Originally Posted by
Nightflyer
Well said, Adler.
A "normal meal", with water and no dessert is $30, times 3 per day (and I only eat 2) is $90. I personally recommend the salmon if you are at the Swiss. If you get McDonald's or Burger King via Uber, it is around $15, and your food is approaching cold by the time you get it. I don't recommend the Pizza Hut, as they put something (maybe seaweed?) on the pizza that gives it a strange taste, but it you like pizza, $25.
I have not gotten a draft or volunteer trip yet. The days that I thought might pick one up were designated as "no volunteer days". Memphis never calls me for draft, I guess they know I say no 95% of the time.
Your points are well taken. If I was on draft or volunteer, I wouldn't be complaining.
I have seen the calendars of the guys with only 3 or 4 days off a month. I am not sure how they do it with the 100/30 rules, but they are. Saw one guy on a trip worth 112 hours. I have heard of a lot more, but not personally seen them.
There is also a crew bus rumor that the extra pay has been noticed and they are taking steps to reduce it.
So, if you are a *****, enjoy it while it lasts.
I actually think, in the time of the pandemic, the Swiss is a great hotel. Gym open (can't get that at most hotels in the US), cafe open plus the hotel food is pretty darn good. Let's see it's very easy to make my $75/day (although it's usually more than that since so many "days" are spent airborne consuming catering) last with the all you can eat breakfast, a lunch snack and a full dinner - not sure who eats more than that? Oh yeah, add in a few beers as well - was just there and it's easily under $75. The lounge on the 10th floor? That's about the best I've seen in the system for now. Look, guys need to understand that the job has changed - as it has for most Americans. It won't last forever but it has changed during this time.