Airline guys - When you go overseas what do you get up to?
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Airline guys - When you go overseas what do you get up to?
This is one for the Airline guys.
When you go overseas on a trip and you have a few days off do you guys get onto trains and other jets to go visit other places?Say for example you land in London and there is a huge party on in Berlin do you go? Or is it policy that all crew stay together? What do you guys get up to when you go to these great places? Do you ever get to know people/ places really well or do you still need the tourist maps? Do you feel like you know the place and that its like a second home? Finally has anyone gone to the party in Berlin and not made it back and missed the jet? How much trouble are you in when that sort of thing happens?
Anyone with great stories about overseas sights/parties/women and the rest please feel free to share it with the rest of us here.
When you go overseas on a trip and you have a few days off do you guys get onto trains and other jets to go visit other places?Say for example you land in London and there is a huge party on in Berlin do you go? Or is it policy that all crew stay together? What do you guys get up to when you go to these great places? Do you ever get to know people/ places really well or do you still need the tourist maps? Do you feel like you know the place and that its like a second home? Finally has anyone gone to the party in Berlin and not made it back and missed the jet? How much trouble are you in when that sort of thing happens?
Anyone with great stories about overseas sights/parties/women and the rest please feel free to share it with the rest of us here.
Typical QANTAS Overnight?
Sir,
In your icy, indeed hostile, telephone call of yesterday, you requested a report about the alleged proceedings involving my crew at the Qantas 75th Birthday celebration at the slip port. As the reports from the local authorities and the head of the Australian legation were undoubtedly a complete fabrication, I take the opportunity to put the truth of the matter on file.
Qantas management's kind offer to "buy a round of drinks" was taken on board by the crew who decided to upgrade the event to its correct status, so appropriate quantities of libation and food were purchased, with festivities being held in my hotel suite. An enjoyable evening ensued but insufficient supplies had been obtained, so several members of the crew left for further purchases at a local bar. In a truly magnanimous gesture, ten bar girls from that establishment helped carry the beer back to the hotel. To demonstrate our appreciation of their assistance, we served them some cool drink. They then offered to show us some local culture, and, in order not to offend, we allowed them to dance some exotic dances.
The banging on the walls of my room had, by now, quite honestly, become invasive, and it was disturbing the dancers, so we arranged an amusing little deterrent. S/0 Brown's impersonation of the Police Officer was excellent! In full Qantas uniform, with an aluminium rubbish bin upside down on his head, he goose-stepped to each room and harangued the occupants with a very witty diatribe about disturbing hotel guests. I personally heard nothing of his alleged threats of life in Alcatraz or the Gulags, claimed by the sister of the Minister of Police whose room was, unluckily, next door.
I have no doubt that this woman was the sneak who called security and hotel management and I absolutely refute that the shout "Look out, here come the Indians! Circle the wagons!" was made. The simple coincidence of security arriving just as we stood the double bed on its side across the door to make the dance floor bigger is obvious.
The major damage to the room occurred when a group of gate crashers, whom we could not know were hotel security, forced their way in just as most of us happened to be leaning against the bed watching the dancing.
The subsequent events in the foyer of the hotel are an equally vicious distortion of the facts. I was explaining the importance of the 75th Birthday to the General Manager of the hotel and noting that other guests were fabricating stories of noise, drinking and singing at the celebration, when F/O Smith (ex-SAS) and several other keep-fit enthusiasts, in keeping with their almost monastic pursuit of health, organised the race up the drapes which hang along the foyer wall. It says nothing for the workmanship of some of these nations that the fittings were torn from the wall before most of the crew were even halfway up.
At this stage, in an amazing display of international posturing, the Governor of the city, who was attending the National Day cocktail party in the foyer, cast some denigrating remarks about Australian culture. Although he misunderstood our gestures of greeting, female flight attendant Williams rescued the situation with her depth of knowledge of local culture. Her rendition of the Fertility Dancing Maiden in the foyer's 'Pool of Remembrance' was nothing short of breathtaking. Normally this dance is performed wearing just a sarong skirt so FFA Williams' extra step to nature was a bold step forward.
