AZFlyer

This question isn't worth starting a new thread over, so I thought I'd tag it here since it is somewhat related to the thread topic...but can anyone indulge my curiosity about the long-haul international trips at AA?

How many days typically on the road? Is there variety in the length of the trips available? Are there lines that keep you flying in the same region of the world or send you all over the globe? Differences in trips based on the fleet? Stuff like that. Much appreciated.

On the face of things, going to far off destinations seems appealing, but I've only got about a 3-4 hour keester endurance before I have to get off of it. Don't know how you guys do it!

Dolphinflyer

A reaaaaalll short summary.

Base that have Asia flying have the best long haul schedules. Some are 3, 3 day trips a month. Look at ORD, DFW and LAX for those. Very senior. Even the FO/FB/FC lineholders on those are senior to <50% narrowbody lineholding Captains. It's one reason APASIC sought to consider those jobs equal to NB CA jobs because they are and actually better.
Those same bases have some Europe flying. Shorter and lesser quality lines from JFK and ORD, better from DFW and LAX. PBS may mix the lines. Deep south Latin America flying is generally worse. Latins like to fly at night to save a hotel room. Ride FC while deadheading sometime and you'll understand why.

IMHO, most of it will take years off your lifespan.

justfun

Still the best job I have ever had! On widebody FO reserve you hardly ever fly on short call. Long call you can expect to fly 2-3 trips ( pairings ) a month. If you are on reserve you can expect to go back to the school house for a landings sim every 90 days or so. Remember you must be given 5 days advanced notice on any training event, so keep the company honest on it. I was narrowbody FO for a long time, never flew int. The int side of the house is totally different from domestic side, especially the widebody stuff. Big money made on those flights so they want to get those out.
A trip from DFW to PVG ( shanghai ) is a 3 day trip and is worth about 29 hours. DFW to PEK ( Beijing ) is worth a little less, 27 hours or so. We have trips to hong kong, tokyo and other places in the far east that are just about the same. The European stuff is a little easier on the body, but worth less. Going south the trips are an all nighter down 30 some hours on the ground then an all nighter back. Can get a bit tiring after a while. These are worth about 19-20 hours each.

There are several senior FO's that bid off of narrow body captain seats to fly these type of trips. If you could fly 9 days and make almost 90 hours would you do it?!

Do some checking on your own. It might be worth it.

Sliceback

If you're non qualified I thought the five day notice no longer applies?

colonials13

How viable a future do people think BOS has a base?

LuckyNow

In my opinion (and I could be wrong) something has to give with the gridlock of east coast hubs. There used to be a lot of destinations out of there and now not so much, you just end up doing flying out of other hubs. I'd be the most surprised if that base survived in the event of a reduction in crew bases, assuming there is one.

WaterRooster

Anyone think ORD will go more junior on the 73/75 over the next few years? All the retirements has to help that out I would think.

Sliceback

As guys retire the guys junior to them inherit their seniority numbers. So no, unless there's additional flying it probability won't go more junior, but in five years a new hire today will be at least 3200 numbers more senior.

Right now it looks like about you can get ORD almost immediately (within 200 numbers of the junior guy on property) and junior line holders are about 1000 numbers from the bottom. That's about two years worth of retirements.

justfun

Sliceback,

nope. still must give you a 5 day heads up, but they can move your days off when non qualed.

Sliceback

Thanks. I've got non qual'd in my future.