nerd2009

Carl,

And what a glorious day it was !

Now, can we do it again ?

Timbo

I doubt it's a CG issue, I've never had a CG issue on the 777, heavy or light. What might be happening is this; At some of our outstations the ticket counter and security are a long way from the gates (Dubai) so they will "clear" the non-revs with coach seats (if they know there will be plenty) so they can hurry on through security, then get down to the gate.

Then an hour (or more) later, once everyone has checked in, the gate agent can clear some of the Coach non-revs. up to the front if there are still open seats up front. You probably won't see this on Travel Net, that may be the problem, but just to confirm, what you can do is pull up the crew list for one of the flights (today, tomorrow, what ever) and call one of the pilots and ask them about it.

I quit flying Joburg a year ago, just before World Cup, as it was getting to be too much of a PITA with the move to another hotel, the ITCZ wx, never sleeping in that turbulence, etc. Not many people realize it but Joburg's field elevation is 300 feet higher than Denver (5,500' in the air!) and it is one of our longest flights, so we are always maxed out, weight wise, more so in the winter when the wx. in ATL might require a long distance alternate. I've done over 17hrs. on that leg, with 310,000lbs. gas. We saw every inch of that long runway and then it was a slow climb...all the way to 310! (max at that wt)

The LR can -usually- handle it OK with a full load of passengers, packs off, thrust bump, etc. but if you see an ER on it, look out! Probably won't get any non-revs on that thing! You can see wich one they are putting on it by pulling up the "Flight Status" page a day in advance, and checking ship numbers. 7101-7110 are the LR's. 7001-7008 are the ER's. They have been sending the ER to NRT a lot since it's such a short flight. (was only 11:45 coming home a few days ago, I nearly stayed in back the whole flight, since that doesn't require 4 pilots! )

I've been flying a lot of Dubai and/or NRT-SIN or NRT-HKG lately, so I'm not up to speed on what's going on in Joburg, (I don't care if I never go back!) best to find someone who's been there recently and call them. But I seriously doubt it's a CG issue and I would bet they are getting non-revs into F/C at the gate.

JungleBus

What Timbo said. Haven't been to Joburg but my wife and I do a lot of int'l nonrev. I've had several times with wide open flights where they cleared us very early, as in when we checked in, and then later called us up to the podium and wrote first class seat numbers on the boarding pass in pen. Guessing that's what's happening in Joburg...unless they're just incredibly sadistic pricks sticking employees in the back for a 15 hr flight!

Bucking Bar

If you are into spray tan... . they seem to have that mastered.

Timbo

I'll bet they could handle your package!

DeadHead

Handle with Care

johnso29

Thanks Carl. I think my question got lost in the heat of battle.

rahc

I'm planning on golfing in SA on one of my next trips. Are you able to check a bag when you are working a trip? I know TSA is inconsistent from airport to airport with some of the security rules as far as carry-on clubs for crew. Is there any way to get your clubs somewhere internationally?

forgot to bid

I kind of like snap backs or snap ups better than profit sharing.

Profit sharing sounds good, kind of like a commission check, but you don't get commission checks working an assembly line because you didn't do anything other than QC that screw you turned.

I'd rather have a snap up to a different pay rate or override depending on certain scenarios. And it's pay, not a one time check.

----
Speaking of pay, group thoughts on going back to premium pay over 80 hours? Pro's and con's?

scambo1

Personally I like premium pay over 75 hrs...as a small piece of work rule changes/ improvements. I dont see much downside (combined with fixing trip parking) and I think it is something of a furlough mitigator or said another way junior guy protection.