Unfortunately, during one intricate step, FFA Williams slipped and fell beneath the fountain, so we were lucky that S/0 Brown, who had the great presence of mind to strip to avoid getting his uniform wet, leapt in to help.
That the tiles of the pool were slippery is beyond dispute, as it took nearly ten minutes of threshing about before S/O Brown could actually complete his rescue. Such concern was there for these two exemplary crew member's safety, that the rest of the crew were forced to assist, and I deny that this massed altruistic rescue attempt could be construed as a 'Water Polo' game! This slanderous accusation was first put to me by the Chief of the Riot Squad, whose storm troopers had apparently been called by some over zealous Fascists at the cocktail party.
Order had nearly been restored when the fire started.
I prefer F/O Smith's version of events that the drapes had caught fire from being against a light fitting, and that he dropped his cigarette lighter whilst trying to escape the flames. Had host management fulfilled their responsibilities and used fire retardant material instead of velvet, the fire would not have spread to the rest of the hotel.
The responsible attitude shown by my crew in assisting the bar staff to carry out drinks from the cocktail party is to be commended, not condemned, and the attempt by male members of the crew to extinguish pockets of fire using natural means has been totally misrepresented in some quarters. I cannot overstate how strongly I resent the assertions made in the Chief Fire Officer's Report.
I made an official protest about these matters when the head of the Australian Legation visited us at the Police Station the next morning. However, not only did Ambassador Jones not attempt to refute the preposterous allegations made against me and my crew, but also by failing to secure our release immediately, caused the subsequent aircraft delay.
I did not know Her Majesty was to be aboard our aircraft, but I am sure that her 12- hour visit to that country was appreciated by local dignitaries and probably HRH herself. (I must mention that the local manager is far too obsequious - Smarmy! Smarmy! You should have seen him bowing and scraping. Never make a Prime Minister, that chap!)
Finally, I note that not since 'Rainman' has Qantas been mentioned in so many newspapers. (Some people in Qantas would die for coverage like that.) The main newspaper at the slip port coincidentally mentioned Qantas 75 times on its front page alone, although some of the coupled epithets can only be described as the worst journalistic excesses of the gutter press.
I trust that now I have outlined the correct version of events, we may allow ourselves a discreet smile as to the lack of social sophistication of some of these developing nations and put all this behind us. As far as I am concerned, the crew carried on the finest Qantas traditions.
Regards,
Captain......
P.S. I checked amongst the language qualified members of the crew, but no one was up to speed on Latin. Can you recommend anyone in the International Department who could translate 'Persona Non Grata'?
In your icy, indeed hostile, telephone call of yesterday, you requested a report about the alleged proceedings involving my crew at the Qantas 75th Birthday celebration at the slip port. As the reports from the local authorities and the head of the Australian legation were undoubtedly a complete fabrication, I take the opportunity to put the truth of the matter on file.
Qantas management's kind offer to "buy a round of drinks" was taken on board by the crew who decided to upgrade the event to its correct status, so appropriate quantities of libation and food were purchased, with festivities being held in my hotel suite. An enjoyable evening ensued but insufficient supplies had been obtained, so several members of the crew left for further purchases at a local bar. In a truly magnanimous gesture, ten bar girls from that establishment helped carry the beer back to the hotel. To demonstrate our appreciation of their assistance, we served them some cool drink. They then offered to show us some local culture, and, in order not to offend, we allowed them to dance some exotic dances.
The banging on the walls of my room had, by now, quite honestly, become invasive, and it was disturbing the dancers, so we arranged an amusing little deterrent. S/0 Brown's impersonation of the Police Officer was excellent! In full Qantas uniform, with an aluminium rubbish bin upside down on his head, he goose-stepped to each room and harangued the occupants with a very witty diatribe about disturbing hotel guests. I personally heard nothing of his alleged threats of life in Alcatraz or the Gulags, claimed by the sister of the Minister of Police whose room was, unluckily, next door.
I have no doubt that this woman was the sneak who called security and hotel management and I absolutely refute that the shout "Look out, here come the Indians! Circle the wagons!" was made. The simple coincidence of security arriving just as we stood the double bed on its side across the door to make the dance floor bigger is obvious.
The major damage to the room occurred when a group of gate crashers, whom we could not know were hotel security, forced their way in just as most of us happened to be leaning against the bed watching the dancing.
