Deadheading to/from CAN
07-13-2009, 02:27 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 767 Capt
Posts: 130
Deadheading to/from CAN
For the FedEx guys, anyone deadheaded in/out of CAN? What about getting to/from the Holiday Inn Shifu Guangzhou if you are deviating? Any tidbits of info would be appreciated.
07-13-2009, 02:58 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Flew China Southern into CAN about 2 months back.
Overall...pretty good experience, but some points to consider...
First, China Southern was reasonably comfortable. I'm comparing my 14.5 hour flight to my NWA trips...haven't done Cathay, Singapore, JAL etc so it may or may not stack up as well. You can go to the DV lounge in LAX while you wait for the flight...they'll give you a pass when you check in.
My modus operandi for long Deadhead flights is to show up sleepy, get a little buzzed, and sleep all you can. I didn't change that for this flight, and it worked for about 10 hours plus of sleep across 14 hours of flying. Lots of space between seats and they recline to fully flat. I missed the first meal being asleep like a rock, and when I woke up hungry I got a bowl of noodles. Breakfast was fine...nothing great but not bad. Unlike NWA to Europe, where I watched 2 movies, the movie selection and entertainment is a bit limited...not that many English programs. Suggest you bring a DVD or laptap and plan accordingly.
Next--my first deviation into China so I called scheds and asked them to provide a ride which I would pay for out of my dev bank. (The fact I had to lose ground trans for deviating even though I was joining the scheduled China southern flight is a contiuing source of irritation for me, and I am hoping we can fix this). Anyway, I got to the airport and the trans wasn't there. More on this later... I ended up getting a cab with another guy they took us to the Shifu. Its about a 25 minute ride....but at 0500 the roads should be fairly empty. Go to taxi stand and have print out of hotel info and you should be fine...should be about 130-150 Yuan. (30 bucks). Negotiate firmly...I was offered a ride at 300 Yuan and said "no thanks".
Next--do not fly to China if you are snotting, have a fever, or a stomach bug. You will get a very aggressive look from the health screeners before you leave the flight (if its like it was 2 months ago). The gal in front of me apparently had thrown up in the restroom during the flight, but she didnt' put it on her health forms. The FAs, however, ratted her out to the health care screeners (who are dressed like the cast of OUTBREAK) who then kept all of us on board an additional 30 minutes while they took her temp and grilled her with questions. If you are code 2 when you show up, you may end up a week in quarantine. Be warned...or be Ray Nagin.
Once off the plane, the airport is nice and new. Currency conversion is a breeze...there are ATMS right past customs, and the whole trip through customs with quick and painless. Taxi stand is just past the ATM banks...
The hotel is I think pretty nice. Rooms are big, and breakfast buffett is provided. Its got a mix of local fare, European continental breakfast stuff, and some American staples like bacon and eggs and French toast. You can get breakfast in the main restuarant or the DV lounge on the 8th floor. Some guys will say it ain't IHOP...but I dug the noodles and local stuff and ate a bunch with zero ill effects. Can't stand it? McDonalds is down the street two blocks...
I was there 2 days, and enjoyed the shopping which is available on a pedestrian street right out of the hotel on the left. I walked down to the River, where there is a major sidewalk. Bus 57 runs up and down along the riverside street, so if you get tired hop aboard. For less than a buck its a lot of sightseeing. Its clean and modern and better than most American buses.
Booze is free during happy hour in evenings on 8th floor. Plenty of expat papers and internet access. For porn junkies...your internet won't go to porn sites, or a bunch of other even legit places in China. Its a hoot to visit, but it does make you value the First Amendment.
Last...got a nasty email train that started with Parklane Trans, through scheduling and hotels, to ACP Jensen, finally to my ACP requesting payment for the taxi for my "no show". First I heard about it was last week. They weren't there, but I am supposed to pay them anyway. I'll surrender 30 bucks so Parklane doesn't take it out on the next crew, but suggest you that you just go to the taxi stand with the SA on the 130-150 price to the Shifu and wing it.
