Rosters are crap. You will find yourself on endless bullets usually with some positioning thrown in, all planned by people who’d not be trusted with a TV remotein any sensible world.
Typical bit bit of stupidity:
Day 1 position Your Base to NCL, preferably by the most circuitous route and don’t forget to plan it during the rush hour to save 38p on allowances. Check in to cheapest hotel possible but remember to spend at least 30 mins of your already traffic reduced rest ringing the Hotac department (who will have gone home) to get them to book you in.
Day 2 operate NCL-BGI. Be prepared to tear your hair out doing all the jobs other people are paid to do as everything will have been contracted to the lowest bidder. Upside, you will have a great day out with a great crew once the doors are shut although you can expect at least one disruptive pax who is pissed up and getting arsey because they think £200 all in on the lash entitles them to an in board Presidential Suite. You can also expect some genuinely aggrieved pax who’ve booked and paid for Premium but been bumped and are now spread out all over Economy.
On arrival stand in the blazing heat in a uniform made by the lowest bidder while you wait for the transport. Amuse yourself watching VS and BA crew waltz past straight on to big buses to their decent hotel. Eventually board two cramped and smelly minibuses of unknown Chinese origin. On arrival at hotel, wait minimum 1 hour for rooms as hotel will be hot bedding despite their denials and the contract specifically stating it’s not allowed and the Hotac manager saying he’s spoken to the hotel about it.
Meet up in bar and bitch about everything. Don’t forget to slag BALPA off but then not bother emailing anyone official about it. Coordinate travel with A N Other crew who will be positioning with you tomorrow, ring Crewing to ask why the two crews are rostered 90 minutes apart even though they go on the same aircraft tomorrow and get told to go with what’s on your roster. Attempt sleep to the dulcet tones of reggae from the bar which does at least drown out the noise of the aircon that is expending so much energy making a noise it has none left to cool air.
Day 3. Ring transport to find out why it hasn’t turned up as booked by you personally just 16 hours ago. Get to airport and wait 90 minutes for the other crew who are on the same aircraft but with a different rostered departure time. Upside, you’re in the private jet terminal so rape the bar. Banter with the crew who will look a $million while you look like a sack of **** tied up with baling twine, Flight Deck Fashion, it’s for winners.
Board private aircraft raft which will hopefully be a Saab 340 and not the dreaded Wetdream Jetstream. If the latter you will be tech stopping. Upside, the local crews know us all and are top people who do the best to make the journey pleasant. Assist at least two of your crew off the aircraft at the other end as a result of the local hospitality.
Arrive in MBJ. Transport and Hotac as last night.
Day 4. Operate back to U.K., own base if lucky. Flight back is a repeat of flight out.
Day 5. Position back to base late afternoon after arriving around 0600 and getting to the hotel for a day stop.
3 days off, rinse and repeat. Other combinations are available.
LGW get better trips than MAN although IMHO MAN pax are easier going. BHX is a small base so getting in there unlikely as lots of senior guys.
Trips are rostered through Carmen with a small seniority loading. Top Tip, bid for what you DON’T want as that’s the last thing you’ll get. It’s crap.
Bring sense of humour, you’ll need it.
TUI is pretty much 100% Boeing NPs etc.
If it wasn’t for some great people to work with once you’re free of The Landside Idiots I’d have shot myself long ago. They make life good but if you’re expecting any kind of support or respect from beyond the crew level, you’ve made a mistake. Upside, my Pilot Manager has been brilliant with a number of pastoral care needs I’ve had which is probably why they’ve not been promoted.