Originally Posted by Timbo

Yeah, I know, you edited it while I was typing my response, took out the word "Like".

The point here is, unless you have flown International, you can't criticize it. You obviously have, but some of the others, not so much.

I was one of the ones who said I would NEVER fly international at Delta. I had flown the KC135 across the pond (un-augmented) and never liked it. I also said I'd never commute.

But then Delta closed my base (BOS) and made a commuter out of me. When I had to pick a new seat, I had the choice of junior Capt. on the 727, or MD88 in NYC, or senior copilot on the MD11 in ATL. Just prior to making my choice, I flew with a 767 Capt. (me as f/o) and asked him what he thought.

He said, "Fly International, it's like working for a different airline! All the layovers are 24 hours, in great hotels, in great cities, and if the plane breaks, you go home and get paid, they don't have spares! Oh, and you NEVER get rerouted!"

So, I put in for MD11 F/O in ATL and have never looked back.

I had already been a junior MD88 Capt. so I knew how much that sucked. The MD11, while a huge POS as an airplane, was a much easier job, with much better layovers and much better schedules. Due to the longer legs, I was only working 9-12 days a month., vs. 15 days a month flying a domestic line, or 19 days a month sitting reserve MD88 Capt.