Krispies, Special K, Corn Flakes, etc).

Now the best meal I've gotten was at a CAL out station (LAX) when we started doing the red-eyes out of there... we needed crew meals and they didn't have "XJT" meals... so we got CAL meals... VERY NICE!

Bob
 
Captain_Bob said:
Ummm... I've been getting crew meals since day one... Heck, even our passengers still get food!
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Snausages and muffins do not a meal make.

I think you're using the term "meal" too liberally. I'll say a good measure of a meal is whether you can eat three of them per day and be full (and maybe as an added bonus thereby maintain some level of health.) Though I'm with you--I don't think they're bad, per se, just not worthy of meal status. And lately I've only gotten the tiny bag of carrots or the tiny bag of chips (not both) to go with the tiny sandwich and candy.

I guess I'm gonna have to look at the contract and see when we are supposed to get crew meals, I only remember reading about time allotted to purchase food. I always was under the impression that we only get the leftovers from the pax after the service, not that we ever had to be specifically provided with food.

Most of my jumpseating in the actual jumpseat has been on NW, CO, and OO and I've yet to see a crew meal--I still think it's the exception rather than the rule.
 
Captain_Bob said:
When it's not sandwhiches it's beef stick type sliced salami with crackers and a peppercorn parmasan spread... which... I actually like... but a lot of guys have VERY strong opinions on.
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Those guys that have the strong dislike can toss those things my way. Beggers can't be choosers, ya know. :)
 
pavelump said:
In other words, long days with nothing but 25 minute turns and no time to get lunch.
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SkyWest has that schedule set-up right now. If you're lucky, you can find the crew-snacks that they provide at hubs which include an orange and a granola bar. Also, you can snack on whatever is available to the pax (usually airplane shaped crackers and water/soda). If you don't bring food, at some point during the day, you're probably going to need to buy something at the airport (usually Starbucks) or fill-up on snack-food from the back (ok the first time, not so good after that.)
 
stultus said:
Most of my jumpseating in the actual jumpseat has been on NW, CO, and OO and I've yet to see a crew meal--I still think it's the exception rather than the rule.
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CAL lost their domestic crew meals (among many other things) in the last concessionary contract.
 
Same goes goes for NWA. No more crew meals for them, I was jumpseating in the flightdeck when the crew found out via ACARS. ....they werent too happy about it.
 
wheelsup said:
I think PSA and PDT get crew meals.
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@ PDT all quick turns means free crap sandwhichs for evvvverrrrrrybody. Usualy their nasty enough you can combine what the captain doesn't wanna eat with what the F/A doesn't wanna eat and make another meal.

Jumpseating on US and UA the F/As brought up uneaten first class meals. mmmmmm mmmmmm.
 
amorris311 said:
i beg to differ. i was on an america worst flight about a month ago from new york to las vegas and i saw the crew get a meal while everyone else on the plane including business class got stuck with some yummy pretzels and drinks.
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Good. How much do you think the pax paid (or were you one of those paying pax) for that trip one way? They don't deserve to eat meals on flights anymore considering how cheap they are getting away paying for the service. Ridiculous. No duh the airlines aren't making any money. Routes that 10 years ago that cost $800 are now going for $80 at the LLCs. You'll never see a profit even at 100% load factors.

But I digress. . .

I'll be packing my lunch, and anyone that gives me crap about it will see my icepack thrown up-side their skull. :) But don't fear. . . I've still got a couple years before I can be graced with a 19k first year FO salary.
 
I can confirm US/America West pilots still get crew meals... infact the meal schedule is posted on the employee website complete with menu and pictures...

And I have to be one of those dicks that agree it looks completely tacky to see pilots toting around a cooler or large lunch bag. At least keep it in the suitcase. .. otherwise you might as well be a construction worker wearing a suit.
 
Well, first, and even second year, FO's are getting paid like construction workers. . . might as well play the part. :)

But yes, i'll keep mine hidden, as not to ruin the traditional professional pilot image. :)
 
iwareboy said:
I can confirm US/America West pilots still get crew meals... infact the meal schedule is posted on the employee website complete with menu and pictures...

And I have to be one of those dicks that agree it looks completely tacky to see pilots toting around a cooler or large lunch bag. At least keep it in the suitcase. .. otherwise you might as well be a construction worker wearing a suit.
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When I did construction union guys were making 50,000 a year after a 2 or 3 year internship. The older guys were making up to a hundred thousand and they could retire in their early fifties.
 
Sorry for reality to tarnish the image, but my little cooler sits right on top of my flight kit. I could jam it into my luggage, but my food would get crushed. I'd also have to haul it out anytime I wanted to get something to it. Not very convenient when your bag is all the way in the back in the next to last overhead bin. I could put it in my flight kit, but that's already packed as tight as I can get it with charts, manuals, headset, etc.

Might as well say we should all drive expensive cars instead of a 95 Chevy pickup. Wouldn't want the public to get the wrong idea....
 
kellwolf said:
Sorry for reality to tarnish the image, but my little cooler sits right on top of my flight kit. I could jam it into my luggage, but my food would get crushed. I'd also have to haul it out anytime I wanted to get something to it. Not very convenient when your bag is all the way in the back in the next to last overhead bin. I could put it in my flight kit, but that's already packed as tight as I can get it with charts, manuals, headset, etc.

Might as well say we should all drive expensive cars instead of a 95 Chevy pickup. Wouldn't want the public to get the wrong idea....
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bravo!

My sentiments exactly!
 
Word up Kell and surreal!!!

My new cooler will be in next week and I can't wait to start using it. BTW iwareboy it is black and doesn't even look like a 'lunch bag' really. The reality of being on the road and trying to eat healthy & save money outweights looking like a poster boy. :pirate:
 
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