i hope you never fly international then....because it's the same thing

Wait, Delta international flies a few legs to a hub, sits for a few hours then flies a few legs back to an out base? Hmm...better rethink my bids!

you knew i meant back side of the clock flying.

I've flown both widget international (EU and Asia) and purple domestic. If anyone wants a comparison of how it works I'll be glad to talk via PM (lest you hear from people who have never done either how bad back side of the clock flying is). The rest strategies I use wouldn't work for everyone but I've found what works for me most of the time.

Back to the "my airline is better than yours" arguments.

UA

*what I haven't done is purple international. It seems to me people love the flying but some can't stomach the long trips. Many of the trips are 12 to 15 days (I think) and that doesn't work for everyone's family. But lots of long layovers and at least on the 777 a nice crew rest facility. New hires going to the 777 every month too.

Gold HSA has a 2,600 deductible after which there is a 5K co insurance max. That is 7,600, which when added to the annual premiums puts the total amount paid "out of pocket" over 11K for a family of four. If you include dental insurance, you get close to the claim of 14K per year. If you jump through a few hoops, you can get company contributions to the HSA taking the medical total down to about 10K. If you are on the HRA plan, you will pay around 12K if you qualify for all 1,600 of company contributions.

Not necessarily. With rigs and average min days, the lines are blurring more and more. In many cases you can hold domestic trips higher per day credit than many international trips. By the time you can hold the tiny percentage of deep Europe or whatever on a wide body, you could have already been holding 7-8+ hour day turns (or other higher power trips) on a narrow body, and in some cases be home every night, on 9 to 10 days of work a month. With no off circadian anything.

Lots of EU trips are right at or maybe very slightly above the daily average already, right along with 100% of all narrow body trips. All without the incredibly punishing circadian flipping schedules that, I don't care what anyone claims, takes a heavy toll on human health.

International can be more fun, and certainly has some soft perks like always being fed first class food, etc. along with the aura/lifestyle/prestige that for many brings a lot of value. And as a rule international *tends* to be more commutable and its definitely more logistical to have a second wife in Prague than Des Moines. But the glory days of "Paris, First Class, International" are highly exaggerated from a QOL standpoint. Yes of course there's exceptions, but for the most part its really not as amazing as the old and persistent stereotypes suggest it is.

You should qualify that statement, my best buddy is 88A and I'm 330A. We both fly what we bid and don't pickup extra. My PS check was considerably higher than his. So, unless you're an 88A picking up and flying a lot more, you're not going to make more. Plus I fly 12 days and he flies 15 days a month. I've done both jobs too.

I won't dispute what your saying, but you're also cherry picking the best of domestic. There's no doubt the int'l is tough on your body. It's a choice. I commute and wouldn't do it to domestic. Just a preference.

UnusualAttitude, PM Sent

Not really. Look at most Intl trips. They're 5:15-6:00 per day average more often than not. Yes there are some high value exceptions, just like domestic. I know someone doing all 8+ hour day turns/high power 2 days right now, and he is no where near being able to consistently hold far EU/etc prime international.

Its not a dig against international at all. Just that the stereotypes about phenomenal productivity are greatly exaggerated. Now if your main point is that UAL/AA offer more higher paying opportunities while we flounder to outsource what even our outsourcing competitors are able to do themselves, well then you absolutely have a point.