Yes I think the DFW and JFK FA's are more respectful.

I cannot comment why MIA has problem FA's. I know why. I cannot put it in writing.

I flew the 777 300 2 weeks ago. I actually got a break (3 man crew) and took a 30 minute nap up there. The seats were lame.

But the lav outside behind where our bunks were is huge! Loved it.

 

Everyone hates the seats in the -300 rest area, but the bunks are superb. And yeah that lav is the best I've ever seen in an airplane.

Hint on the dumb waiter - never, ever try to bring the tray straight up out of the waiter... it doesn't fit and you will spill salad and vinagerette down into the unit, where it will then drip out into the aisle.

Instead, there's a latch on the side that opens to release the tray laterally. They need a training session for this!

 

What is wrong with the seats?

 

The seats recline, and have a foot rest that pops up. So far so good. But for me at least, the big problems:

- the foot rest pops up, but not out; the forward edge of the thing is located right in my calf, no support lower down, and it's painful after about 10 minutes.

- the lumbar is a huge void area. When reclined, there's a big hollow pit, and this too is not very comfortable. Plus, like all Boeing seats, not much padding.

Something I've never understood with aviation seats... those things probably cost $250,000 each, yet a $500 Ford F-150 "captain" seat is 500% more comfortable. I could sit indefinitely in a cheap seat, yet the stock Boeing seats have me squirming in just a few hours.

It's probably a strength/crashworthiness thing, but when you come down to it, an accident is either something you can walk away from, or you're a pink mist. Not much in between.

 

Our new DH policy, effective 1/1/14, stipulates Business Class - but not First - for any flight that crosses an ocean or goes Deep South. It used to say Biz or better but that mysteriously disappeared from the language.

 

And let me guess... the FA's are already at critical mass, ready to go nuclear, and will demand "parity" on this issue.

I like our FA's and we get along fine, but rest requirements are very different. I mentioned before, I just had a 10 hour dhd to GRU, with maybe 9 hours on the ground, to work a GRU-JFK leg.

They originally had me in coach, to then sleep at the downtown hotel, which is a 1.5 hour ride. I switched the hotel to the short layover, then begged the agent for a decent seat. She came through; if she hadn't, I suspect I'd have been fatigued.

 

Update I'm junior manned tonight. I got in yesterday morning. So tonight EZE Buenos Aires. this will make 12 days in a row with no days off. I started reserve on June 22. I am on until 6 July. I fullly expect upon return on the 3rd of july that I will have to fly July 4 into my day off on the 7th of July for 16 days in a row.

I am at 72:30 ish for June.

Do you still want the AA reserve system?

Normal AA 777 reserve is 2 or 3 trips a month. Not bad, but, this is what can happen in Summer or holiday months.

Tonight is 3 trips in a row. I'm happy it's Buenos Aires. We are out of reserves.
I'll have a nice dinner and it's winter in EZE versus the heat of MIA. A nice escape.

If assigned a trip on the 4th, I may have to say i'm fatigued if I am. 4 trips in a row is a lot to ask with no reward (a big block of days off) I'm only off for 4 days. The 7-10.

Still want the AA reserve system?

Please USAir tell your people, tell them!

You do not want to be on reserve for 20+ days in a row. You do not want the AA reserve where your 24 in 7 is in a different country or city.

 

Just FYI, from the FTD stuff. They won't get away with "reasonable time".

§ 117.21 Reserve status.
(a) Unless specifically designated as airport/standby or short-call reserve by the certificate holder, all reserve is considered long-call reserve.
(b) Any reserve that meets the definition of airport/standby reserve must be designated as airport/standby reserve. For airport/standby reserve, all time spent in a reserve status is part of the flightcrew member’s flight duty period.

 

This is also gong to help keep them from keeping you out for so long.

(d) If a flightcrew member travels more than 60o longitude during a flight duty period or a series of flight duty periods that require him or her to be away from home base for more than 168 consecutive hours, the flightcrew member must be given a minimum of 56 consecutive hours rest upon return to home base. This rest must encompass three physiological nights’ rest based on local time.

 

This stuff starts in Jan.