The subsequent events in the foyer of the hotel are an equally vicious distortion of the facts. I was explaining the importance of the 75th Birthday to the General Manager of the hotel and noting that other guests were fabricating stories of noise, drinking and singing at the celebration, when F/O Smith (ex-SAS) and several other keep-fit enthusiasts, in keeping with their almost monastic pursuit of health, organised the race up the drapes which hang along the foyer wall. It says nothing for the workmanship of some of these nations that the fittings were torn from the wall before most of the crew were even halfway up.
At this stage, in an amazing display of international posturing, the Governor of the city, who was attending the National Day cocktail party in the foyer, cast some denigrating remarks about Australian culture. Although he misunderstood our gestures of greeting, female flight attendant Williams rescued the situation with her depth of knowledge of local culture. Her rendition of the Fertility Dancing Maiden in the foyer's 'Pool of Remembrance' was nothing short of breathtaking. Normally this dance is performed wearing just a sarong skirt so FFA Williams' extra step to nature was a bold step forward.
Unfortunately, during one intricate step, FFA Williams slipped and fell beneath the fountain, so we were lucky that S/0 Brown, who had the great presence of mind to strip to avoid getting his uniform wet, leapt in to help.
That the tiles of the pool were slippery is beyond dispute, as it took nearly ten minutes of threshing about before S/O Brown could actually complete his rescue. Such concern was there for these two exemplary crew member's safety, that the rest of the crew were forced to assist, and I deny that this massed altruistic rescue attempt could be construed as a 'Water Polo' game! This slanderous accusation was first put to me by the Chief of the Riot Squad, whose storm troopers had apparently been called by some over zealous Fascists at the cocktail party.
Order had nearly been restored when the fire started.
I prefer F/O Smith's version of events that the drapes had caught fire from being against a light fitting, and that he dropped his cigarette lighter whilst trying to escape the flames. Had host management fulfilled their responsibilities and used fire retardant material instead of velvet, the fire would not have spread to the rest of the hotel.
The responsible attitude shown by my crew in assisting the bar staff to carry out drinks from the cocktail party is to be commended, not condemned, and the attempt by male members of the crew to extinguish pockets of fire using natural means has been totally misrepresented in some quarters. I cannot overstate how strongly I resent the assertions made in the Chief Fire Officer's Report.
I made an official protest about these matters when the head of the Australian Legation visited us at the Police Station the next morning. However, not only did Ambassador Jones not attempt to refute the preposterous allegations made against me and my crew, but also by failing to secure our release immediately, caused the subsequent aircraft delay.
I did not know Her Majesty was to be aboard our aircraft, but I am sure that her 12- hour visit to that country was appreciated by local dignitaries and probably HRH herself. (I must mention that the local manager is far too obsequious - Smarmy! Smarmy! You should have seen him bowing and scraping. Never make a Prime Minister, that chap!)
Finally, I note that not since 'Rainman' has Qantas been mentioned in so many newspapers. (Some people in Qantas would die for coverage like that.) The main newspaper at the slip port coincidentally mentioned Qantas 75 times on its front page alone, although some of the coupled epithets can only be described as the worst journalistic excesses of the gutter press.
I trust that now I have outlined the correct version of events, we may allow ourselves a discreet smile as to the lack of social sophistication of some of these developing nations and put all this behind us. As far as I am concerned, the crew carried on the finest Qantas traditions.
Regards,
Captain......
P.S. I checked amongst the language qualified members of the crew, but no one was up to speed on Latin. Can you recommend anyone in the International Department who could translate 'Persona Non Grata'?
Ah vintage stuff...have read that a few times and am still on the brink of tears.
I'm pretty sure it was after reading that that I decided to apply to Qantas!!
TL
I'm pretty sure it was after reading that that I decided to apply to Qantas!!
TL
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Every day stop for me is in a different country.
Then again, I operate out of England so it isn't too far.
Liege, Belgium. I go shopping usually. Grog is cheap there.
Paris, France. I catch a train into town and check out the sights. I have heard the tobacco is cheap but I don't smoke so it's no bother.
