Originally Posted by
doug_foo
So what do you pilots do on your down time? I'm talking about when you fly from home base to another city for a few hours or a few days? Do you get a rental car, hotel or any per diem for the time you are there? Can you bring you golf clubs or are you in the hotel waiting for the call to leave? I would guess the PIC and SIC would have to be pretty close since you spend all that time with them?
Sometimes, you can do some cool stuff when you are out on a trip. Other times, you may just want or need to stay around close. My expenses are paid (I don't go crazy and risk loosing this), others get a perdiem.
Crews can and often do hang out, but sometimes they go separate ways until before departure. Some crews have nothing personal in common, and may not get along well outside the cockpit. I have been fortunate to consider almost everybody I have flown with to be a friend. Even then, once you set 12 inches away from somebody for several hours, it is nice to get a break.