74plb

I interviewed at another carrier recently and I think we mutually agreed that I wouldn't fit their profile. This interview came about by networking on APC.
I appreciate the openness of this forum without all the negative hoopla you see elsewhere.

edznaz

OK, so I have an interview sked (still trying to work out the date, actually), and would appriciate some basic info on the "line life". Honestly, I don't have alot of info, so anything you tell me will probably be of use. Right now, I am spending about 2-3 weeks on the road doing sim, so I imagine it wouldn't be any more time away than that, but maybe I'm wrong. Thanks!

Z

OrionFE

Basically, you give them 17 days. Your days off are guaranteed. When it is busy, you fly a lot, when it is slow, you may do a bit of sitting. They do let guys occassionally sit reserve at home. Home Based, so the will buy you a ticket to your assignment and return you to your resident airport. Generally the layovers are nice and the hotels overseas are very good. In Europe you will do a good bit of driving from one place to another (Belgium to Amsterdam or Germany, etc.). Some people pay a lot of money to do that and we get to do it for free and get paid at the same time.

Good luck.

FlyByCable

Do you mean that you have to drive yourself from one airport to another? If so, why doesn't you company provide a limo for you? How do you work the drivers license and insurance issues?

edznaz

Thanks! Very helpful. It would be less time away than what I'm doing now. Hope I can get that date nailed down!

Z

OrionFE

No, the company provides transportation for you from one airport/hotel to another. Driving, I meant in a taxi/limo service. One time in a stretch hummer!

FliFast

At my last gig, we rented a car in Amsterdam to drive around. I actually enjoyed driving the Volvo around Europe. The car was fully insured by the company and my Florida license worked fine and I got FFB miles also. Just be sure you have a designated driver in Europe !!

But given the choice, trains in Europe are slick and shuttle flights on Lufthansa were usually in Business Class which meant access to the lounge....In the V-I-P, baby !

Ok back to my cave....

ghilis101

im a new guy here and granted ive only been on the line 3 months i have absolutely no complaints. Ive havent flown more than 35 hours a month, the rest of it is deadhead credit. i hear it will pick up for the holiday rush, but then most people i talk to say during the holidays its feast or famine, you either time out or you dont fly at all. ive spent a lot of time sitting in hotels and im actually happy to do so, its making it easier to follow the stock market, work out, etc. only problem is it gets expensive in some countries for out of pocket expenses. as for the horror stories about maintenance which someone might bring up, well i havent seen anything bad at all. i actually cant remember the last time i saw any write-ups on one of our crews airplanes, and most people here are noticing it and think its a huge plus.

13-14 days off in a row is absolutely awesome. more creative bidding gets you 26 days off in a row (and eventually 34 days on in a row) but given the the ability to do that, plus use your vacation time, you could take some incredible vacations.