Instead of taking the subway/airtrain to JFK the Q10 bus picks up at Metro and Lefferts. I usually get the limited bus which gets you to JFK in about 30 minutes. If you buy a $10 ride ticket you get 12 rides. The Q10 drops off at terminal 4 at JFK which is right next to the Delta terminal.
I think that if you are going to be flying the ER and use both JFK and LGA for commuting then Kew Gardens is you're best bet. The Q runner picks up on the hour and half hour at Metro and Lefferts and will take you to either JFK or LGA for $7 plus tip.

Most captains do. We flew a Kiev trip this week and both FOs were going to lose currency, I was ok so they took both legs. If I was short landings I probably would have taken a leg.

Anyone have any idea what "international ... ultra long call reserve" is? Is that like "double secret probation?"[/QUOTE]

That is a left over from an old contract when domestic had windows when long call pilots had to anwser the phone. You had to live near base if you were a reserve pilot. Those on international had an eight hour call out to a trip or short call.

For those new hires with 7ER's at JFK, and still sitting reserve, approximately how many days a month do you have to go up to NY and sit alert? Do you have to sit in your CP and wait, or are there things you can do?

Plan on 3-4 short calls per month out of your 18 days of reserve. Depending where you live, long call may be an option from home. Don't waste your time in NYC sitting around your crashpad. It's a great city with lots to see and do. My advice is get a NYC travel guide and explore the city. Just make sure you can report within 2-3 hours for a short call if you get assigned.

You guys don't have any IRO-only lines every month?

At AA we have CA lines, FO lines and FB (IRO) lines. If you get an FB (IRO) line, you are stuck as the IRO the whole month (unless you trip trade for FO trips.)

APA tried to introduce what you guys have a few years ago - whereby the CA could divvy up the landings between who needed them most. Then FOs started *****ing that they were getting booted out of their "hard earned seat" and that seniority was being abrogated, yada yada yada. APA finally put an end to it and from then on, you are stuck as either FO or FB, and it's off to the sim every three months if you haven't gotten a landing.

Cool to see how different airlines run the system.

73

I've never had a problem with either a Captain or FO giving up a TO/Lnd if I was getting close to running out of landing currency. Many captains will ask you at the start of a trip. I know I'd never have a problem giving up my stick time if it saves fellow pilot the ass pain of going to the sim.

No joke, I wouldn't either. Two different cockpit cultures, I guess. (Hey, we are the Sky Nazis... ;))

Well, here's the difference, apparently. At AA, FOs and IROs bid their own separate lines, with FO lines going more senior. Hence the seniority issue. However, there are many CAs/FOs who offer the landing to the IRO. But most IROs gladly take the 3 sim landings every three months because we get paid an extra 5 hours to go to school. Not a bad deal.

I guess at DL, you guys only bid FO lines, and it is sorted out at departure.

73

Exactly...we just bid FO lines. There are actual IRO trip pairing numbers for organizational purposes, but we don't have designated IROs.

I like it...and at this point in our careers what is the point of getting into a XXXing match over who gets "stick time". Somedays I feel like flying...other times "food boy" is just what I'm in the mood for.