Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Recent Comments:
Cockpit Chronicles: Caracas and New York {Gadling}
Apr 24th 2008 11:58AM Sorry Kent - disregard number 1! I missed the article that you just wrote about the seniority of aircraft type and captain status. Thanks!
Cockpit Chronicles: Caracas and New York {Gadling}
Apr 24th 2008 11:20AM Hi Kent! That was very interesting as always. I have a couple questions for you (the first I asked on another post, so if you have already read, please ignore)
1) How did you get assigned to the 757? Do pilots choose this, work their way bigger in training, etc? I imagine some aircraft might just be more convenient given whatever schedules you want to fly. (i.e. if you fly 747s, you pretty much know you wont be home same day)
2) Do you have any thoughts on the upcoming possible baggage charge? On another message board I write on, a lot of passengers have heard about the possibility of charging even for a second bag due to increased fuel costs, and that airliners are rumored to 'skimp' on the fuel that is sometimes needed. I find the second part hard to believe in the name of safety (i thought they were required to have an excess even considering airport changes), but would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Plane Answers: "When did first class become the crew lounge?" {Gadling}
Apr 24th 2008 9:06AM I totally think that employees deserve first class seats if they would otherwise be empty, and for certain if they came off a long-haul flight like the one poster commented.
I think the frustration is that I am not yet another passenger "trying to get something for free". I have over 100,000 miles on about 5 different airlines, and have YET to find a seat that is available for an upgrade in years of frequent air travel (Even if they are empty, they will leave them to be revenue seats costing about $5000 for transatlantic upgrades than fill them with miles upgrades). I know 100k is not the top of the pile, but its not nothing for airlines that I fly every other month across the Atlantic. Upgrades are complimentary on most US domestic flights (at least at my status) but so so scarce on the int'l flights which I fly most.
I definitely don't think this is the fault of a few pilots sitting in first class, but I have certainly found myself frustrated about the complete inability to use the miles that are supposedly so flexible and rewarding.
Cockpit Chronicles: How pilots choose their schedules {Gadling}
Mar 4th 2008 4:40AM i love this blog! just found it by accident yesterday when looking at footage from the crosswind landing video by lufthansa. i live in geneva so doubt i'll make your flights, but i listen to the transatlantic ones on occasion so maybe i'll hear you!
off topic question - i fly yearly to australia. for the 14 hour leg, is there more than just one "relief" pilot? i always wondered how the crew maintains any stamina in 14 hours of darkness, pretty much.
