Originally Posted by
helfsich
For Sydney flights, one takes the pattern of DXB-SYD-CHC-SYD-DXB with each outstation having a layover of 24 hours. It's always packed via SYD-DXB and vice versa, but rarely packed via CHC. Plus it's on a spiffy aircraft with crew rest bunks. Sometimes if you finish service quick enough you can get 5 hours of horizontal rest on the DXB-SYD route which makes all the difference.
The DXB-BKK-SYD-AKL pattern I've never done, but my understanding is that it the SYD-AKL-SYD is a shuttle. There's definately 24 hours in BKK but I don't know if there is 24 or 48 hours rest in SYD to be honest.
For Melbourne flights, the DXB-MEL-AKL-MEL-DXB pattern works in the same way as the SYD-CHC flight - 24 hours rest at each station and you have the crew bunks.
However, the only other MEL flight is DXB-SIN-MEL-SIN-DXB where you get 24 hours in SIN but only 17 hours in Melbourne! Hopefully they'll extend the rest soon, but it's been operating that way for a while and there's been no mention of a change.
For European flights, they usually involve a 24 hour layover, but there are some nice ones, such as a 2 day Malta and a 4 day Milan. Destinations need to have a flight time of greater than 4.5 hours for there to be a layover, so we stay 24 hours in Athens but don't stay in Lanarca.
Also, JFK is a funny one and confuses many crew when they fly over. To work the JFK flights (and any other US destination that EK will start up in the future), you must apply for a US Visa. You apply for the visa with EK, and it's up to EK as to who applies or not. Even if you have a US passport you still apply for the visa, it's a special crew visa. If you're a German speaker, you MUST apply for it, as there is a JFK route via Hamburg. Most layovers are around 24-48 hours, there are over 2 flights a day there.
Before, EK invited crew to apply for the visa, but more recently they're getting whole abinitios to apply during training college.
Hope that helps :-)
Thanks heaps for the information! Are you German btw?