Originally Posted by Twin Wasp

Hard to say what the best program is because it varies on your circumstances. Living in a major hub I would request flights on that airline. Used to get some pushback that brand X is 50 dollars cheaper but haven’t heard that in several years. Have held upper level status the last few years, upgrade if available and free checked bags which I have pointed would save the checked bag fees when they suggest a different airline. Never got into the credit card game as I prefer my none airline card. Hotels are a different story. Atlas gets rooms in many locations at a discounted rate. Some hotels will not give points for discounted rooms. They’ll have a deal for say 100 nights a month at discount rate. I’ve seen cases when a crew checks in and one pilot is the hundredth night that month so no points. The pilot checking in after them is at the regular rate and gets points.

You are on your own to get to your US gateway for company travel to your base. That being said, some pilots have picked gateways and bases with expensive tickets between the two and been able to point out to the company that a ticket from a foreign location would be cheaper. Just looking at tickets SYD to LAX they’re running around a thousand dollars for the beginning of December so not sure you could find a city pair in the US that’s more than that.

Originally Posted by Swakid8

I will say that this past year, it’s been difficult to build status on AA with the ticket prices that Atlas can buy AA tickets for with their discount. So I usually avoided AA for that reason and chose UA because they have a consistent 2 leg commute to get to base for me via Denver from the east coast up to ANC. But it all depends on who has the flight options and ticket prices to quickly build status.

Another option is to rush to build status on one carrier and status-match to a different carrier and complete that status and hold status on two separate airlines. That’s something I am thinking about with AA.

Which brings me to my final point, AA has recently announced some new changes to way status can be earned. That’s something to keep a eye out for since Atlas loves using AA and AA has hubs in many of Atlas bases (MIA, ORD, LAX, JFK (via JetBlue))

Originally Posted by Egg320

Thanks guys, lots to think about. Of course things change all the time always as is pointed out regularly so it is very hard to plan this stuff.

From Brisbane there are daily HAL flights to Honolulu so that’s an option of course, not sure how hard it would be for an Atlas pilot to commute internationally with them with regards to economy to business upgrade especially as I would have no flight benefits like a regional pilot would.

HNL would then put you inside the US and Atlas would take care of you from there I guess.

Originally Posted by TiredSoul

You could designate HNL to be your gateway airport yes. Some requirements such as an adress or a PO Box as far as I’m aware.
You’d be on your own making your way to HNL though as you stated.
Or jumpseat on company aircraft if the flights are convenient but that looks like a 10hr drive.

Originally Posted by TiredSoul

It’s a *****in’ commute either way.
You’ll make the LAX base in 6-9 months which may make life a little easier.

Originally Posted by Natca

I think one paper LAX is 6-9 months but it is going to be more on the higher end. We have not had a vacancy in a few months for a 747 base other than ANC. So the junior FO in LAX is probably as of today around the 9 month mark and climbing.

Originally Posted by Swakid8

This right here, it would be nice so see additional vacancies in other bases besides ANC, CVG and LAX as well like ORD.

Originally Posted by stevecv

What’s the policy on vacation days? Amount & flexibility? Can you time your bid to end and then vacation to stack ontop of your time off?