I believe the answer is 42%.
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The SHOW: Airlines still a "good gig"??
- Thread starter A4sForever
- Start date
GroundPounder
Well-Known Member
Maybe the wrong place, but does not seem as if the topic rates it's own thread,....
I have been invited by a friend to play in a member guest at St. Andrews in September, which despite being totally unqualified to do, I have agreed to.
I will be flying from AGS to EDI, and have been offered buddy passes on Delta. I realize that this makes you first on the list to get bumped, but given your expert knowledge, as long as I left 2 days early do you think I would safely be able to make it? He said he can't check on the load factors until closer to the flight time, and I want to get something locked in within the next few days. I want to save the cash if I can, but I don't want to wait too long.
Like I said, I realize there are thousands of variables, but does this scream out " bad idea " to those of you in the know?
I have been invited by a friend to play in a member guest at St. Andrews in September, which despite being totally unqualified to do, I have agreed to.
I will be flying from AGS to EDI, and have been offered buddy passes on Delta. I realize that this makes you first on the list to get bumped, but given your expert knowledge, as long as I left 2 days early do you think I would safely be able to make it? He said he can't check on the load factors until closer to the flight time, and I want to get something locked in within the next few days. I want to save the cash if I can, but I don't want to wait too long.
Like I said, I realize there are thousands of variables, but does this scream out " bad idea " to those of you in the know?
You have a 42% chance of getting on.?
Judge Q
Judging You
You need to get from Augusta to Edinburgh?
Worst case scenario, you can always drive.
GroundPounder
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure the Atlantic ocean is not able to be driven across at that time of year.
GroundPounder
Well-Known Member
I guess I did ask for that.....
Judge Q
Judging You
Well it was meant as a joke but you could always invest in one of these.
Now that's stylin'
Based on a career of non rev travel, I have NEVER flown standby when I had to get there. Wedding, cruise ship departure, business meeting, ever. It may look good but if UAL or BA cancel they put their 200 people on your Delta flight that had 50 open seats. Weather in your neck of the woods can result in a delayed flight and those paxs take your seat on the later flight. Has happened to me more than once. Not a golfer. But an invitation to play St Andrews sounds once in a life time.
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Interesting. It is obvious that people come to the service (as aviators) with an education in hand so “finding” that they leave the service to bank, build, frack, or litigate is a given. On the other side it looks like careers in the show are on the rise as well. Why someone decides to leave is going to be tough to determine but when you read deeper into the story it seems clear...too many pilots, not enough aircraft or enough flight hours. Or is it? Is it because the higher you rise in the ranks the less you fly? Or is it the lure of “THE SHOW?”
It's some of all of those. My simplest answer to the question "why are you leaving" is family stability. But, in my case, it also has a lot to do with what the major airlines have to offer, and the fact that this is the time to strike, not 7-8 years from now when I'm coming off a staff or ship's company tour (ugh) and the hiring wave is over.
There are 100 other little things as well, but that's the short answer.
D
Deleted member 24525
Guest
Quality of life, not wearing diapers as an O-4 when an airman shits his pants. NO GMT, no deployments, home when I am home etc...
In a civilian equivalent world, officers would be like management, and instead we are treated like children and lumped in with the 19 year old seaman apprentice....it is tolerable when you're 23, but not when you're a 38 year old O-4. Not to mention the career path BS game-don't tell me what is good for my career...to quote the great Jonathon "Mox" Moxon: "I don't want your life"
Basically when you're tired of the bullshit...it is time to go, no amount of money or carrot sticks can change that. I think it is different for everybody, but when you know...you know.
In a civilian equivalent world, officers would be like management, and instead we are treated like children and lumped in with the 19 year old seaman apprentice....it is tolerable when you're 23, but not when you're a 38 year old O-4. Not to mention the career path BS game-don't tell me what is good for my career...to quote the great Jonathon "Mox" Moxon: "I don't want your life"
Basically when you're tired of the bullshit...it is time to go, no amount of money or carrot sticks can change that. I think it is different for everybody, but when you know...you know.
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Last month, the AF expanded it's program to bring retirees like me back on active duty. Significantly expanded it. As in "get back in the cockpit" expanded.
I called less than 24 hours after the announcement was made, because working with the guys that I used to work with; and flying the U-2 and T-38... well, it just doesn't get any better than that.
As a bonus... I computed that I'd roughly make and additional $1000/month in retirement if I went in for just 24 months. Holy shit, this is great!! I then spoke to the AF: they said I was eligible!!
However, Mrs Huggy was a bit more pragmatic. She pulled out a spreadsheet with my income, and what I'd make if I went back in. Or, rather, what I'd lose if I did this.
The $$$ amount was significant. HUGE. Six-figure huge. Even with the $1000 a year extra in retirement, I cannot justify it... (yet).
So... I'll ponder this while I'm paddle boarding in Kaua'i tomorrow.
As a side note, that will mean that I've will have paddleboarded in Hilo, Maui, Kona, and Lihue in a span of 9 days.
So, until I figure out a way to economically get back into the U-2 Program, I'd say the airlines are a pretty good gig. The lifestyle gives me the ability to do some really fun aviation things that I wouldn't normally get to do.
I loved my time in the military, and wouldn't change the past even if I could. I'm also happy to talk about the airline experience with any of you. Drop me a note with your phone number if you want to chat.
I called less than 24 hours after the announcement was made, because working with the guys that I used to work with; and flying the U-2 and T-38... well, it just doesn't get any better than that.
As a bonus... I computed that I'd roughly make and additional $1000/month in retirement if I went in for just 24 months. Holy shit, this is great!! I then spoke to the AF: they said I was eligible!!
However, Mrs Huggy was a bit more pragmatic. She pulled out a spreadsheet with my income, and what I'd make if I went back in. Or, rather, what I'd lose if I did this.
The $$$ amount was significant. HUGE. Six-figure huge. Even with the $1000 a year extra in retirement, I cannot justify it... (yet).
So... I'll ponder this while I'm paddle boarding in Kaua'i tomorrow.
As a side note, that will mean that I've will have paddleboarded in Hilo, Maui, Kona, and Lihue in a span of 9 days.
So, until I figure out a way to economically get back into the U-2 Program, I'd say the airlines are a pretty good gig. The lifestyle gives me the ability to do some really fun aviation things that I wouldn't normally get to do.
I loved my time in the military, and wouldn't change the past even if I could. I'm also happy to talk about the airline experience with any of you. Drop me a note with your phone number if you want to chat.
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Wow, that's really cool. At the same time, wow, they're desperate.
Any chance they're taking Marines?
Any chance they're taking Marines?