CloudPilot57

I was asking the same question to a few guys at the hotel I know here in Dtw since I'll be in Mem the next two months. The cheapest hotel they said was 60$ a night, so not too cheap. Well at least compared to the 31 here in Dtw right now.

xjsaab

For those training in Denver does the hotel room have a kitchen? Is there a gym nearby that will give a temp membership while staying? Is there a grocery store nearby if not would you bring a car out from Msp?

Mesabah

The hotel does not have a kitchen. It has a microwave and a fridge that freezes everything even if you turn it off. The closest grocery store is walmart about a mile away. The hotel van will drive you there. You get a full breakfast in the moring and sometimes an afternoon snack. They used to have free booze but someone told on them for not having a license.

CloudPilot57

The fridge worked quite well for me. As stated, the walmart is the only option. There is a little workout room at the hotel with some treadmills and some free weights. No gym close by though. Actually, there isn't anything close by, except for a few restaurants. If I had to do it again for 3.5 weeks, I'd think real hard about bringing a car.

dunlaf05

With the release of the newly arbitrated -900 rates at 9e it got me thinking. Is XJ's contract up for negotiation in Jan of 2009 like the APC site says? If not then when? If so then what does 9e's new rates mean for us?

Will XJ ever get rid of this "blended" FO rate???

__________________
"The Only Thing Constant In This Industry Is Change."

WIPilot

Hopefully at the same time that they lower the equipment seatlock from three years to something more reasonable.

xj200capt

With the award of the CRJ900's the contract actually extends to 2010 or 2012. If we had stayed at a SAAB only fleet 2009 would have been correct.

The "Blended" rate is going to be set in stone for a long time. The money saved by the company is huge. Plus if they were to change back to a dual rate FO system, the whole pilot group would have to be rebid and retrained.

The blended rate came about when the AVRO's were first awarded to Mesaba. Company said that we wouldn't get them unless we took a pay cut. The FO's took the cut at that time. There is little chance it will ever get changed.

200MSPCRJ

Anybody heard a word from crew pay about the per diem issues or when we might be able to expect an adjustment?

xj200capt

The seat lock is not likely to change, the company has no incentive to. There has been some relaxation of the seat locks because the companies failure to staff correctly and because the delivery of aircraft is so wacked. The recent release of FO seatlocks is because so many SAAB people are sitting on reserve getting paid for doing nothing.

Once we are understaffed (which is normal) the company will not allow for sideway moves in aircraft.

SmoothLanderJ

No doubt about that! I'm here now......eating out everyday SUCKS! The small fridge is ok though........

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"if it is to be, its up to me"