Dublin, Ireland. Catch a bus into town and head into the Temple Bar area for some craic.
Glasgow, Scotland. Depends on the day stop. Usually can't get into too much mishief.
Likewise the Belfast stop. The guiness does taste much much better in Ireland.
This place has the most potential for mischief. We get in at 3am and the beer aka guiness is served 24/7. We got some seriously filthy looks from the hotel guests at 6ish as we were hooking into the pints as they were eating breakfast.
Only stopped in Eindoven, Holland once. Tech aircraft. Discovered a beer called "Kasteel bier". Beware!! It's 11% alc. Go for the blond (lager) as it's less heavy than the bruin (ale).
In some ways flying night freight is good because I get to see the towns during the day (afternoon!). In other ways it's not so good as all the bars are usually shut when we finish work.
A few PPRuNe Bashes ago a KLM crew were nightstopping in London. The captain told his FO that they were going and he was sharing the cost of the taxi. Bash was in Gatwick. Both had a great time.
Then again, I operate out of England so it isn't too far.
Liege, Belgium. I go shopping usually. Grog is cheap there.
Paris, France. I catch a train into town and check out the sights. I have heard the tobacco is cheap but I don't smoke so it's no bother.
Dublin, Ireland. Catch a bus into town and head into the Temple Bar area for some craic.
Glasgow, Scotland. Depends on the day stop. Usually can't get into too much mishief.
Likewise the Belfast stop. The guiness does taste much much better in Ireland.
This place has the most potential for mischief. We get in at 3am and the beer aka guiness is served 24/7. We got some seriously filthy looks from the hotel guests at 6ish as we were hooking into the pints as they were eating breakfast.Only stopped in Eindoven, Holland once. Tech aircraft. Discovered a beer called "Kasteel bier". Beware!! It's 11% alc. Go for the blond (lager) as it's less heavy than the bruin (ale).
In some ways flying night freight is good because I get to see the towns during the day (afternoon!). In other ways it's not so good as all the bars are usually shut when we finish work.
A few PPRuNe Bashes ago a KLM crew were nightstopping in London. The captain told his FO that they were going and he was sharing the cost of the taxi. Bash was in Gatwick. Both had a great time.
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Ah redsnail sounds like good fun. Come on airline ppruners give us some stories about some of the great places you go to.
Me thinks these types don't read "questions" - wanted to put it in Reporting points but it would have been shifted.
In a minute I'll start telling all you the excitement of a Saturday night in GA...! Then you'll be sorry.........
Me thinks these types don't read "questions" - wanted to put it in Reporting points but it would have been shifted.
In a minute I'll start telling all you the excitement of a Saturday night in GA...! Then you'll be sorry.........
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Sleeping, eating, drinking and shagging.
(For Redsnail delete 'Shagging', insert 'Shopping'
)
It's why we joined!
Seriously, unlikely to leave town and go very far as one maybe required to be 'contactable' so the party in Berlin is unlikely given to-days unenlightened rostering. If one did go and missed the flight back then expect the sack. Yes we often go sightseeing, sometimes in a group, sometimes on one's own or arrange a beach party with hired mini-bus, loads of food and grog etc.
Lay-overs are getting shorter and shorter so what one can actually do as opposed to would like to do is often very little except eat and sleep.
If possible always have a drink with the crew on reaching the hotel just to unwind, get to know them, exchange jokes and possibly arrange further entertainment, time permitting.
(For Redsnail delete 'Shagging', insert 'Shopping'
)It's why we joined!
Seriously, unlikely to leave town and go very far as one maybe required to be 'contactable' so the party in Berlin is unlikely given to-days unenlightened rostering. If one did go and missed the flight back then expect the sack. Yes we often go sightseeing, sometimes in a group, sometimes on one's own or arrange a beach party with hired mini-bus, loads of food and grog etc.
Lay-overs are getting shorter and shorter so what one can actually do as opposed to would like to do is often very little except eat and sleep.
If possible always have a drink with the crew on reaching the hotel just to unwind, get to know them, exchange jokes and possibly arrange further entertainment, time permitting.
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Does anybody know of anyone that didn't make it back from the party in Berlin?
