Rama

I remember giving Connie a ride to LA about the time he turned 70.
That was a long time ago!

midwest1992

Maxjet has spoken wise words.

freighthound

That he has not seen Connie’s member? 🤣

CA Deplorable

Some people have forgotten or maybe too young to remember when Spirit was flying those clapped out DC-9s out of Detroit and Atlantic City. Things evolve and so do companies. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Flying rubber dog sht out of Hong Kong or flying the Greyhound of the skies. The beauty of America you are free to pick your poison and the conditions associated with that choice.

Happy Memorial Day to all those that have fallen safeguarding of our freedom and liberty.

Grumpyaviator

That’s a strange statement.

TransWorld

A certain VP wished everyone, “Enjoy the long weekend”.

I am old enough to remember it as Decoration Day. We would make the rounds of the cemeteries in town and out of town. Flowers on the graves. Offering prayers for relatives and friends who were deceased. It was a pretty somber, contemplative day.

My grandmother told me about how her grandparents themselves visited the graves to morn and pray for both Union and Confederate soldiers that were killed, on that first Decoration Day, in 1868. Everyone did. Blue and Grey.

goinaround

How exactly?

Grumpyaviator

first, Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, although it has become just another reason to party.

but to wish a happy holiday to those that have fallen, ie are dead, is a little moot.

bacca9

Your friends must be very senior. I worked at an LCC for four years and mostly only had 9 or 10 days off a month that weren’t touched by flying or commuting unless I used PTO. The most I ever credited in a non-vacation month was 87 hours. For junior guys, almost no trips were commutable on both ends and they were rarely scheduled to exceed min credit.

C17B74

Yup, Majors, LCC are great for planning a very lucrative future and stability as best you can in one of the most unsure industries in the world. Young, planning for a real family it’s time to work for a living and most flying isn’t work comparably speaking of course. ACMI is not for everyone by any means but it offers so much dependent on what you enjoy in life. If you just go by numbers $$$ etc it totally makes sense looking at other outfits from the outside. Slave to youngsters at home, elderly needs, in-law needs, spouse requirements/strength/independence (inability to function on their own) ACMI will not bode well for you especially if that’s your jam so it’s not recommended. If you have a superior other half and/or support system you can do your job effectively and efficiently; therefore, ACMI flying is quite the opposite of mundane point to point rinse repeat every few hours, every day, every other week and you get well paid for it. It’s not all roses by any means, but many of us get our travel done well before 65 when venturing out won’t be that easy and on your dime and time. I have family in Europe and the Far East so there’s one caveat. Speaking for myself I truly enjoy going to so-called “work”, having breakfast with friends in Korea, dining with our folks and FedEx/Brown buds in Japan, chilling with fairly senior buds from the Majors at Dukes in Hawaii (they hate it, same carousel runs, but it’s fun to see them), chilling at our favorite eat sites in Hong Kong (not for awhile now), hanging out on the beach in Australia or even killing time with the crews favorite beverages wherever and so many other places. ALL PRE-PANDEMONIUM!!! Just for myself, it’s free travel with friends and 2 weeks of vacation at the house with my favorite person and our(her) dog. Time zones, long blocks of time away, $, retirement, there are always issues wherever you are dependent on your priorities. I planned my retirement, have no planes, Ferrari’s, ex-wives (so far, extended family anchors, etc. Day 9 at home typing this, 7 more before I leave for 16 days (it’s not always this nice) but 14 is my norm chilling at home with some housework. This really is the “I would quit my job, but I would lose all my rest/travel/authentic food benefits, etc.” for me specifically. Hotel manager gave me a tour 2 weeks ago of the ball room where the Nuremberg Judges ate/drank/were merry all night long during the trials. It’s been amazing and I will continue as long as it or I last.