Amen! What we do pay is a pretty small fraction of what we'd spend if we were buying tickets everywhere - I know my wife and I wouldn't have done remotely as much traveling if not for non-rev bennies. I'm just glad lots of other airline employees consider it a total PITA or I'd never get anywhere!

12-30-2012 | 02:50 PM

#118852

georgetg

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 1,724

Likes: 0

From: Boeing Hearing and Ergonomics Lab Rat, Night Shift

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoserpilot

Thanks, I'm so used to jumpseating threw hoops on other carriers I forgot how easy it was on my own. Btw, heading to Ogden in January. Ski/drinking trip at Casa de Porsche.

That is a "preferred" destination...
I might see you out there!

Cheers
George

P.S. Goodluck on the trip!

12-30-2012 | 03:21 PM

#118853

Scoop

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 7,263

Likes: 105

From: DAL 330

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinca3

Recently our flight was met by a couple of mechanics that were "looking" for something?!? I got off grab breakfast and when I returned they explained they are trying to catch the person put a certain graffiti in the cockpit. Per our conversation this specific graffiti has caught the attention and scour of upper managment so there is a big push to find the person.
I haven't seen what they were looking for, but then again there is always some writting in the cockpit so it never really jumps out at me...expect for maybe the one M90 I got in named "China Flipper", that one got a good chuckle!
Moral of story, if you are adding your handy work to the M88-90 fleet they are looking for you!

We had a MD-90 that Captains used to call "Flipper" all the way back in 2005/2006 when I was flying the 90's out of SLC. It would very mildly, yet constantly porpoise up and down when at cruise with the AP on, thus the "Flipper" moniker.

Also, this was before we got the 90s from China, so unless there is another Flipper I'm not sure the "China" part is deserved.

Scoop

12-30-2012 | 03:31 PM

#118854

shiznit

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 2,642

Likes: 0

From: right for a long, long time

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoop

The China part IS deserved... unfortunately there is more than one that earns that moniker.

The DAL 90's are pretty decent, except for that particular one with the porpoise. The Chinese 90's tend to almost ALL do the "upndown"....

12-30-2012 | 03:46 PM

#118855

sinca3

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 917

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoop

Deserved and funny as all get out!! I've flown'em both now....

12-30-2012 | 03:50 PM

#118856

iaflyer

seeing the country...

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 4,014

Likes: 41

From: 73N A

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinca3

Deserved and funny as all get out!! I've flown'em both now....

"Oh that porpoising... this one does that." said no one on the 7ER ever. <sigh>

More of the Boeing builds airplanes...Douglas builds Character stuff huh?

12-30-2012 | 05:14 PM

#118857

NuGuy

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 4,105

Likes: 100

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12-30-2012 | 05:43 PM

#118858

Elliot

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 1,685

Likes: 0

From: "Prof" button manipulator

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuguy

.................................................. ...........

+717

12-30-2012 | 07:57 PM

#118859

GunshipGuy

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 1,707

Likes: 0

From: Permanently scarred

Quote:

Originally Posted by JungleBus

Last time I flew from London to the states was in 2009, when it was like $2.05/£. The UK hadjust doubled their departure tax - at that time for Heathrow only - as a way of making up budget shortfalls due to the market crash, and later expanded the increase across the country. Departure tax, fees, etc came to something like $180pp, but with today's exchange rate should be around $130-140. Since then, I've flown through Heathrow enroute to other European destinations, and departure taxes are considerably lower, around $40 - pretty much on par with AMS or CDG connecting to other EU countries.

London City is the only really convenient airport to central London, Stansted and Gatwick both have express trains but are fairly far out, and Luton's a pain to get to. The differences in departure tax aren't enough to justify going to the extra effort of flying out of another airport. Heathrow now has the most flights to the US, by far, although its stupid terminal system still makes it a bit of a pain in the butt to creatively nonrev out of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by orvil

I non-reved out of LHR in September. The departure tax came to $120.00. I'm going back in January to see the stuff I missed. Screw the tax, life's too short. Go do what you want to do.

Thanks, fellas. Yes, that's well within reason. From reading about how some suggested perhaps other destinations might be better alternatives in order to avoid the costs involved with LHR I thought I should ask. I was afraid it could be something several times larger. The wife and kids really would like to see London so that's what's at the top of the list come March. I will have to start digging for other tips as well: suggested hotels that won't blow the budget, but at the same time aren't just a notch or two above a hostel.

12-30-2012 | 09:01 PM

#118860

Hawaii50

Line Holder

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 1,325

Likes: 9

From: 3fidy

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinca3

Who the he** writes on our airplanes anyway? I've always wondered,when I see that, who the idiots are. Occasionally the moron thinks his crap is so interesting he should use a permanent marker. Can we just go back to hiding porn?

Last edited by Hawaii50; 12-30-2012 at 09:13 PM.