Flexjet Changes Crew Meal Policy????

[Peter_Griffin]

**** was asked me to edit my post and take out any information that lead to any trouble **** Sorry dude...

Any flex guy out there have more info as to exactly what the policy is changing to?

Currently we get free crew meals 1 for 9 hours, 2 for 12hrs and 3 for over 14hrs, but it is never that consistent. I have worked 3 hrs and gotten 2 crew meals and over 12 and gotten just 1 on many occasions.

What is FLOPS policy? NJA? Avantair? CS? Do you get free meals, pay for meals etc... Is it taken out of perdiem or do you get a separate meal allowance on top of perdiem?

Do you get to choose your meal or is it selected for you? How often do you end up eating breakfast at lunchtime or chicken at 0600?

Thanks for the info...

 

[netjetwife]

NJ pilots can get crew meals basically whenever they need them. The free meals are provided to crews that are flying during a meal period, which is based on each pilot's duty schedule and not a set time. It does not affect the per diem. The pilots choose from a prearranged list of 7 selections per meal. The company realizes that it is in their own interest to provide a meal rather than to have the pilots taking time from the flying schedule to go get something to eat. Best of luck to you, Peter, and the other pilots at Flex.

 

[Diesel]

Netjets crew meals suck. They used to be good but now they suck so bad but guys are just happy to get scraps of food.

Pilots are so cheap they think they are saving themselves money with crewfood when infact they are saving the company millions by keeping the engines turing and shovling a L3 down.

The company doesn't provide catering to be nice they provide it to keep the wheels turning.

 

[guido411]

FLOPs policy is to buy a meal for the crew if we fly through a meal period.

0400-0800 breakfast
1100-1300 lunch
1600-1800 dinner

Meals are chosen for you. Most of the time they suck. Since the company doesn't specify WHAT the caterer is to bring, the caterer can bring whatever is cheapest. Powdered eggs and dried microwaved bacon for breakfast. Weed salad for lunch or turkey on white with no cheese. Something with chicken for dinner. 8 days in a row. Sometimes you get lucky and find a diamond in the rough but it's the exception not the rule. They do not deduct per diem for meals. They thought about it, then like NJAwife stated, they realized they'd have crews taking 2 hr meal breaks instead of turning in an hour or less.

 

[Peter_Griffin]

Update...

**** was asked me to edit my post and take out any information that lead to any trouble **** Sorry dude...

Stay tuned for further details as widespread knowledge takes off...

Hopefully some flex guys in the know will be able to post something...

 

[Diesel]

an improperly rested, and fed crew is against far's.

If you can't pick what you want to eat considering you're paying for it then go eat what you want.

They can make up any story they want but it all boils down with crew food being the low hanging fruit of cost savings.

Why is it that those that don't work on the road make the choices for those of us that have to live with these asinine policies?

 

[SafetyTheSeat]

I see nothing wrong with the crew meals at NetJets... The Menu is fine for me ... In fact I'm happy to see them limit the selections... They are well rounded choices based on the most requested items from the past 2 years or so...

Only the freak eaters bitch about the food.. Some guys would order the wildest stuff, it was a pain to order food for a crew member the night before sometimes... Additionally, the company has a good handle on moving food orders from one flight number to the other if -which will happen- your line changes..

It's free, it's great food, great selection, selections change every quarter, easy to order from the blackberry, and it's money well spent!

 

[Ultra Grump]

Man, FlexJet's new policy sucks!! You can bitch all you want about our crewfood program Diesel, but it's 1000 times better than Flex's.

Pilots are so cheap they think they are saving themselves money with crewfood when infact they are saving the company millions by keeping the engines turing and shovling a L3 down.

These are both true, and not mutually exclusive.

 

[Diesel]

and safety in the seat is the example of why we have the crew food policy we have now.

I'm just happy to have a meal and fly a jet crowd. He thinks it's free but doesn't understand the company is making money on him shovling it on a quick turn.

eeeech

heaven forbid you actually eat something you want to eat, that is of some sort of qualtiy.

 

[hydrarkt]

I see nothing wrong with the crew meals at NetJets... The Menu is fine for me ... In fact I'm happy to see them limit the selections... They are well rounded choices based on the most requested items from the past 2 years or so...

Only the freak eaters bitch about the food.. Some guys would order the wildest stuff, it was a pain to order food for a crew member the night before sometimes... Additionally, the company has a good handle on moving food orders from one flight number to the other if -which will happen- your line changes..

It's free, it's great food, great selection, selections change every quarter, easy to order from the blackberry, and it's money well spent!

That's because you probably wouldn't eat a healthy meal if it hit you on the head.. you're probably overweight and can't cook.

 

[PilotGuy]

I just called Handschuch and he said it's BS. That if or when it will start would be long way off or not at all.

Nice try though.