That's it...my whopping ONE trip to Asia in the MD11. Plenty of Anchorage guys with a lot more SA on it than me, but it wasn't too bad. I posted some pictures on Facebook, so if you are FDX pilot on the FDX pilot group there you can take a peek if you want to see some of the sites.
I'm in VIPS...you can also call.... Have fun. If I was a bus guy I'd be all over Asian SIBA...
Overall...pretty good experience, but some points to consider...
First, China Southern was reasonably comfortable. I'm comparing my 14.5 hour flight to my NWA trips...haven't done Cathay, Singapore, JAL etc so it may or may not stack up as well. You can go to the DV lounge in LAX while you wait for the flight...they'll give you a pass when you check in.
My modus operandi for long Deadhead flights is to show up sleepy, get a little buzzed, and sleep all you can. I didn't change that for this flight, and it worked for about 10 hours plus of sleep across 14 hours of flying. Lots of space between seats and they recline to fully flat. I missed the first meal being asleep like a rock, and when I woke up hungry I got a bowl of noodles. Breakfast was fine...nothing great but not bad. Unlike NWA to Europe, where I watched 2 movies, the movie selection and entertainment is a bit limited...not that many English programs. Suggest you bring a DVD or laptap and plan accordingly.
Next--my first deviation into China so I called scheds and asked them to provide a ride which I would pay for out of my dev bank. (The fact I had to lose ground trans for deviating even though I was joining the scheduled China southern flight is a contiuing source of irritation for me, and I am hoping we can fix this). Anyway, I got to the airport and the trans wasn't there. More on this later... I ended up getting a cab with another guy they took us to the Shifu. Its about a 25 minute ride....but at 0500 the roads should be fairly empty. Go to taxi stand and have print out of hotel info and you should be fine...should be about 130-150 Yuan. (30 bucks). Negotiate firmly...I was offered a ride at 300 Yuan and said "no thanks".
Next--do not fly to China if you are snotting, have a fever, or a stomach bug. You will get a very aggressive look from the health screeners before you leave the flight (if its like it was 2 months ago). The gal in front of me apparently had thrown up in the restroom during the flight, but she didnt' put it on her health forms. The FAs, however, ratted her out to the health care screeners (who are dressed like the cast of OUTBREAK) who then kept all of us on board an additional 30 minutes while they took her temp and grilled her with questions. If you are code 2 when you show up, you may end up a week in quarantine. Be warned...or be Ray Nagin.
Once off the plane, the airport is nice and new. Currency conversion is a breeze...there are ATMS right past customs, and the whole trip through customs with quick and painless. Taxi stand is just past the ATM banks...
The hotel is I think pretty nice. Rooms are big, and breakfast buffett is provided. Its got a mix of local fare, European continental breakfast stuff, and some American staples like bacon and eggs and French toast. You can get breakfast in the main restuarant or the DV lounge on the 8th floor. Some guys will say it ain't IHOP...but I dug the noodles and local stuff and ate a bunch with zero ill effects. Can't stand it? McDonalds is down the street two blocks...
I was there 2 days, and enjoyed the shopping which is available on a pedestrian street right out of the hotel on the left. I walked down to the River, where there is a major sidewalk. Bus 57 runs up and down along the riverside street, so if you get tired hop aboard. For less than a buck its a lot of sightseeing. Its clean and modern and better than most American buses.
Booze is free during happy hour in evenings on 8th floor. Plenty of expat papers and internet access. For porn junkies...your internet won't go to porn sites, or a bunch of other even legit places in China. Its a hoot to visit, but it does make you value the First Amendment.
Last...got a nasty email train that started with Parklane Trans, through scheduling and hotels, to ACP Jensen, finally to my ACP requesting payment for the taxi for my "no show". First I heard about it was last week. They weren't there, but I am supposed to pay them anyway. I'll surrender 30 bucks so Parklane doesn't take it out on the next crew, but suggest you that you just go to the taxi stand with the SA on the 130-150 price to the Shifu and wing it.
