Originally Posted by KYTBRD

For folks wondering about schedules and how much they change, here's my current example:
25 Sep award: 4-15 Sep, ANC LAX PVG NRT NGO PVG NRT ICN HKG ANC Followed by my PT sim in Miami on my days off.

As of today: still operating within the 4 -15 Sep timeframe
Actual has been: ANC LAX PVG HKG DAC DWC so far.........
When I went to bed I was DH all the way back to ANC and sim in miami. Now after checking my schedule the Good Deal Fairy delivered: SAH BOM HKG ANC. PT sim cancelled because now my heavy rest will overlap the sim. I'm sure Dee is gonna love that. Now the sim will have to be put in somewhere later in the month or October. And since I'm on a 60 day line that I'll effect my schedule later.

In my limited time here at Atlas (6 months so far) the best advice I think you can get for a new hire with limited seniority in the bid process is to bid for time off. Not pay or destinations or hours. Don't be upset WHEN your schedule changes just be along for the ride and enjoy each new locale. I mean hey, you are in a long haul 747 flying around the world. It will be the country that changes not the state. I think its great. You're going to be paid whether you fly or not. I seems the 4.85 hr/day is usually greater than the number of hrs one flys each month. MIN Guarantee first year is 50hrs per month. I've been 68-74hrs through the summer. YMMV

Just remember not to let on to your wife/girlfriend know that you're having fun without her while getting paid to see what others go on vacation to see. It's always really hard work, sleep is hard to come by, no good restaurants, and there's no time to go out and see the sights. Oh and one more tip: if you have an iPhone with photostream enabled where those photos will go automatically back to your home computer, or better yet your AppleTV connected to a big screen TV at home, do not take pictures on your iPhone that will get you in trouble later. No my experience but a friend (not at Atlas) new to apple found out the hard way how Steve Jobs magic really works.