What’s the quality of the hotels that you guys stay at, domestically and abroad? If you have a longer layover do they put you closer to downtown or by the airport?

They're usually average hotels that aren't close to much. You'll usually be able to walk to 2 or 3 fast food restaurants and one sit down. This is one area of the contract where the language is terrible and the company abuses it.

There are a ton of brand name hotels like Hiltons or Marriots or Hyatt properties. Many are on the lower end of those brands. You usually don't get points.

Domestically Hamptons/HI Express are the worst you'll see. Usually you'll be in something better to include some pretty nice hotels in some parts. Internationally we stay at a mix of nice places (JW Marriots, Hiltons, etc.), International Garden in NRT or some of the AMC hotels in Germany.

The problem is what some people hate, others love. I like the St. Michael in Germany because there's good, bucolic hiking right out the back door, food available 24hrs a day and laundry machines. Others don't like that place because of the old building it's right next door to the town church bells. I can fall asleep in a shopping cart, though.

If you like pound cake, I hear we still stay at the 5-towns near JFK. I haven't been there in a couple years, though.

Agree with Elevation, the US hotels leave some things to be desired but generally are fine. There is usually a short stay (closer to the airport) or a long stay (downtown). Some guys have a preference regardless of the length of a layover. I have yet to stay at an international hotel that isn’t nice. Some, like the JW Marriot in Dubai, are ridiculous.

I can't state strongly enough how much I hate Five Clowns.

That f-ing pound cake man...
​​​​​​I think it defines all that is ACMI.

Globester hit the contract part on hotels and domestic hotels narrative as sub par at times and that happens no doubt. Several good Marriots, Hilton’s, Westin’s, etc domestically and 5 Clowns really needs to be Off the list. For myself, short layovers seem to stay closer, longer layovers the farther away from the airport the better hotel mostly and several in the cities. Internationally there are some very good lotto hits overseas such as the AMS, HKG, Incheon, Dubai, Kuwait (As Kuwait goes), Nagoya, and several others to include Narita and Morbach (Elevation mentioned) I like but others do not and I totally get that. I have stayed at the Intercontinental (Doha the City) 3 times since Nov and it’s very nice as most are (double bag drag does suck). Overseas for me is great and I venture out at most places but not all for obvious reasons. If you don’t care for true international food (always looking for fast US food) and culture it’s not for you. Some good adventures and non-mundane flavors with a smattering of WTF moments is really not too bad. Where else do you have no WTF moments, granted it’s less at other places but right now there is a much bigger WTF going on. All the Best!

Can you really call yourself a freight dog if you've never stayed at the Five Towns? I do have a warm spot in my heart for them though. The company forced me to New York on the morning before Sandy hit. I watched the storm roll in, the transformers blow and the water rise from the third floor. I was there 7 days without power and the staff bent over backwards to try and make it as safe and comfortable as possible under the circumstances. Saw some crazy stuff that week though.

Hi all,
I have read a lot on the Atlas threads and I know it is fleet dependent but I was curious if it is possible to live outside the US, say Asia, and start your flying out there? Or would you need to start in the US?
Thanks in advance..

Best pound cake on the Island 🤣