Definitely check out the Tower. Also, the Museum of Natural History which is very close to the crew hotel (that one's free :).)

Was there this December with same age kids.

If you are going into london, and if they have any interest in history/science, we thoroughly enjoyed a half day at Greenwich (you can ride the tube there) on the east side of London on the Thames.

For a reasonable sum you can tour the Royal Observatory at the top of the "hill" the worlds first and arguably most important observatory.

At the base of the hill your admission price includes entry into the maritime museum which had an exhibit about the quest to build the worlds first accurate clock to help ships navigate around the world, with much discussion on early methods to navigate. My kids were even captivated, museum and observatory really well presented.

From Greenwich, since you are out of town, you can catch a double decker bus back into the heart of london and get a seat on the top deck in front, it will give you great appreciation for the bus drivers and can be fairly entertaining.

Great half to full day that isn't the london eye or the required visit of the London Tower.

BTW, we stayed at the Kensington Holiday Inn (one of Deltas layover hotels) and all food and drink was 50% off at the restaurant and attached pub. Also, the concierge at the hotel was somehow able to get us a reservation for the london eye at about 20% discount to what they charged online and 30% off the walk up price.

Stratford-upon-Avon and Cambridge are nice to visit if wanting to get out of London. Stonehenge is largely a out of the way, overhyped, tourist trap, that wastes your time.

Say hi to Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana if you see her!

Okay so I was just awarded my first GS on RES :D. My objective is to start a rolling thunder scenario. It was awarded over 4 X-days.

I'm assuming I want my payback days awarded next month, since it's unlikely I'll get a second GS this month. Is this correct?

How does "mutual agreement" work? What if they want me to take them this month?

Check out the "walking tours of London". Usually around 7 pounds and about 2 hours long. Most of the museums are free if it's raining. The boat tours are worth the cost.

If you have any more reserve days this month they will automatically put PB and/or PR (Partial Reserve) on those days - you don't have the option to defer them to next month if you have RES days remaining this month.

If you don't have enough RES days remaining they *should* put the remainder in your Payback Bank, which is viewable on your timecard. This is a manual process, so you need to watch it and make sure they process it correctly - I have caught several mistakes before.

Once you have PB days in the bank, there are a variety of ways to use them to your advantage. Denny and I have posted some of the detailed methods to maximize their value (try the search box.) It all depends on what you're trying to do (ie more time off, more $, or more potential to make $ like opening your sked for more GS availability...)

Mutual agreement with the company basically means days you are wanting to use your PB days in a future month must have greater reserves available vs required - similar to a PD or X-day move.

Be sure to do your research wrt PB day strategies if it works out that way. Also check out the DALPA Scheduling Reference Handbook (see page 98) for a good explanation of how you can maximize the return on a PB day.

I have a UFlyMike. Only headset I've ever owned that I could hear and understand all transmissions.They claim it's FAA approved (that's why you must ship them a QC15 to bench test with the attachments). I figure if I can't stand the answer, don't ask the question.

Side benefit is having it for DH/nonrev entertainment. Single battery lasts a long time. Only downside is mic doesn't swing out of the way, and only mounts on the left side.

It's only FAA approved or TSO'd if you where the ear buds. Nobody does and I doubt the average FAA inspector would know.

Correct. So all you really need to do is carry the ear-buds with you at all times which is pretty much what everyone does.

Great headset and very versatile when riding in coach- you can easily cancel out the inevitable babies crying in surround sound on either side of you, or just as easily make the very, very important extra-loud speaking business-man fade away.

Scoop :)

Not really a correct answer. What MIN or MAX do is set your personal threshold to either the low end or high end of the ALV. Depending on your own desires, your seniority and how the company is processing your category it might or might not make a difference.

But whether MIN, MAX or neither PBS will always build you a line +/- 7.5 hrs of the ALV unless you are eligible for a RLL line, which is a different topic altogether.

Thanks. I have one and love it. Just making sure it is Delta approved.