I'll just push back a little bit, Ive only been here a couple of years and have traded or held plenty of the island layovers. Especially if you're east coast, AUA and PUJ are on the menu in a few months of the current hiring pace.

 

I've been here 25 years and can't hold WB Capt anywhere in the system.

 

Fair enough, but another thing to consider is maybe AUA and PUJ, etc... aren't as amazing as they look on paper. I eventually got tired of going through customs and immigration every time.

I guess bottom line is each individual has to decide what is important to them. If having an 18 hour layover in a warmer locale is worth dealing with latin american ATC, customs, immigration, and working in a less comfortable environment, then I guess the 737 is right for them.

 

I agree entirely. I’d rather be conus personally and avoid the hassle. But I’m also a sicko because I enjoy the DSM/OMA/GRR layovers all the regional guys hate more than I enjoy dealing with customs and a twice divorced captain with a captive audience over the WATRS. To each their own.

 

well I guess that depends if you are a United pilot or a Continental pilot……

 

Well then she needs to work on her grip to handle the girth.

 

It most certainly does.

 

this right here. I've been here 10 months EWR/737/FO

I'm actually bidding NO islands or central AM. I'm tapped. I got it out of my system. coming from a NE regional I was looking fwd to islands/central am and just general "exotic" flying if you will.

the logistics that come into play with island/central am overnights, Customs. long van rides etc. like. Punta Cana. watching some IOE FO projectile vomit the inedible hotel lobster bisque, or just the disgusting all-in food there, blood stains on pillows, weak A/C (haven't been to new hotel). II have to do another Guadalajara this month with its 1hr van ride on jacked roads to a min rest. or Costa Rica (San Jose) where they park us next to a mall and nothing to do within 30min Uber except shop at H&M. Iberia hotel is nice. White Lotus vibe. but I'll be $50-70 poorer if I didn't meal prep. and when I'm in CR on my own I'd rather be surfing

these beach hotels, when you're not with your GF or fam, hit different. when you're solo on a work trip it's a nice moment jumping in the ocean or having a bevy by the pool but it's a short lived moment. I'm good now. Give me Des Moines or Fargo. just give me a front/back end commutable

 

also I'll add. these cities you've probably hit with a regional are a different ballgame now at mainline. EG: Nashville. at the regional it was psycho calling hotel vans on arrival, getting toe the Drury/Comfort Inn for my 12hr by the airport. First trip here, we land, walk out and into a black SUV waiting for us, down to the Hyatt centric downtown for an 18-20hr ovn. nice hotel, around ****. I had to recalibrate what domestic overnights entail.

 

Finally some sanity. I still have (mostly younger) classmates who get AUA/STT/PUJ etc. overnights and act like they hit the lottery. Effing miss me with that crap. Been there done that a thousand times. How fun is your 32nd time sitting without your family at the beach bar ordering overpriced AI food? My favorite is going to CUN and having all the crew bags go to extra screening while the pax stroll right through without a glance. And god forbid you have TWO iPads. ¡Qué horror!

I don’t do any Caribbean/SA/Central America unless it’s a high credit turn.

I live in South FL but some of my favorite domestic layovers are in middle America. I’ll take CVG, DSM, FAR, or OMA over SDQ or LIR all day, every day.