Originally Posted by
SlipKid
100% agreed that choices of flying, would be nice, but honestly, in the end it's a j.o.b.
I am all about time off at home, and want the least hassles and effort when I have to go to work, so I endeavor to fly to the most boring destinations possible, where I don't have to spend 3 of my 14 hour layover waiting for and sitting in a hotel van, I don't have to deal with customs, circadian shifts etc. I'll go on vacation to fun destinations.
Widebody pay, without having to work an extra week per month, would be nice though......
Our wide body trips are very productive. One month I flew two 6 day trips for 89 hours. Not bad for 12 days work. Normally I will work 12 to 14 days a month for 85 to 92 hours. Our shortest trip in LAX on the 777 is 22+30 for 3 days. 787 is about the same, unless they throw a domestic trip in during the winter. Most F/Os I fly with were 737 or A320 captains. Life with a bunk is good.
AA is a crap show at the moment but it’s a transitory thing. A new contract will fix a lot of things. And we have debt because we have new jets. We are still making billions in profits. It should be more, and our product needs to improve but the paychecks will continue to come.
I appreciate the jumpseat rides you guys give me. And I know quite a few guys who went there in the 90s. But I’m a lot happier here than I would have been at SWA. Flying a 737 the rest of my career would not work for me. Everyone has their own preferences. What works for you is what makes you happy and satisfied.