That's it...my whopping ONE trip to Asia in the MD11. Plenty of Anchorage guys with a lot more SA on it than me, but it wasn't too bad. I posted some pictures on Facebook, so if you are FDX pilot on the FDX pilot group there you can take a peek if you want to see some of the sites.
I'm in VIPS...you can also call.... Have fun. If I was a bus guy I'd be all over Asian SIBA...
07-17-2009, 03:47 AM
#4
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 83
For anyone deviating internationally please do yourself and YOUR FELLOW PILOTS right by asking around of how to take care of gnd trans if u have ????
Simply calling the ramp will help oneself greatly when different pick up times are necessary due to different arrival times.
Simply calling the ramp will help oneself greatly when different pick up times are necessary due to different arrival times.
07-17-2009, 05:58 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: Mad Dog Capt
Posts: 226
Heads up.
Skeds had me down for a 1 hr show from the Airport hotel, on a d/h from CAN-HKG. Not even close. Just clearing security took 1 + 20 alone. China Southern wasn't too bad, although the flight was empty. Not sure what was going on up front, but they dropped the gear at about 30 mile final. (?!?)
3 + 20 door to door to go 35 miles. (Hol Inn would add another 45 mins). Next time I think I'll drive.
Skeds had me down for a 1 hr show from the Airport hotel, on a d/h from CAN-HKG. Not even close. Just clearing security took 1 + 20 alone. China Southern wasn't too bad, although the flight was empty. Not sure what was going on up front, but they dropped the gear at about 30 mile final. (?!?)
3 + 20 door to door to go 35 miles. (Hol Inn would add another 45 mins). Next time I think I'll drive.
Last edited by meatloaf; 07-17-2009 at 06:00 AM. Reason: attack of dumba**.
07-17-2009, 07:49 AM
#7
Part Time Employee
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Dispersing Green House Gasses on a Global Basis
Posts: 1,918
Originally Posted by meatloaf
Heads up.
Skeds had me down for a 1 hr show from the Airport hotel, on a d/h from CAN-HKG. Not even close. Just clearing security took 1 + 20 alone. China Southern wasn't too bad, although the flight was empty. Not sure what was going on up front, but they dropped the gear at about 30 mile final. (?!?)
3 + 20 door to door to go 35 miles. (Hol Inn would add another 45 mins). Next time I think I'll drive.
Skeds had me down for a 1 hr show from the Airport hotel, on a d/h from CAN-HKG. Not even close. Just clearing security took 1 + 20 alone. China Southern wasn't too bad, although the flight was empty. Not sure what was going on up front, but they dropped the gear at about 30 mile final. (?!?)
3 + 20 door to door to go 35 miles. (Hol Inn would add another 45 mins). Next time I think I'll drive.
I had a Mon morning d/h out of MEM a few years back and showed up in ops at the scheduled show time. Everyone there asked why I was so late and probably would not make the flight. I responded with "not my problem, I'm here as scheduled." Their response was everyone else shows up early. I made the flight only because it was delayed. We used to have extra time for d/h show in the pairings (i.e. more pay if on the front end) but everyone did such a great job of showing up early they took it out. Once again - we are our own worst enemy!
07-17-2009, 08:03 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: MD-11 Captain
Posts: 4,304
Originally Posted by MaxKts
The only way to fix problems like this is show as scheduled and miss the flight.
And then call the Control Center Scheduler collect (must cost at least $15/min, last time I did this it was an hour phone call involving the Duty Officer) and ask them, "What now?"
07-22-2009, 05:29 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 767 Capt
Posts: 130
Scheduled check in times
For anyone that DH's out of Memphis for FDX, the company gives you one hour (for domestic legs), from check in at our flight operations building until your flight pushes back from the gate across at the pax terminal. Am I missing something? The airlines themselves are telling passengers to arrive at the terminal 75 minutes (domestic), to 90 minutes (international), before departure to get through check in and screening etc. Has anyone, lately, shown up right at the scheduled showtime, gone through with the normal transport to the pax terminal, and missed the sheduled DH? Was there a duty officer or ACP reaction at that time or later?
