Air Travel Enthusiasts

West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
Anyone really into flying? Belongs to an Alliance to maximize your miles/upgrades/other perks? Has done outrageous mileage runs?

Me: Yes. One World. Many - best (craziest) was 90 minutes at the lounge in Frankfurt; never left the airport.
 
ollinger

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Flying certainly beats walking if you have far to go; beyond that, what's there to like about sitting in a sardine can for endless hours breathing recycled air and bouncing around in turbulence?
 
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thejackal

Hall of Fame
not really a big fan of flying, but I do fly on a regular basis to California and to China. JAL is the best airline for my money anywhere in the world, in that pricerange. Most American airlines are horrid except Jetblue. Porter is a great airline to fly with if you're traveling on the US/Canada east coast.
 
moshi2

moshi2

Rookie
I fly SQ to go back home and fly JAL for work.

Sucks, because I can't combine the points. JAL belongs to One World, SQ belongs to Star Alliance. And since I don't go home every year, usually the points expired before I have chance tp use them.
 
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Tamiya

Semi-Pro
SQ = Singapore

Best airline around around Asia if not beyond.
Service fantastic & if inflight entertainment system is boring
the cabin crew is usually worth eyeballing... few olde chooks there ;)
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
An ex of mine is cabin crew for Fly Emirates. As long as I can avoid using them, i'm not too fussed about what airline it is.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
thejackal said:
ha...Id risk it if I get to fly emirates
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It has the potential to be the most awkward 12 hours of my life! I try to go with Virgin Atlantic if I get the chance, it's nothing special, but I swear the head of recruitment there refuses to employ anyone who isn't a model :)
 
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thejackal

Hall of Fame
u talking about emirates or virgin? cuz that sounds likely for both.

honerable mention goes out to cathay pacific, out east
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
thejackal said:
u talking about emirates or virgin? cuz that sounds likely for both.

honerable mention goes out to cathay pacific, out east
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I think it's true for most airlines, you can understand them wanting an attractive face as the cabin crew are pretty much the face of their airline, as far as customers are concerned.

I saw a poll last year, Virgin were voted the most attractive, Emirates were 4th.
 
T

thejackal

Hall of Fame
Feña14 said:
I think it's true for most airlines, you can understand them wanting an attractive face as the cabin crew are pretty much the face of their airline, as far as customers are concerned.

I saw a poll last year, Virgin were voted the most attractive, Emirates were 4th.
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telll that to freaking american airlines.

pppppppuuuuuuuuuu

(or delta. deltas worse)
 
West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
Feña14 said:
An ex of mine is cabin crew for Fly Emirates. As long as I can avoid using them, i'm not too fussed about what airline it is.
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Did you meet her during a flight?

Feña14 said:
It has the potential to be the most awkward 12 hours of my life! I try to go with Virgin Atlantic if I get the chance, it's nothing special, but I swear the head of recruitment there refuses to employ anyone who isn't a model :)
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Yeah, might have to lock yourself in a lav.

thejackal said:
telll that to freaking american airlines.
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Unions. :( But I will say AA's international - that I rack up most my miles on these days - is a lot better than the domestic.

thejackal said:
honerable mention goes out to cathay pacific, out east
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Cathay is awesome. A lot of arrogant HK'ers claim the service has gone downhill (they'll complain about things like the brand of champagne being served) - but the f/a's work like a well drilled team.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
West Coast Ace said:
Did you meet her during a flight?

Yeah, might have to lock yourself in a lav.
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Unfortunately I didn't. I don't think i'd ever have to pay for a drink in a bar again if I had that story to fall back on :)

When I met her she worked for Ryanair, then she got a job with Emirates, moved to Dubai and it didn't really work out.

Locking myself in the toilet is one option, either that or flirt with her fellow cabin crew members, should liven the flight up a bit!
 
