Long haul vs domestic
12-31-2018, 06:09 PM
#51
Retired
Joined APC: Aug 2010
Position: Capt B777
Posts: 23
Just finished a 3-year stint on 777 EWR. Great flying on an amazing airplane to some of the greatest cities in the world, and with the best hotels in the industry. Made great money and had lots of days off. It's really like a totally separate airline.
But....
I was finding that the ultra-long haul schedule was slowly killing me. A lot of lost sleep and disrupted rest patterns. After days at home I was still only sleeping in four-hour increments and never sleeping very soundly. Despite regular exercise I still always feel somewhat tired and weak. This 777 flying has definitely aged me.
Do what works best for your schedule and wallet; just understand that nothing comes free.
But....
I was finding that the ultra-long haul schedule was slowly killing me. A lot of lost sleep and disrupted rest patterns. After days at home I was still only sleeping in four-hour increments and never sleeping very soundly. Despite regular exercise I still always feel somewhat tired and weak. This 777 flying has definitely aged me.
Do what works best for your schedule and wallet; just understand that nothing comes free.
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12-31-2018, 09:04 PM
#52
Banned
Joined APC: May 2017
Position: CA
Posts: 320
12-31-2018, 09:05 PM
#53
Banned
Joined APC: May 2017
Position: CA
Posts: 320
Hell, I upgraded from WBFO to NBCA this year and my year over year pay difference is $5,000... in favor of the WBFO.
There's a reason I'm 50-something % on the Bus and 75% on the 777.
*Of course the above doesn't tell the whole story. I managed to average 106hrs of pay a month in 2017 as a WBFO. I got tired of trying to play the game. Also, the time zones, after 15 years, were kind of getting to me. This has been a nice break. I'll of course reevaluate where I sit on each fleet when my lock is up.
There's a reason I'm 50-something % on the Bus and 75% on the 777.
*Of course the above doesn't tell the whole story. I managed to average 106hrs of pay a month in 2017 as a WBFO. I got tired of trying to play the game. Also, the time zones, after 15 years, were kind of getting to me. This has been a nice break. I'll of course reevaluate where I sit on each fleet when my lock is up.
Lol wow your doing it way wrong in the left seat.....
12-31-2018, 09:36 PM
#54
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Posts: 459
Not really. If you look at a month to month basis I'm way ahead as a CA. When you factor in the time in training and the fact the first half of this year wasn't nearly has lucrative as the first half of last year and the profit sharing took a hit, it makes more sense.
01-01-2019, 05:45 AM
#55
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Position: The GF of FUPM
Posts: 3,073
Sarchasm.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/...rican/sarchasm
And you're missing an apostrophe. Happy New Year.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/...rican/sarchasm
And you're missing an apostrophe. Happy New Year.
01-01-2019, 06:54 AM
#56
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Sarchasm.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/...rican/sarchasm
And you're missing an apostrophe. Happy New Year.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/...rican/sarchasm
And you're missing an apostrophe. Happy New Year.
I’m with you, Mako. I think we are of similar vintage. Despite getting very close to the finish line, I find the merits of long haul FO greater than those of NB Capt.
Caveat: my “long haul” is the 767, and in the 9.5-12.0 hour range. Long ago, I did 12-16 hours on the 747...and yes, that IS a different matter enirely.
I commute, and the redeyes to South America are far easier to commute, at both ends. I sleep pretty well on the plane, and well in the hotels. International hotels are generally much nicer than domestic smaller cities. And International crew meals are pretty damn good!! (My opinion, but most others seem to think so, too).
I like Europe, but find north-south flying to South America is far easier: 1-3 time zones versus 6-7. I usually sleep poorly in Germany, even after a nice schnitzel and dunkels!!
Asia, and super long-haul: on the 747, I did Asia. Some cities I enjoyed, and others, I felt caged. A long time ago, so back then, figuring out what signs/menus/trying to talk to locals meant it was a lot trickier...and, in some places...food safety was a concern.
Many factors involved in the question of which is better, and not everyone will react the same way. But when you see a guy with a seniority number less than 1000 sitting as a super-senior FO (and there are LOTS of FOs in the less than 5000 range) on the roster of the 777, 787, and 767....it says something.
I’ve had several Captains (two are LCAs) ask about, and suggest, me bidding Captain. I don’t know if that’s a testament to my prowess, or they are sick of having to fly with me!!
But I also wonder if there is concern within company leadership that the Capt seats are going to be filled with relatively inexperienced guys...and therefore, they are trying to entice the old farts to move up.
I haven’t decided if I ever will. For now, WB FO is the best airline flying I’ve had in 20 years at the company.
01-01-2019, 08:00 AM
#57
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 846
. Happy “free wine” New Year, amigo!!
01-01-2019, 04:18 PM
#60
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Position: The GF of FUPM
Posts: 3,073
WB isn't for everyone, but it sure is great that everyone has that choice, or will at some point in their time here. Both airlines (NB and WB) have their pros and cons and it can be a moving target as one ages, and as the company moves the flying around. For example, Dulles has been feast and then famine during the last 5 years and LAX 777 has gotten Roto-Rootered right up the poop chute.
If I were doing nothing but 3 day London trips, (or un-augmented EU flying out of Newark) then I'd start to think about jumping. But not now. I am enjoying seeing more of the world.
What does the 3 day NRT trip pay? 28 hours. Easy work, CPDLC, nice hotel. Rinse-lather-repeat. Not too shabby. Of course, I am too damn junior to hold it, but I can snag one out of open time a few times per year.
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