C17B74

You all have hit the highlights, bonuses, issues, etc. I just fly my line change or no change for the most part. This month with the CBA implementations bit by bit has been rather beneficial. Original China run displaced and $ accrued for it, line added to cover displacement also additional China run added. That being said, at least 20 hrs close to 100hrs just flowing along not too strenuous. 175% does help quite a bit, I mean a lot. Doing actual math shown by block: ICN to WUX or PVG is 2hrs, then back to ANC is 9hrs so 11 hrs total either way. ICN-HKG-ANC is 4hrs+9.45 call it 14hrs… Granted the SYD thru China was considerable (haven’t done SYD for a long time). With some taxi congestion, ATC flow, WX, etc., some time is added but it will be less than 40 for 3 calculated runs above. Art. 33 INC-HKG-ANC on a routine basis is not impossible, but highly improbable YRMV. I will say with the implementations it has forced my lines to be more efficient. Personally could go either way as I enjoy my time off (not as much right now due to viral debacle), but I can totally see the benefits and most lean towards the work me to death and show me the $. I live to the guarantee, the rest is gravy and now it’s a second helping as long as the bonus cheddar lasts.

* Just Me: If all three Art 33 lines were flown above included in my normal line (Not my case) and using 100hr pure flight time with additional Art 33 above it would be 300K if done for 12 months (not normally lines I pick up based on wanted days off), but training twice using bid conflict and not using vaca drops it down to 275K. Used my rates as a senior FO well beyond 3 years to show 450k isn’t likely unless I out base and did over 5 $ runs above at least just to break 400K. Need to get the HKG run 6 times every month, out base every month no training conflict, no vaca conflict to break 450K - I would like to live a bit longer. ***Guarantee to time out anyway so impossible for myself… Apologies, I was just curious.

*74 Capt, different story of course.

Twin Wasp

Hard to say what the best program is because it varies on your circumstances. Living in a major hub I would request flights on that airline. Used to get some pushback that brand X is 50 dollars cheaper but haven’t heard that in several years. Have held upper level status the last few years, upgrade if available and free checked bags which I have pointed would save the checked bag fees when they suggest a different airline. Never got into the credit card game as I prefer my none airline card. Hotels are a different story. Atlas gets rooms in many locations at a discounted rate. Some hotels will not give points for discounted rooms. They’ll have a deal for say 100 nights a month at discount rate. I’ve seen cases when a crew checks in and one pilot is the hundredth night that month so no points. The pilot checking in after them is at the regular rate and gets points.

You are on your own to get to your US gateway for company travel to your base. That being said, some pilots have picked gateways and bases with expensive tickets between the two and been able to point out to the company that a ticket from a foreign location would be cheaper. Just looking at tickets SYD to LAX they’re running around a thousand dollars for the beginning of December so not sure you could find a city pair in the US that’s more than that.

Swakid8

I will say that this past year, it’s been difficult to build status on AA with the ticket prices that Atlas can buy AA tickets for with their discount. So I usually avoided AA for that reason and chose UA because they have a consistent 2 leg commute to get to base for me via Denver from the east coast up to ANC. But it all depends on who has the flight options and ticket prices to quickly build status.

Another option is to rush to build status on one carrier and status-match to a different carrier and complete that status and hold status on two separate airlines. That’s something I am thinking about with AA.

Which brings me to my final point, AA has recently announced some new changes to way status can be earned. That’s something to keep a eye out for since Atlas loves using AA and AA has hubs in many of Atlas bases (MIA, ORD, LAX, JFK (via JetBlue))

Egg320

Thanks guys, lots to think about. Of course things change all the time always as is pointed out regularly so it is very hard to plan this stuff.

From Brisbane there are daily HAL flights to Honolulu so that’s an option of course, not sure how hard it would be for an Atlas pilot to commute internationally with them with regards to economy to business upgrade especially as I would have no flight benefits like a regional pilot would.

HNL would then put you inside the US and Atlas would take care of you from there I guess.

TiredSoul

You could designate HNL to be your gateway airport yes. Some requirements such as an adress or a PO Box as far as I’m aware.
You’d be on your own making your way to HNL though as you stated.
Or jumpseat on company aircraft if the flights are convenient but that looks like a 10hr drive.

Egg320

Thanks, yes it is a 9 hour drive from Brisbane. Not sure if HAL just let Atlas pilots non rev (in uniform) when abroad either.

TiredSoul

It’s a *****in’ commute either way.
You’ll make the LAX base in 6-9 months which may make life a little easier.

Natca

I think one paper LAX is 6-9 months but it is going to be more on the higher end. We have not had a vacancy in a few months for a 747 base other than ANC. So the junior FO in LAX is probably as of today around the 9 month mark and climbing.

Swakid8

This right here, it would be nice so see additional vacancies in other bases besides ANC, CVG and LAX as well like ORD.

jrmyl

Haven't had a 74 vacancy in CVG in a few months either. I've been trying to get there.