What about shopping and such - which are the best places to get the wallet out (value for money). Went to Japan once and felt that we here in Australia were being taken for a ride. Ie. paying top dollar for yesterdays technology.
What about shopping and such - which are the best places to get the wallet out (value for money). Went to Japan once and felt that we here in Australia were being taken for a ride. Ie. paying top dollar for yesterdays technology.
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OOh my favourite question!
Love to shop on my stopovers.
Still say you can't beat Singapore for shopping.
Cameras mobile phones, and my favourite, SHOES!!
Very expensive watering holes, but we traditionally byo drinks, cheese and nibbles to the Captains room and go from there.
Hong Kong isn't bad for a spot of shopping either. Love the trip over to Shenzen and a trip to the various markets in Hong Kong.
Wednesday nights is a regular ladies night in most of Asia so women drink for free in most bars on these nights. Brings the boys out, and they get to talk to girls without having to buy them a drink!
Hong Kong remains my favourite spot for a great night out.
Fortunately our airlines crew love to party together, so most trips are entertaining. Provided the amount of alcohol consumed hasn't induced memory loss!
Love to shop on my stopovers.
Still say you can't beat Singapore for shopping.
Cameras mobile phones, and my favourite, SHOES!!
Very expensive watering holes, but we traditionally byo drinks, cheese and nibbles to the Captains room and go from there.
Hong Kong isn't bad for a spot of shopping either. Love the trip over to Shenzen and a trip to the various markets in Hong Kong.
Wednesday nights is a regular ladies night in most of Asia so women drink for free in most bars on these nights. Brings the boys out, and they get to talk to girls without having to buy them a drink!
Hong Kong remains my favourite spot for a great night out.
Fortunately our airlines crew love to party together, so most trips are entertaining. Provided the amount of alcohol consumed hasn't induced memory loss!
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Surely its the post code rule about saying what happened on your last overnight.A good mate of mine X RAAF said it was the 50 tacan rule,What happened 50 tacan from oz stayed 50 tacan from oz
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Cabin Secure - Women drink for free on Wednesday nights..?..That is the single best thing I've ever heard of. Infact I think it should be all extended to all nights. God I wish we had that here!!! Just so we could chat more with them you know....
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OK!
I'll be honest.
The boys come out 'cause they know the girls will be well and truly wearing their beer goggles... and it's likely the best day of the week to get lucky!
I'll be honest.
The boys come out 'cause they know the girls will be well and truly wearing their beer goggles... and it's likely the best day of the week to get lucky!
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Just dont get caught drinking out of a ladies' drink glass!!!
Pour it in yours
Mr Hat, you get very used to the places you stay very quickly for one reason really... We're not a very original bunch! It's always the same familiar places, and yes, it all feels like a second home.
After all, that middle-place everyone seems to lob into hasn't got a FATTYS ONE arrival with a TSINGTAO Transition for nothing!
Lancer
Pour it in yours
Mr Hat, you get very used to the places you stay very quickly for one reason really... We're not a very original bunch! It's always the same familiar places, and yes, it all feels like a second home.
After all, that middle-place everyone seems to lob into hasn't got a FATTYS ONE arrival with a TSINGTAO Transition for nothing!
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I've bumped into quite a few crews in O'Reillys Bar in San Francisco
Seems to be a popular spot with the Virgin crews,who keep the girls behind the bar supplied with Galaxy Chocolate bars
Good spot on most evenings,Monday night is a bit slow and Saturday is a bit crowded. One of the better places to meet young ladies in North Beach though
Seems to be a popular spot with the Virgin crews,who keep the girls behind the bar supplied with Galaxy Chocolate bars
Good spot on most evenings,Monday night is a bit slow and Saturday is a bit crowded. One of the better places to meet young ladies in North Beach though
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Do you mix with crews from other airlines?
Do you feel like you are on a holiday or is it always in the back of your mind that you are at work?
When I go to "town" (my version of overseas..how sad) I try my hardest to pretend that the company has sent me on holiday! Bit hard sometimes tho.
Hat
Do you feel like you are on a holiday or is it always in the back of your mind that you are at work?
When I go to "town" (my version of overseas..how sad) I try my hardest to pretend that the company has sent me on holiday! Bit hard sometimes tho.
Hat
