Regional Trash Thanksgiving Jumpseat
- Thread starter BarbieDreamPilot
- Start date
Oh god. Do you know how many "family and friend" emergencies occur in the holiday season when air fares skyrocket?
My fav:
"My uncle is dying in Hawaii next year during the second week of July and I was wondering if you had any buddy passes"
My brother was the worst at stuff like that for a while. He'd brag to his friends about his brother being a big bad airline pilot and the "Hey man, my friend (actually some dude he met on the corner or at a bar) is having a family emergency in New York City…"
So glad my company doesn't have buddy passes. Can squash that discussion before it even begins.
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I somehow ended up getting turkey day off without bidding for it as a junior reserve FO. Family is assembling in my hometown, an hour from base.
And here I am, eyeballing that nice day trip in open time and plotting my haggle with scheduling
scooter2525
Very well Member
My folks...
Scooter's mom makes a fantastic meal.
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
Dude, your sisters dictate your schedule already? Wait until it's a significant other. I've been off and on with holidays for years with my schedule. You need to get your sisters under control. I understand trying to please family but this is not an optional time in your career.
YMMV yada yada. But seriously, you need to either buy a ticket, or not consider it. In my opinion, you're taking too big of a risk. Even buying a ticket, you can have weather keep you from training. That's not something I would chance as a new hire.
Best of luck whatever you decide, and please keep us informed on how the CF goes.
X-Forces
Big Black Guy
This, or something like it, was going to be my next comment but you beat me to it.
Look, this site is as much about mentoring as it is just simply answering questions. For the OP, please take note of what people are saying, including myself. People that are not new to the game, stepped in the bear traps we are trying to steer you around, and have seen the unfortunate consequences of bad decisions.
When you have a bunch of people that are suggesting that you either pay for it (and that is still iffy), or don't do it, it is not because this site is full of guys that want to see you piss away a holiday.
Take initial seriously, finish getting the job, then exercise you js privileges. I'll PM you the story of my American Eagle initial training roommate, and his long flight home with a one way ticket and no employee ID card halfway through training.
It can happen to anyone, it have happened to many members this site, and it can happen to you. Don't put yourself in harms way.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Not to keep beating what's left of the horse in here,but even if you buy a ticket all it takes is one big WX system to throw a wrench in your plans and possibly send an airline into a multi day recovery if they cancel a bunch of flights and then you end up on a rolling list of revenue standbys. If you're deadset on trying through,at least have a plan B and C,such as RST,EAU via ORD (75 miles from MSP) or MSN or MKE. If the flights start looking like garbage at least give yourself a fighting chance by getting yourself somewhere within rental car distance to MSP. Good luck!
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BarbieDreamPilot
homeless
The weather system point is solid. One bad storm parked between CHA and MSP and I'm screwed even with a 2 full days of sitting and a backup Fedex jumpseat. I can't afford to drive it. Thanks for all the advice guys, it means a lot and it's why I'm on the site. I'll sit/skype this one out.
I think it's a solid choice.
Remember, there are lots of people that will be sleeping in the airport over the holidays that are on purchased tickets as well.
I'm not trying to wreck your holiday, but I really don't want you to be another "Dear Dough" email where bad stuff happened and now you're missing your training. If you're just looking at staying at the regionals, you have a lot more leeway, but if you're looking to move up the foodchain, if shizzle went real bad that week, you bet you're going to be grilled on that because (a) it provides an opportunity to see how you react under pressure and (b) a good opportunity to evaluate you for your decision making. If I were a recruiter, I would be all over that if things didn't work out and you had a discontinuance or delay in training which many major airline applications ask about.
Here's a personal example. I get done the morning of Thanksgiving. I'll probably fly home, spend the night, and then commute EARLY back to DTW the next day to start another trip the day after. But one hiccup in the weather or things look a little 'sketch' and you bet your ass I'm staying in DTW in between trips. My wife might get a little wonky about it, at worst, but at the end of the day, she knows I gotta "Protect Essential", just like in the 727 flight engineer days. I've pretty much got 18 years of unscathed work history with my carrier and I intend on maintaining that.
poser765
Well-Known Member
You are making a really good call. It sucks now, I know, but you really do get used to it in this line of work. Admittedly, I've not been doing this for very long but I've already lost count of the holiday/family get togethers I've missed.
Stay in town, study, Go over to Pan Am and work on flows and procedures. Our training program is not the easiest curriculum to get through and every little bit helps. Hell, I already had close to 2000 hours in the airplane when I started here and I didn't even go home during initial.
Edited for "Jesus Christ, sometimes I wonder if I am even literate."
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Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Ain't that the truth.
If you don't toss some bets on the Don't Pass line every now and then, you won't win big.
If you're going to purchase a ticket, just grab a convenient first class ticket. Easy peasy.
All in all, what could really possibly go wrong?
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Putting yourself into a problem with the Company for something as stupid as not being in the right place at the right time is a bad idea. And it's just a double-dumb-ass way to get into trouble, and a very boring or vanilla way to get into said trouble too. (At least make it interesting!)
There's a short list of things, including showing up on time, and appearing professional, (etc.) that I consider "low-hanging fruit" and incumbent upon us as professional aviators. The worst part about being in training, to me, is that they "own" you (subject to certain limitations, but nevertheless, you're theirs) until you are finished; conduct yourself accordingly.
Stay OFF my table!If you don't toss some bets on the Don't Pass line every now and then, you won't win big.
If you're going to purchase a ticket, just grab a convenient first class ticket. Easy peasy.
All in all, what could really possibly go wrong?
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Fifty to one on Ocean Breeze.Stay OFF my table!
(If you don't watch Jeeves and Wooster, disregard.)