Flex Questions

[pilotpat]

Does Flex at least give you guys a company credit card to pay for things like rental cars in these instances? I'm sure they'd be quick on reimbursement, but I just hate the thought of running up my cc for company business. Just another question for me to ponder.

 

[bailey3083]

I have driven to Naples, Lakeland, Tampa so far but they rented me a car and the drive time went against my duty time. The best was when they wanted me to drive to Tampa, so I was told to call when I left home for a 6am show. I called at 1230am to tell them I was leaving for Tampa since it was 5 hour dirve. SO basically that day I did a leg to IAH pulled off replaced and spent the rest of the day in a Hotel.
SO yes in South Florida you will drive between airports but if the are other then BCT, PBI, FLL, MIA you will rent a car or be flown to the A/C.

Bailey

 

[Club ORD FO]

Yes you get a company credit card.

I was based on ONT for a year and about 80% of my trips began and ended at ONT. It was rare, for me anyway, to be asked to report to one of the other airports.

We need more bases. I dont understand why it is such a big deal.

 

[haulingthemail]

Does Flex at least give you guys a company credit card to pay for things like rental cars in these instances? I'm sure they'd be quick on reimbursement, but I just hate the thought of running up my cc for company business. Just another question for me to ponder.

Get a good CC that offers rewards and you can rack up. depending on how quick you are to fill out your expense report will determine how fast you get your money. Usually takes 1 week. Never had any problems.

 

[DirtyBeech]

To me, this is one of the problems at flex. It's not management, it's the pilots that have the attitude that if it doesn't affect them personally, they don't care.
Personally this doesn't affect me; however, it needs to be addressed. Also, I personally could care less about having more bases but, if others want it then I will help in getting more bases. This is the direction we need to take, not selfish attitudes.

It's not selfish at all. It's a choose not to b-tch about every little thing attitude. If they pay for the rent car, and the travel counts against your duty time then what does it matter? You get paid the same regardless of whether you're driving a Ford Fusion or a business jet. I've got a few complaints, namely the crew catering, but driving to the jet isn't one of them.

 

[Av8tor]

The problem is, they do not care. You should not have to drive to any of the airports that are not listed in the FOM. If they can't get the aircraft to your base, why is it my problem now. The pilots at Flex need to just say no. After 4 or 5 days on the road why would I want to drive from apf to fll to get back to my car..

 

[haulingthemail]

then don't appply. not everyone cares

 

[bailey3083]

The problem is, they do not care. You should not have to drive to any of the airports that are not listed in the FOM. If they can't get the aircraft to your base, why is it my problem now. The pilots at Flex need to just say no. After 4 or 5 days on the road why would I want to drive from apf to fll to get back to my car..

It is your choice to drive or not but if you are not leaving out of FLL, MIA, BCT or MIA you are provided transportation and when you return you will be flown back into FLL. So if you rent a car to drive to Naples then your car will be in FLL so when you finish you are flown back to FLL where your car is. Now if you do not want to drive they are more then willing to let you take a cab or a sedan to Naples or some of the other airports in south and southwest Florida so you do have a choice.

Bailey

 

[DirtyBeech]

The problem is, they do not care. You should not have to drive to any of the airports that are not listed in the FOM. If they can't get the aircraft to your base, why is it my problem now. The pilots at Flex need to just say no. After 4 or 5 days on the road why would I want to drive from apf to fll to get back to my car..

So instead of driving you get a cab or sedan. Once again, they'll get you to where you need to be, on their dime, within your duty limitations. What does it matter? A little maturity folks....

 

[doylehargraves]

Mr Beech,

So what you are saying is that you would be perfectly fine with driving a rent car from dallas to houston every single week as long as they paid for it? How about Dallas to Corpus every week? And no, thats not stretching it because you say you're mature enough to get by all that. Forget maturity, lets be smart here; it's not smart for the company to waste 6 hours of duty time on me driving. Like someone else said, if its not within 30 minutes of my gateway, I shouldn't have to make the drive. If they want me to sit in a sedan from Dallas to Houston and waste $600 to get to work then that's just plain ignorant.

 

[DirtyBeech]

First of all, it doesn't happen every single week, so let's be just a little objective. And yes a drive to CRP is stretching it as that's a 7-8 hour drive. How many of our CA of FL are being asked to do that? I know hyperbole serves your purpose doyle, but get a grip. Even a 5 hour drive would leave you 9 hours of duty or 11 if it's your last day, so the argument of $600 to get you to work is quite ignorant as there's ample time left to fly you.

And I ask you, since you've determined that it's not smart for the company to waste 6 hours of your duty time, what is cheaper? You renting a car and "wasting" 6 hours of your duty time, or repositioning a business jet for an hour's flight? It's not all about you.

 

[learflyer]

Choice between 2-3 legs on day one, or driving till I run out of duty time, i'll take the latter. Just chill out and take your time and make a day out of it.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Does Flex have limitations on how far or how long a crewmember can be required to drive a rental car in one day?

 

[DirtyBeech]

Exactly, life's too freaking short.

 

[doylehargraves]

You're totally missing my point so, I'll just throw my hands up on this one.