Pilatus801

Still trying to wrap my brain around the daily life of an airline or corporate pilot. I would appreciate any comments from experienced pilots who can comment on your multi day trips away from home.

What do you do to entertain yourself during free time? Do you feel like you're married to a hotel room? Do you find that most of your time is spent at a hotel property? How much of the time do you get out and sight see or explore the city you are in? Do you frequently hang out and socialize with other crew members?

Any other comments on this part of the lifestyle will be appreciated. Thank you!

SonicFlyer

This guy goes in to pretty good detail on it:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC82...UAWdH06-GalyuA

rickair7777

Depends on where you're staying. La quinta inn on the airport frontage road next to arby's, then probably goofing off online or using the treadmill. Maybe run outside if it's nice weather and there's a trail or sidewalk.

Often you stay in a nicer property downtown, in which case you have more options.

Either way, there's always uber, and some hotels will have their van take you places.

Pilatus801

I follow that guy on Youtube and have seen his videos, although some of them seem to have been taken down. He is a corporate pilot and i would be interested to hear from an airline pilot.
Thanks.

PotatoChip

See above.

Also, as mentioned, west coast flying is COMPLETELY different. East coast hubs (JFK, EWR, LGA, PHL) experience constant, daily delays. Often 2-3+ hours for regional airlines. This routinely ruins whatever time you had at your layover. West coast bases don't experience this nearly as much.

sourdough44

It all depends on where you are, for how long, and what the timing may be. The list of things to do is almost endless, just be rested up for the next duty period.

One may hang with some crew members, or go solo. The larger the formation, the more space it takes to plan & maneuver.

SonicFlyer

Yes he changed jobs and had to take a bunch of his old videos down because there were a lot of details regarding his former employer.

Bruno82

I’ve flown for a regional airline and now fly corporate Part 91. I was at a regional prior to the existence of Uber, so things may have been different for me if it existed then. At the regional a lot depended on where we stayed as restaurants and other activities needed to be in walking distance. At my current job, we almost always have a rental car to use.

What do I do to entertain myself during free time?

Regional: Workout, read, video games, explore shopping area if one is nearby
Corporate: I do other work for the company I fly for, exercise, explore interesting places, sometimes we go to whatever we flew into town for such as golf, dinner meetings, sporting events

Do I feel like I’m married to a hotel room?

Regional: Yes
Corporate: No

Do I feel like most of my time is spent at a hotel property?

Both: Yes

How much time do I explore the city?

Regional: Little
Corporate: Most of the time. Although, we go a lot of the same places, so we get bored with many of the towns.

Do I frequently hang out with the other crew members?

Regional: It depends on if the crew wants to do anything. Typically I went to a meal with at least one crew member at least once a trip. If we had enough time we would explore or site see together probably 50% of the time.
Corporate: I only fly with one other pilot and we are practically best buds, so we hang out a lot.

FTFF

UPS:

What do I do to entertain myself during free time:

Exercise is my first layover priority, after sleep. Running is a great way to see a city in depth, it's easy and free so I do it a lot. I've hiked forests, mountains, etc., rented bikes and rode 3+ hours (e.g. along Rhine), surfed/Sup in Hawaii and Sydney, I'll swim whenever a pool is available, and though I've not done it yet, guys will ski/snowboard. A lot of times I'll go for long walks (3+ hrs).

I like to eat good so part of my time is trying new places and new foods especially internationally. Obviously going out for beers is popular too.

Otherwise the world is your oyster. I've gone go kart racing, golfing, taken in concerts (U2), seen euro futbol games. I've flown with guys who scuba dive, skydive, kitesurf, fly gliders, race cars, shoot guns, one guy brought his guitar and did a few open mics, another guy does standup comedy. On the longer overnights guys will sometimes travel, especially renting a car and doing a road trip (Normandy). One guy writes music on his laptop, another brings his Xbox so he can play with his kids online. I've flown with one tennis nut. A few people have side-businesses, day trade, or do union work. Internationally a lot of guys will get massages (real ones). I'll hit the beach or pool and chill in the warmer months. I'll also get work done: study for recurrent, bid, contribute to these forums, etc.

Do I feel like I’m married to a hotel room?

I did a little bit at the regionals, not at UPS. Why? Probably better hotels in better locations and more disposable income to enjoy the layovers.

Do I feel like most of my time is spent at a hotel property?

Regionals: yes.
UPS: No. But, some of the domestic night flying can feel that way a bit - eat and sleep.

How much time do I explore the city?

Regional: Occasionally.
Corporate: "Most of the time. Although, we go to a lot of the same places, so we get bored with many of the towns." I don't get bored as much as I fall into a routine.

Do I frequently hang out with the other crew members?

Depends on the schedule of the trip and the people I'm flying with. Sometimes it's nonstop, other times we all slam-click for most of the trip. I've had good luck bumping into friends all over the world.

Flip side of things:

Admittedly, sometimes I'm too tired to do anything and will barely leave the room, if at all. Sometimes I wake up from 8hrs of sleep and it's 1am - not much to do and some cities you don't really want to go roaming around at those hours of the night. In that case I'll hit the gym or spa if it's 24hrs, read, Netflix, etc. Crappy weather = internet surfing, museums...