I've plundered through the web boards and fcifs but I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish a mid-trip dev. I am scheduled for 48 in DEL then DH to DBX but I'd rather catch the jumpseat over DBX and have extra time there than DEL. It sounds like I email my ACP for permission and email both ramps to let them know my itinerary. How to I square away the extra room at DBX and CNX the room in DEL? Is that all there is to it? I'm a virgin at mid trip dev, but based on the lovely scheduled mid trip DH in China on my last trip, I need to become an expert at building a better plan.

 

You cant unless your ACP overrides it. Been there and have the T-shirt. Had no luck getting my ACP to assist as he said it would start an unmanageable precedent.

 

You have to put the request in the Expense Report system under pre approvals. Also put in for deviation thru VIPS. Then make sure you have enough bank to cover extra hotel nights (DEL hotel is pricey) and unscheduled transportation. You are responsible for all this. Dont forget to list for the jumpseat. Let both ramps know what you intend to do via email. Good luck!

 

My FO and I did this from BOM several months back. Lessons learned are below.

Most Mid trip deviations are a breeze but China and India can pose a few Gotchas.

The problem with mid trip deviation is that you are on the hook for any extra incurred expenses. Hotel rooms in India and DXB are very expensive.

You will pay for the extra night(S) in DXB. If you have the bank, however, you can expense it. Put it all on your Fedex credit card and settle up with the company later. Ensure you have an email from you ACP (actually it's the FOS who will email you) to submit with your expense report.

Also word to the wise. Remember that you are in India!! If you are Jumpseating out of DEL ensure the FedEx Ramp agent and the greeting "Cambata Ramp agents" know and Understand your departure plan on your arrival. Ensure the paperwork is filled out with proper flight numbers. verify that the Ramp has you on the Exiting Gen Decs, Otherwise you might show up and be denied exit. Wear your Uniform too.

I would also email the crew you plan to jumpseat with and hook up with them in the hotel prior to you J/S departure.

Good luck

 

Go to the FOX system and there is an option for "pre approvals", one being MID Trip deviation. Just follow the prompts and fill in the planned travel info. Hotels are another issue, if you are checking in early in DXB, you will be responsible for the extra charges. You can pay them from your deviation funds, but booking and getting the FedEx contract rate are all on you. If they do not give you the FedEx rate, you are personally responsible for any extra, even if you have the bank money.

As a courtesy, I email both ramps and let them know my plans. They might help with transport, might not. Depends on the ramp.

Contract hotel rates can be found in VIPS as well.

Good luck

 

I stand corrected. My apologies for giving incorrect info. My mid trip deviation was a couple of years ago when they first used the Sodomizer ... whoops optimizer. That was before the new expense system. Again, my apologies.

 

You should be ok with the hotel, if staying longer in DXB. You only get the FedEx hotel contract rate, and you can't use unused airline ticket money for the hotel. (Yeah, we need to get this in the next contract.) The hotel in DEL rate for Dec is about $308 a night- DXB was around $188.

If you are taking the FedEx jumpseat, be sure to email both ramps.

I did one last year, mid trip international. Got permission, no problem. The captain did not do the deviation, no problem there. I have heard crews have to stay together. We didn't.

 

Thanks, that really sounds like plenty of rope to hang myself with. I could see me getting stuck with plenty of $ for the extra hotel room. I'll keep reading eveyones ideas, but more on the fence about trying this after seeing how many gotcha are out there for me to screw up.

 

There really aren't that many gotchas.

The biggest gotcha would be not getting to DXB in time. Since you are going early and you are going on the FDX jumpseat, getting there on time is almost a non issue.

Since you are not taking the scheduled flight, you can use that unused DH money for your hotel, up to the contract rate, any transportation costs and you can use any remaining DH money to deviate at other times during the month. Any extra hotel costs should be minimal, but since DXB is cheaper than DEL, the real cost to you, if any, will be lower. If you're worried about the hotel rate, call the hotel now and see what they would charge.

Getting to the hotel is a no-brainer, also. The hotel picks us up in van or bus. Since you'll be with the crew you can ride with them. If you had to take your own taxi to the hotel and pay for it, the fare would be $10 at the most.

English is very common in DXB. You won't have any language barriers calling the hotel to arrange an extra night's stay.

The keys to making this work like it should are to request the mid-trip deviation in FOX, email both ramps detailing your travel plans, and call Jumpseat Admin to book the J/S.

Since you will be going with the crew through the whole process, this will be about as easy and risk-free a mid-trip deviation as is possible.

Good luck!

 

Just to be sure.... Sorry about the misunderstanding.... You don't get to use the total bank money for the hotel, or the money that the DEL hotel would have cost. The company will only pay the hotel CONTRACT rate, as listed in General Info on the website. (I posted the prices in my other post.) Be sure you get the FedEx rate, or you have to pay the difference yourself.

I know, I had this issue recently and had to pay the difference. I had taken the FedEx jumpseat, too, and STILL would have saved the company money overall if they paid the rate the hotel gave me (which was not the FedEx contract rate, it was higher.) But they only paid the contract rate (which I did not get, and could not get, from the hotel in SAN.)