Originally Posted by
NickC5FE
I am just about to head to MIA for 74 training and I am curious about this post. For Gateway, do they ask us what airline we want to commute on?
Thanks in advance👍
If you want to get a specific airline or flight, it is best to check to flights/prices maybe a week or 5 days out from you travel. Have a few options in mind. Call them and tell them what you want, and see what happens. Be nice, as you don't want a bad rap with Travel. I usually get what I ask for as far as airline, flight, and usually location.
Examples since 1JUN:
Base is ORD 747. Gateway is GRB.
I didn't work 1-24 JUN (6 day sick call-COVID) and then had a pattern 25-30JUN.
Called travel, and asked for last flight of the day on 24Jun, UAL-ORD. Got it.
It started ORD-ANC-ICN, normal Asia flying. Due to schedule changes, I was ending in ANC.
I called travel and asked for either a flight from ANC to BRD/BJI. Both were too expensive, so I settled on a DAL, Biz class flight to MSP, I would then take a ground shuttle to BRD. The travel lady told me to buy the shuttle with my company credit card, as the cost of the flight/shuttle to BRD was less than the cost to fly me to my Gateway of GRB.
Then, my schedule changed again, and I was ending in ICN.
I called travel with flights from ICN-BRD/BJI. BJI was a better schedule, so they booked my in Biz class (Delta ONE), DAL, ICN-DTW-MSP-BJI.
6JUL I need to fly to IAH to start my next pattern. I called travel, and asked for a DAL flight BRD-MSP-IAH. Got it.
Did a 15 day pattern: IAH-MAN-DMK (Bangkok)-MEL. Qantas pax MEL-SYD. SYD-China-ICN-China-ANC-ORD.
Called travel and asked for ORD-MSP-BRD on DAL, coach, on 20Jul. Got it.
31Jul I wanted to fly BRD-MIA, for training, because I went non-current, because we don't have enough pilots or sims. It caused me to miss my YYZ-England-YYZ trip which I really wanted. ****ty.
BRD was too expensive. DLH was next best. Called Travel and asked for specific UAL flight from DLH-ORD-MIA. Got it.
When I got to MIA, I asked for a specific Air Canada flight MIA-YYZ after my PT sim. Got it.
Then, my schedule changed (I was SHOCKED!).
I called back with specific UAL flight request from SMF-ORD-YYZ, Biz class, at the end of my pattern. Got it.
When I got to YYZ, I asked for a specific AA flight YYZ-ORD to start my next pattern. Got it.
Notes:
I have Premier 1K (4th tier) status on UAL.
I have Platinum Medallion (3rd tier) status on DAL.
I have Gold (1st tier) status on AA...and I don't even want to fly on them, but sometimes you have to use whoever is available.