I expected razzing. In fact, I welcome it. Never been told that I sound like a dolt before. It has sort of a ring to it! Nor have I heard The United States of America referred to as Bubba Land. Not trying to get into a forum p1$$ing contest. Just saying that, given the stellar luck I have had thus far in my career, I am probably the guy who's seniority will draw the Guam position on day one. I am sure you have been furloughed and struggled to feed your family and completely understand our frustration. Again, an American airline sending their pilots to live and fly out of a far off distant land doesn't sit right with me. But that is just me. Sounds like it works for you non-Bubba Land types, mate.
Yours truly,
Bubba the Dolt

 

I think "Bubba land" is Houston,Texas.

 

My bad, never heard the expression Bubba Land before. But yes, I would fit in there or anywhere within the United States of America just fine!
That's my whole point.

 

I would much rather have pilots on our combined list flying out of far flung hubs like GUM than have pilots on another list doing it. Just look at IAD-MAD.

 

Rent is pretty high, primarily because they're jacked artificially due to the military housing allowance you mentioned. The current FBA makes up for some of that and apparently the Guam LOA in the new contract has been agreed upon and contains a significant increase, but my guess is we won't realize that for at least a couple of years.

Schools suck. The good news is the private schools are pretty good and relatively cheap (around $300/month) by stateside standards. I know some folks that have used home-schooling via the Internet and seemed pretty happy with it.

I've done junior reserve on the panel, right seat, and left seat out here and just like anywhere else it's kind of a crap shoot. That said I think we fewer staffing issues because generally we don't have too many pairings where a reserve disappears for an entire week. Usually worst case is an overnight in Palau. Frankly, some of the night island flying you get stuck doing on reserve can be kind of fun once you get used to it. All this is subject to change with the new rest rules and the addition of Hong Kong, Singapore, Saigon, and Okinawa this fall. Generally though, from what I hear from friends in the states, reserve out here isn't nearly as sadistic as IAH or EWR.

 

No, yours was just the last of a string of stupid comments on this thread I was trying to reply to in one post. I do get a little touchy when people (not you) with absolutely no knowledge or experience make ignorant assertions about the folks I work with and the place I live. I may have mis-directed my ire somewhat, but to address again your initial comment; I've seen enough of CAL mainline FA's to know that the Air Mic crew I work with don't have nearly as adverse an affect on GTOW...

 

That is surprising.

 

Usually I get called far worse!

 

Is the foreign domicile overide pay for GUM taxed on your paycheck? Or is it treated like per deim?

 

Taxed, of course. This ain't the military. Fed taxes only though (All fed tax paid in Guam goes to the Guam gov't, but at same mainland rates) as Guam has no "state" tax since its not a state.