Mike Bulgakov

Mike Bulgakov

G.O.A.T.
For me, long flights are hard to deal with. It is all about staying hydrated and finding ways to sleep. JAL, SAS, and Air France have served me well.
 
bezs

bezs

G.O.A.T.
Tamiya said:
SQ = Singapore

Best airline around around Asia if not beyond.
Service fantastic & if inflight entertainment system is boring
the cabin crew is usually worth eyeballing... few olde chooks there ;)
Click to expand...

Quite a number of girls from my graduating cohort flew with them, only keep in touch with two though one just quit and the other is still flying. Their not too shabby. ;)
 
P

PureAlph4

Semi-Pro
Feña14 said:
I saw a poll last year, Virgin were voted the most attractive, Emirates were 4th.
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EK is certainly up there for service, but I'm not sure if I'd say the same about eye candy (it's nice to have both, but certainly if you fly long-haul, the former takes precedence). Probably have the most cosmopolitan flight crews I've encountered, which I suppose reflects the workforce of Dubai, and the breadth of their network.

Will be useful if EK joins an alliance from a miles standpoint, though!
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
PureAlph4 said:
EK is certainly up there for service, but I'm not sure if I'd say the same about eye candy (it's nice to have both, but certainly if you fly long-haul, the former takes precedence). Probably have the most cosmopolitan flight crews I've encountered, which I suppose reflects the workforce of Dubai, and the breadth of their network.

Will be useful if EK joins an alliance from a miles standpoint, though!
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Yeah, for me the uniform is a bit plain compared to some of the other big airlines who go for something a bit more unique. That probably has something to do with it. I know they're incredibly strict with hair and make up, but I imagine that's simialr across the board.

My ex is sharing an apartment in Dubai with other cabin crew and they are from all over the world.. Holland, Czech, American, South African etc.. That is a pretty big mix.
 
Bobby Jr

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
ollinger said:
...what's there to like about sitting in a sardine can for endless hours breathing recycled air and bouncing around in turbulence?
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The air on planes is less health risk than being in basically any other vehicle or most buildings on the planet.

It's a misnomer that people think the air in planes is somehow sealed in or whatever - it's not. It comes from the outside constantly and is filtered then sent through the cabin at a rate which cycles the entire amount of air at a very high rate - something like 10 times an hour or more. Few buildings, short of those with special requirements like parts of hospitals, even come close to that sort of turnover.
 
moshi2

moshi2

Rookie
I'd generally say Asian airlines (SQ, JAL, Eva, Cathay) are better than any american airlines. I specifically have sworn that I would never fly Continental ever again (not even for domestic flight)

I like SQ the best, specially their direct Newark-Singapore flight (18 hrs!). Too bad they converted it to all business/first class and I heard it's always fully booked. SQ has set of requirement for their stewardesses : certain age, height, weight, maybe body measurement (since the uniform is tight fitting?).

Korean Air is so-so. KLM & Quantas are not bad (from my experience 10 yrs ago). Other airlines I want to try if I have the opportunity : BA, EK, ANA, Lufthansa and maybe Virgin.
 
West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
Mike Bulgakov said:
For me, long flights are hard to deal with. It is all about staying hydrated and finding ways to sleep. JAL, SAS, and Air France have served me well.
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Gotta fly up front! Business class is awesome. First - even better.

Has anyone else done a mileage run? Know what it is? Ever visit flyertalk.com? I get about 75k miles/yr - going to ATP events helps - good way to rack up the miles.
 
E

EP1998

Semi-Pro
I was just going to say that you should go to Flyertalk if you're not already. Amazing site for info on everything from transit, where to stay to what luggage to use.

My husband did a mileage run to LHR once before we met. He was playing tennis seriously in those days so it probably had something to do with that. I've never done it but I have taken less than optimal connections for mileage.

My favorite airline so far is SQ.
 