Maxkts said that his example was awhile ago and he still made the flight because it was late. Any recent cases? Are we still "expected" to show early at ops to make our DH. I am a commuter, but will traverse to the "Planet" next week to take the scheduled DH because of a low bank. I guess I will get to press to test.
Maxkts said that his example was awhile ago and he still made the flight because it was late. Any recent cases? Are we still "expected" to show early at ops to make our DH. I am a commuter, but will traverse to the "Planet" next week to take the scheduled DH because of a low bank. I guess I will get to press to test.
07-22-2009, 09:12 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,336
Showtime
A few years ago, I showed up at ops and checked in right at showtime after being left standing in the democrat lot for about twenty minutes. I went to the bus counter and let them know I needed a ride to the airport. The lady at the desk informed me that the bus just left and there wouldn't be another one for twenty minutes.
I told her that I would be late for my flight if I had to wait twenty minutes, and her response to me was "you shouldn't have shown up late". I told her I wasn't late, but perfectly on time. I was scheduled to show up when I did. She then told me that it wasn't their job to get us to the airport in time to catch a flight but only to run the buses every twenty minutes. Needless to say I looked pretty funny standing there with my mouth hanging open. Up to this point I had quietly dismissed the notion that kept coming in my head about the lack of "Sense of urgency" by quite a few of our van drivers.
I requested an audience with her supervisor who told me "I shouldn't have shown up late". Keep in mind this was about 0900 and there were a few drivers hanging out in the office eating popcorn and drinking coffee (getting a great kick out of the situation for sure). I reminded the supervisor that I had shown up as scheduled, and if they refused to get me to the airport on time, then they would be responsible for making me miss my trip. I invited the supervisor to explain it to the duty officer as I was dialing because I wasn't sure I could do their argument justice.
At this point, they asked one of the popcorn eaters to drive me to the airport. Now, there were five more people that needed to go. I was not in uniform and had to surrender about $20 worth of toiletries at security since I wasn't there in time to check my bags......I vowed never to check in early again.......but that is kinda like my vows to loose weight......sometimes I let convenience outweigh "Pain in the a$$".
Now, thankfully, someone has gotten smart, and they will, upon request, take you directly from the Democrat lot to the airport... This alone saves about 45 minutes.
I told her that I would be late for my flight if I had to wait twenty minutes, and her response to me was "you shouldn't have shown up late". I told her I wasn't late, but perfectly on time. I was scheduled to show up when I did. She then told me that it wasn't their job to get us to the airport in time to catch a flight but only to run the buses every twenty minutes. Needless to say I looked pretty funny standing there with my mouth hanging open. Up to this point I had quietly dismissed the notion that kept coming in my head about the lack of "Sense of urgency" by quite a few of our van drivers.
I requested an audience with her supervisor who told me "I shouldn't have shown up late". Keep in mind this was about 0900 and there were a few drivers hanging out in the office eating popcorn and drinking coffee (getting a great kick out of the situation for sure). I reminded the supervisor that I had shown up as scheduled, and if they refused to get me to the airport on time, then they would be responsible for making me miss my trip. I invited the supervisor to explain it to the duty officer as I was dialing because I wasn't sure I could do their argument justice.
At this point, they asked one of the popcorn eaters to drive me to the airport. Now, there were five more people that needed to go. I was not in uniform and had to surrender about $20 worth of toiletries at security since I wasn't there in time to check my bags......I vowed never to check in early again.......but that is kinda like my vows to loose weight......sometimes I let convenience outweigh "Pain in the a$$".
Now, thankfully, someone has gotten smart, and they will, upon request, take you directly from the Democrat lot to the airport... This alone saves about 45 minutes.
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