How does long haul compare on commercial side--I don't mind the long flights on mil side...it's the 24 hour days, min gnd turn time and delayed ground support that gets old. Last time I returned from Mexico I had to sit on the airplane for 2 hours and customs never showed at KNGU then had to drive my crew in a loaner van to the on base lodging at 3 am and wait an hour to get a room.

N/b Caribbean has some big benefits -

Good weather
Slightly longer flights(?)
Less radio chatter !!!!! (Domestic will drive you nuts)
Almost all daytime flying.

You don't wait for customs like corporate or military. If it's a turn you don't even deal with the locals. In, unload, reload, launch. Same airplane = no bag drag.

Downside is customs everytime you land in the US.

Long haul has the time zone/all nighter issues. N/b Caribbean doesn't.

Your worst day at the worst legacy is still infinitely superior to your best day at the best ACMI (or mil flight).

Long haul ops? 8-10 hr flight. Usually leave 6-8 PM for Europe or 10-12 PM for S.A.

Land. Customs ( normally quick and painless ). Usually 30-60 minute bus to downtown. 24-36 hrs off. Fly back.

Flight back - arrive in the US 1-5 PM after 8-11 hr flight if Europe layover.

S.A. typically 8-11 hrs and usually land 0400-0600.

8 hrs + gets a relief pilot. Typically 1+45 to 2:30 break enroute (depends on flight duration)

Some guys love the long haul life and some guys hate it.

I just transferred back to Domestic 737. Best move I've ever made. While I greatly enjoyed the intl first couple of years, it got old real quick. I was always tired and in a jet lag funk. Trips through customs were a pain. Security hassles, phones dependent on wifi, spending way too much $$$ on layovers....the list goes on and on. Like Slice says above - some guys love it, some hate it.

I just did a 3 day domestic trip with ATL and BDL layovers. Not in a million years did I ever think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. US controllers all the way. Digital atis and PDC. No customs. Phone works everywhere. USA Todays in the lobby. Quick ride to an airport with no security hassles. Flying over the good ol USA and American towns. Best of all, it was all daytime flying....no figuring out breaks, no bleary eyed sunrises after 10hrs of flying. That's just me though.

If you want to strictly fly transcons, come to AA: you can bid to only fly domestic, whereas at most other airlines they tend to mix domestic and intl. And you can get LGA 320 as a new hire, which is almost exclusively transcons to LAX and SFO.

90% international in the last decade. International, long haul, w/b's, foreign countries is fun but like aa73 I'm starting to miss domestic flying.

The thought of having a divert field, or half a dozen divert fields, within gliding distance is a strange concept. If we had a 'mute' button for ATC it would be tempting.

What kind of seniority would one need to do that ^^^ for a living? The Caribe is my ol stompin' grounds and I still have the folks down there; that's the kind of flying I would love to do primarily, if i were to ever consider airline work. Also, would AA or United be better for that? I'd be happy as pig in poo based on IAH or MIA doing that kind of flying. I know the LCCs are also prime on that kind of flying, but for the retirement benefits alone, I'd only consider working for AA or United.

Count me in on the shortish leg camp. I changed units on the mil side to trainers just so I could stop the 17hour sortie stoopidity. That stuff about cured me from flying professionally.

You sound like you and SWA are a match made in heaven!

Caribbean King is MIA/737/INTL... does all the "nice" Carib layovers such as Aruba, Curaçao, Grand Cayman, Cancun, Provo, Antigua, etc. They do throw in a little "S America Lite" such as Cali, Medellin and the furthest south point which is Manaus (that one apparently sucks.) but if you're a Carib lover, Mia 737 is what you want.

Slice, come back to DCA 737, we miss ya! PS I'm flying the 1725 BWI-Mia next month, hop on down on one of my flts.