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acura9927

Semi-Pro
Those eye candy women on those Asian airlines have terrible jobs, can't imagine the pay is that high and have to deal with grumpy badly dressed farts like us. Why they just don't find a rich man is beyond me and quit. It can't be that hard looking like that.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
acura9927 said:
Those eye candy women on those Asian airlines have terrible jobs, can't imagine the pay is that high and have to deal with grumpy badly dressed farts like us. Why they just don't find a rich man is beyond me and quit. It can't be that hard looking like that.
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I don't know what it's like in Asia, but Emirates doesn't sound like a bad way to earn money. They get free accommodation in luxury apartments, free transport, comprehensive medical coverage, huge discounts on major bars, clubs, restaurants, shops etc.. Also getting to spend a few days in some of the big cities throughout the world isn't a bad life! Rio one day, Johannesburg a few days later for instance. The pay is also more than decent, it doesn't sound so bad :)
 
West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
Feña14 said:
I don't know what it's like in Asia, but Emirates doesn't sound like a bad way to earn money. They get free accommodation in luxury apartments, free transport, comprehensive medical coverage, huge discounts on major bars, clubs, restaurants, shops etc.. Also getting to spend a few days in some of the big cities throughout the world isn't a bad life! Rio one day, Johannesburg a few days later for instance. The pay is also more than decent, it doesn't sound so bad :)
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+1. For a few years at least while they're young and still somewhat unsure about the rest of their lives. I'm sure it's less glamorous than we know. And they don't have the work rules the Union F/A's at the US airlines do. I do the LAX - PVG trip quite a bit - felt bad for them - until they told me they only did 4 round trips a month.

Although Dubai is $*(&%^(&% hot/humid from April - Oct - or so the staff at my hotel told me. And you have to be careful what you do and in what part of Dubai so you don't get in trouble.

CX would be tough - the F/A's don't make enough since HK is so expensive - they're always pushing for more money - and the raises they get never keep up. I'm sure their F/A's are all trying to rope a pilot.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
West Coast Ace said:
+1. For a few years at least while they're young and still somewhat unsure about the rest of their lives. I'm sure it's less glamorous than we know. And they don't have the work rules the Union F/A's at the US airlines do. I do the LAX - PVG trip quite a bit - felt bad for them - until they told me they only did 4 round trips a month.

Although Dubai is $*(&%^(&% hot/humid from April - Oct - or so the staff at my hotel told me. And you have to be careful what you do and in what part of Dubai so you don't get in trouble.

CX would be tough - the F/A's don't make enough since HK is so expensive - they're always pushing for more money - and the raises they get never keep up. I'm sure their F/A's are all trying to rope a pilot.
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Absolutely, whilst you're young I think it's a great way to see the world and meet new people. The money is fairly good, when compared to what people their age earn doing more mainstream jobs. I know most of the salary with Emirates is tax free, which is always a bonus.

I think you nailed it when you said they're all after a pilot :) spend 10 years travelling the world, meet a pilot, be set for life.. I think they might be on to something!
 
Bobby Jr

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
Feña14 said:
I don't know what it's like in Asia, but Emirates doesn't sound like a bad way to earn money. They get free accommodation in luxury apartments, free transport, comprehensive medical coverage...
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They also make it sound so glamorous too - which it is usually anything but.

It's little thought of but a luxury apartment in Dubia (where most Emirates crew are required to be based) are not luxury by developed world standards - they're probably new and nice enough but don't think they're a lap of luxury.

Having had a number of friends go and do a stint at cabin crew for Emirates the stories I've heard of their work are pretty interesting to say the least. For a start foreigners in a middle eastern company are cattle and little more, and employment conditions/laws in the middle east east are vastly different to elsewhere. People I know have been:

- told by their bosses to dye their hair blonder (a middle eastern male fetish)
- been subjected to astonishing verbal abuse on behalf of passengers (wealthy middle eastern people are amongst the most demanding/unreasonable customers anywhere)
- been subjected to male passengers masturbating in their seats (another apparently common middle eastern thing which they don't tell you about)
- been assaulted physically/sexually by male passengers
- been invited to parties/dinner by company execs and expected to go no matter what they had planned already

In short - middle eastern companies know perfectly well that foreigners go there to earn good money. The trade-off is they know if anything at all goes wrong they can just fire them on the spot for any reason at all (and a local is always the person they believe) and the problem will magically disappear as that person is forced onto the next flight out of the country.

