atpcliff

I am now 747 ORD. I have also been based in HSV and JFK (HSV is no longer a base).
I have had one 1 day trip, Two/three 2 day trips, LOTS of 3,4,5+++ day trips. I get 17 day lines not very often.
13/14 is the min days off. I have seen lines with 15, 16 and 17 days off.
I have often started and/or ended trips not in my base. If this is the case, you will fly out to start a pattern on day one. You will fly home on the last day of work, unless extended, which has not happened to me very often at all. We have GDOs (Guaranteed Days Off), so you don't get extended (Theoretically you can still get extended, in certain circumstances, but then they have to give you 12 hours of pay to work that day.).
At the end of a pattern I have often gotten home one day early, or two days early, but still was able to keep the pay for being home on those work days.
You can also be flown home (and back), in the middle of your pattern, in certain situations.

We have fixed patterns now, which are all scheduled for 17 days. They start the exact date of the month, every month, for the whole calendar year. So, you know your days off for the year.
My longest pattern was 34 days, because I was junior, and got two 17 day trips back to back...I did the second 17 day pattern on purpose, because then I got the last two weeks, of the second month, off. So, I had two weeks of vacation, when I wanted it, without using any vacation days.
I am currently on a 5 week holiday. I took two weeks off in Mar, so they blocked off the whole month, and then I bid for the last week in Feb off, which is how I got the five weeks in a row.

Atlas is great, to horrible, depending on where you live, what schedule you want, and what type of flying you want to do.
We have a LOT of pilots who live in small places, and/or overseas, who like the travel situation, compared to standard airlines.
We have pilots in certain bases, who are home a LOT, and don't want to leave.
I just heard of an Atlas capt who is now at DAL. He said he would come back immediately, if he could come back with his old seniority number and Capt seat. He is very surprised that he does not like flying at Delta at all.

Also:
We have had pilots that wanted to come here as their first choice, and after getting here, found out they didn't like it at all, and are leaving.
We have had pilots that did NOT want to come here, but were "forced" to (like ExpressJet/Compass/TSA/World/Evergreen, etc), who found out, after they got here, that they REALLY like it, and are staying.

Best Regards,
cliff
HKT

atpcliff

All the above is correct. But, you may (it happens to me a lot, based in ORD and JFK) start or end patterns that do not start or end in your base. For example, My last pattern started in FRA. So, instead of travelling to ORD on my first day of work (which happens if my work day starts late), or the day before, on days off, I didn't have to travel to work until my first day of work. I was flown from my gateway, to FRA on my first day of work, in Biz Class. I asked for and got, the specific flights I wanted for that commute, which usually happens for me.

C17B74

As most everyone has stated or alluding too, Atlas isn’t for everyone but it does fit quite a few of us very well and we can’t imagine being anywhere else. Could be your Shangri la or sh*tville depending on your priorities and situation in life. You can do very well here monetarily if you trade some extra time from home (not my motive) and good to know I can make some sacrifices if green is required (some seniority involved at times). If you abhor change I wouldn’t recommend this outfit especially the 74. If you don’t mind change and appreciate the opportunities this brings then it can work nicely. Conflict bidding your training works very well to minimize your footprint and the GDO’s mentioned before are a win normally. Get home as advertised or be paid for the inconvenience. I have lived overseas, have family and other ties to the Far East and Europe and there is no better way to scratch this itch with a fair amount of time to roam and reminisce. Enjoy coming to so called “work” cruising without a uniform, enjoy the crews, live where I want to live, acclimated to long haul non-cookie cutter travel and adventure always knowing I am not scrambling for a ride wherever I need to be and hotel if I need it - come on in and join us the water is fine. A very diverse operation with small to large metal flying pax or no pax predominately has its merits.

*If you prioritize top dollar/retirement and home time due to small children and or lack of support to include being a home body and already live at one of the Big 6 bases than it should be a no brainer don’t come here you will be disappointed. I respect all of it and enjoy being home as well but it doesn’t feel like going to work most of the time for myself - I was a non flyer for many years and this isn’t work comparably speaking - this is all subjective on my part. Every outfit has its issues and if we hit a few industry standards it would help stop the hemorrhaging. Atlas is very diverse in assets and business sense but nothing in this industry is forever. Things may change in the future so I will enjoy what I can until it does and maybe it will be even better. Always be cautiously optimistic.

GEARPINSOUT

^^^
This basically sums it up.

If you’re married, make sure your partner is onboard too otherwise you’ll be miserable.

Atlasvet

We interviewed a guy the other day (from an AA family) whose wife was convinced by an Atlas Captain’s spouse that Atlas was the place to be.

Birdsmash

She loves her husband’s schedule. It leaves plenty of time for her to supervise Serge the pool boy even though we all know Atlas captains can not afford a swimming pool. 😜

atpcliff

We have had pilots come here, who's families have liked the pilot's time at home here, better than their former pax carrier(s). So, some of the spouses like our schedules better than "standard".
We have also have pilots here leave because their spouse couldn't stand the schedules at Atlas.

Atlasvet

Now that’s just silly, I live in a pricey part of town and have added pools to my last two houses. I did so under the old contract and before the Covid windfalls.

C17B74

That’s because they have two ex-wives, airplanes, and sports cars. FO’s have the pools.

Met one of our FO’s a couple of years ago who ordered a Mediterranean builder custom yacht 55+footer back then and it should be ready for him to live on fairly soon. Not too shabby.

Let2bus

Hi,

Any reward credit card suggestions: for lounge access in case of delayed flights when DH regardless of airline booked, earning miles and hotel points (if it's possible on company booked tkts/hotels?), etc.

Thank you.