Originally Posted by
ALI G Mmmm
Be prepared to fly with some captains who are against ordering crew meals and GPU's. Company states that we the pilots are the "face" of the company. Blows my mind to see some captains put up a hissy fit about getting a GPU on a hot summer day in South Florida. If I paid a buy in fee of $300,000+ I'd sure hope the crew would attempt to cool down the plane. As far as the training contract goes... I know atleast 3 people who have quit within the first 1-5 months of their hire date and did not get pentalized for it. If you're really worried about it. Just go to a regional that offers a bonus.
So order yourself a crew meal. Tell the Captain you need food, and will order your own. Unless you are being totally unreasonable and just looking for a handout, all the Captains I know including myself, won't care.
As for the GPU, many FBOs don't charge for it or won't charge with fuel purchase. So maybe next time ask the front desk what the deal is, and if the Captain says he doesn't want one, you might be able to sway his/her decision if its free. However, sometimes the Captain might have a little prior knowledge that getting a GPU is near impossible or more trouble than its worth (think ACK). Getting a GPU and keeping the plane cool isn't just about passenger comfort, it's also about crew performance and fatigue. A long day back and forth to the islands and the crew being more comfortable and therefore able to perform their jobs better, is in the best interest of the company.