On the topic of being cabin crew per se - yes, it is probably a good way to earn some money for a while and see the world. Most people tire of it after a couple of years though - missing family/holiday engagements all the time, being in great locations for 48-72 hours but having time to do little more than go shopping/eat/sleep. Travelling gets very tiring for most people pretty quickly.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Bobby Jr said:
They also make it sound so glamorous too - which it is usually anything but.

It's little thought of but a luxury apartment in Dubia (where most Emirates crew are required to be based) are not luxury by developed world standards - they're probably new and nice enough but don't think they're a lap of luxury.

Having had a number of friends go and do a stint at cabin crew for Emirates the stories I've heard of their work are pretty interesting to say the least. For a start foreigners in a middle eastern company are cattle and little more, and employment conditions/laws in the middle east east are vastly different to elsewhere. People I know have been:

- told by their bosses to dye their hair blonder (a middle eastern male fetish)
- been subjected to astonishing verbal abuse on behalf of passengers (wealthy middle eastern people are amongst the most demanding/unreasonable customers anywhere)
- been subjected to male passengers masturbating in their seats (another apparently common middle eastern thing which they don't tell you about)
- been assaulted physically/sexually by male passengers
- been invited to parties/dinner by company execs and expected to go no matter what they had planned already

In short - middle eastern companies know perfectly well that foreigners go there to earn good money. The trade-off is they know if anything at all goes wrong they can just fire them on the spot for any reason at all (and a local is always the person they believe) and the problem will magically disappear as that person is forced onto the next flight out of the country.

On the topic of being cabin crew per se - yes, it is probably a good way to earn some money for a while and see the world. Most people tire of it after a couple of years though - missing family/holiday engagements all the time, being in great locations for 48-72 hours but having time to do little more than go shopping/eat/sleep. Travelling gets very tiring for most people pretty quickly.
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That doesn't sound like much fun! I know they have apartments all across the region as there are so many cabin crew, so i'm guessing the standards vary alot. When I visited I was really impressed by them though. There was a big kitchen, really nice tiled flooring, the living area had a huge flat screen tv with satellite, enough room for two large sofas, sliding doors onto a large balcony, big bedrooms, pool, en suite bathroom etc..

If you were to go looking for something similar here, i'd be bankrupt after a few months of renting :)
 
Bobby Jr

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
Feña14 said:
If you were to go looking for something similar here, i'd be bankrupt after a few months of renting :)
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Well the land is free and they make use of effectively foreign slave labour (many of whom never get paid by the way > they withhold pay and then kick them out of the country to save costs) so of course they can provide nicer accommodation to attract short term staff than most people could afford anywhere in the world.

Some articles about the people who are treated like slaves to build all those nice things you see in Dubai:
- NY Times - Construction Workers Stranded, With No Pay and No Prospects
- AlJazeera - Striking workers face mass deportation
- Wikipedia - Human rights in Dubai
 
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dr325i

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
West Coast Ace said:
Anyone really into flying? Belongs to an Alliance to maximize your miles/upgrades/other perks? Has done outrageous mileage runs?

Me: Yes. One World. Many - best (craziest) was 90 minutes at the lounge in Frankfurt; never left the airport.
Click to expand...

I spend about 50% of my life between Dallas and Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, ROA).
I usually reach the Exec Platinum on AA (One World) in the first 5-6 months.
Have just over 1M miles on AA.

Before that, when lived in Florida, used to go similar destinations on United, so, I have about 1.5M miles on UAL.

2010-12 I lived in Europe, so I hit Senator on Lufthansa.

I love to fly as I used to be Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor in the 90's

Now, that we just got our third daughter, I plan on slowing down with flying in 2014.
 
dParis

dParis

Hall of Fame
Bobby Jr said:
People I know have been:

- been subjected to male passengers masturbating in their seats (another apparently common middle eastern thing which they don't tell you about)
Click to expand...

I thought this was pretty common everywhere. It always happens on the flights I've been on.
 
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