New Southernjets Bid (2/7/2008)

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

International is the shiznit.

The man speaketh the truth!

Eh, not for everybody. I've got a few friends at DAL that bid back to domestic because the international stuff was driving them crazy. One of them bid to the ER after he got kicked out of his 727 when they were retired. He was senior as hell in the right seat, but couldn't stand the trips. Bid back to the 756 domestic as soon as possible. The other guy bid into the 777 CA seat a couple of years ago. The trips to Dubai, Mumbai, and Tel Aviv have convinced him to bid back to 756 domestic. He was planning on changing his bid for the next AE, so that's probably for this one. That'll create one more 777 CA vacancy at least. Some people just can't handle the international stuff. Personally, I don't even like being away from home for more than 2-3 days, and any flight over 2 hours is "long-haul" by my standards.

 

[Mad Doggy Dog]

The other guy bid into the 777 CA seat a couple of years ago. The trips to Dubai, Mumbai, and Tel Aviv have convinced him to bid back to 756 domestic.

I don't blame him one bit. Our 777 trip offerings kind of bite. Lots of 48, 72, and 96 hour layovers in Seoul and Dubai. Other than that your choices are Tel Aviv, Tokyo and Mumbai for 24 to 48 hours. Jeez, what do you do for 96 hours in Dubai after having been there many times? Non-rev to Paris for 3 days? [Hey, that's not a bad idea.]

This would get old real quick. It would become just a job.........nothing that you'd look forward to. And with 4 pilot crews, I hear many F/Os have trouble getting 3 landings every 90 days too. Yay, get to go to ATL for the simulator!

---------------------------------------

Off to bed soon. Although it is a beautiful night here in DFW, the chiminea fire burned out, the temp on my patio dropped below 10'C, the breeze was blowing away the warmth from the heater lamp, all the red wine is gone, the cheese is gone, and the wife fell asleep! Plus my fingers hurt from playing the gee-tar.

 

[Gonzo]

I don't blame him one bit. Our 777 trip offerings kind of bite. Lots of 48, 72, and 96 hour layovers in Seoul and Dubai. Other than that your choices are Tel Aviv, Tokyo and Mumbai for 24 to 48 hours. Jeez, what do you do for 96 hours in Dubai after having been there many times? Non-rev to Paris for 3 days? [Hey, that's not a bad idea.]

Not if you have a place and have friends in Tel Aviv.

 

[Cheechako]

Every time I finesse a 737 on ice/snow covered 5900' strip in 1/2 mile blowing snow, I think, "try that in a widebody!"

I think I've found the "perfect" job. I can do regional-like flying here in Alaska (up into the arctic or down through southeast) or bid Hawaii flying with 1 leg days. It really helps having variety. I have a trip in a couple weeks that's the best of both worlds:

Base/Equipment: ANC/734
1 62 ANC-JNU 0811 0954
1 62 JNU-SIT 1038 1123
1 62 SIT-KTN 1203 1254
1 62 KTN-SEA 1334 1625
D-END: 1640L REPT: 0755L
2 296 SEA-CUN 0840 1615 535 8ET
D-END: 1630L REPT: 1452L
3 297 CUN-SEA 1537 1957 620 8ET
D-END: 2012L REPT: 0720L
4 61 SEA-JNU 0805 0943 238 50 34M
4 61 JNU-YAK 1033 1128 55 46 34M
4 61 YAK-CDV 1214 1301 47 43 34M
4 61 CDV-ANC 1344 1430 46 34M
D-END: 1445L --------------------------------------
TOTALS BLOCK 2211 DHD 0 TRIP RIG 33 CREDIT 2244 T.A.F.B. 7934

 

[TallFlyer]

Base/Equipment: ANC/734
1 62 ANC-JNU 0811 0954
1 62 JNU-SIT 1038 1123
1 62 SIT-KTN 1203 1254
1 62 KTN-SEA 1334 1625
D-END: 1640L REPT: 0755L
2 296 SEA-CUN 0840 1615 535 8ET
D-END: 1630L REPT: 1452L
3 297 CUN-SEA 1537 1957 620 8ET
D-END: 2012L REPT: 0720L
4 61 SEA-JNU 0805 0943 238 50 34M
4 61 JNU-YAK 1033 1128 55 46 34M
4 61 YAK-CDV 1214 1301 47 43 34M
4 61 CDV-ANC 1344 1430 46 34M
D-END: 1445L --------------------------------------
TOTALS BLOCK 2211 DHD 0 TRIP RIG 33 CREDIT 2244 T.A.F.B. 7934

Thats cool......

Sometimes we do the same thing.... 1 hour leg from AKN to KCQ, then bounce around KCL, KCG, and KPV for a bit, then 1 our back to AKN. I think I like your trips better though....

 

[Kingairer]

Everyone has their reasons for choosing certain lifestyles. Some prefer the international scene, while others think multiple legs and many landings a day is the bees knees. Just depends on what works for you, and what works for your family.

Personally, I enjoy flying to the US (including AK and HI) and Canada only. I'm not particularly fond of flying to Mexico or South America, and although I'd like to visit the Far East, flying there does not really appeal to me. Europe is very appealing to me, but who's to say that flying to London for the 100th time won't be any less daunting than an overnight in Albuquerque?

(By the way, I'm in Albuquerque right now, and this hotel is outstanding. As is some of the local fare down by the University of New Mexico.)

What appeals to me the most is the thought of making decent money to buy my toys (like a sailboat, and a grill, at the same time; notify the Coast Guard) and having enough days off to enjoy them with my family. Flying is cool and all, but so is seeing the wife in a skimpy bikini enjoying shrimp on the barbie and a few cold ones.

You're mileage may vary. Literally.

Yup!

 

[HeyEng]

OK, so AF flying a "little different" than the airlines, but I enjoyed the "international" stuff for the first couple of years, but been there and done that. I get bored pretty quick going back and forth across the pond, so to *me* I think I would prefer domestic.

Now, since 9/11 most of our international flights haven't been to the best destinations, but if Hillary gets elected and travels like Bill did, then I might change my mind!!! Bill was a traveling man to some pretty cool places!!! Thanks tax payers...