 

[ghostrider64]

Crew meals at NJA are evolving. It's not over yet but there will be healthier choices soon. And yes they are bringing back the beef tips with noodles so that guys like safetytheseat can continue to enjoy the well balanced menu.

Obesity reigns at Netjets and management seems to be promoting unhealthy eating so that no one here can ever get senior and make the big bucks LOL

Back on subject it sounds as though Flex and Flops have food issues that are huge. My question is what happens if you work a 14 hour day that is the back side of the clock? No food for you because "normal" meal hours aren't worked? What if your normal hours are east coast and not the time zone (west coast) hours?

 

[Cavpilot]

I see nothing wrong with the crew meals at NetJets... The Menu is fine for me ... In fact I'm happy to see them limit the selections... They are well rounded choices based on the most requested items from the past 2 years or so...

Only the freak eaters bitch about the food.. Some guys would order the wildest stuff, it was a pain to order food for a crew member the night before sometimes... Additionally, the company has a good handle on moving food orders from one flight number to the other if -which will happen- your line changes..

It's free, it's great food, great selection, selections change every quarter, easy to order from the blackberry, and it's money well spent!

SafetyTheSeat, you are either:

1. Not an NJA line pilot.

2. The guy who thought up this ill-conceived plan.

3. Not very good at sarcasm.

4. The guy that use to order bologna sandwiches for every meal.

So which is it?

 

[guido411]

Back on subject it sounds as though Flex and Flops have food issues that are huge. My question is what happens if you work a 14 hour day that is the back side of the clock? No food for you because "normal" meal hours aren't worked? What if your normal hours are east coast and not the time zone (west coast) hours?

"What happens if you fly the back side of the clock for 14 hours?"

It would be impossible to work 14 hours and NOT be working during a meal period. The longest gap between meals would be from 6pm to 4am (10 hours) so you will be fed. This happens so rarely that it's hardly worth considering. But in my experience most check airmen will get extra meals apporved for you if it's a reasonable request. If it's not approved. . .STOP! They will change their minds.

"What if your normal hours are east coast and not the time zone (west coast) hours?"

Well, sorry Charlie, you're pretty much hosed. Times are based on the time zones that the flights actually occur. I have, however, pointed out flaws and been rewarded with a meal. For example, a 60-minute flight departing CGF at 1059 EST and arriving at MDW at 1059 CST would not qualify for a meal. I've been successful pointing out to logistics that the actual time we land is 1159 EST but we've been punished since we backed up a time zone. Most people I have dealt with have been sympathetic. If it's not approved. . .STOP!! Go get something to eat.

 

[netjetwife]

It doesn't surprise me that the company is going to try reining in costs now that they're paying decent wages to the pilots. (With the exception of the FOs--sorry for y'all) A realistic view of things should tell the NJ pilots that the company was happy to allow them the luxury of ordering whatever they wanted in the past because they saw it as a way to keep the pilots happy while they underpaid them. With that better salary comes compromises. That's to be expected. That said, I think there'd be less anger at the cost cutting if it were applied evenly in all areas of the company. Continually looking to the pilots gets old. If/when the company gets serious about cutting waste seen in other places, they will have more support from the pilot group.

You have to admit, though, that the NJ pilots have a much better, fairer meal policy than Options or Flex does. Many frac pilots do wind up considering their per diem as part of regular pay. They have no choice because the cost of living vs their paychecks demands they have that viewpoint. That alone should tell everyone how badly underpaid they are. I can't urge the Flex pilots strongly enough to send in their cards. It is your only hope of fighting back against those who are determined to squeeze every $10 worth of labor out of you that they can get while paying as little as possible.

YOUR CARD IS A TICKET TO A BETTER FUTURE--SEND IT IN TODAY

 

[Peter_Griffin]

I just called Handschuch and he said it's BS. That if or when it will start would be long way off or not at all.

Nice try though.

Nice try to you dude for being a koolaid drinker. We will soon see whether or not he lied to you -- my money is on you looking like a fool and RH looking like a liar -- that is if you really did talk to him today when you said you did as I have some other info he would not have been available at that time you said you had just called him... Truck on PilotGuy....

 

[corpflunkie]

At Avantair, if your schedule is tight and you want a crew meal, you tell scheduling what you want to eat (within reason) and what stop you want it waiting at, done. At least that has been my experience. They don't deduct it from your perdiam, all they ask is you be reasonable in your request.

 

[netjetwife]

CF, that doesn't surprise me. It reflects the NJ experience before the new CBA that brought higher wages. Now the pilots are seeing their choices limited to 7 selections. It seems obvious that some managers decide better meals cost a lot less money than better salaries. Perhaps they believe that old saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

I can appreciate that being "spoiled" on your meal selections is tough to give up, but it is worth it. Now there are many pilots and families who enjoy a greater choice in lots of different scenarios. Hang in there guys. Your palates will adjust and hopefully the problems will be worked out over time.

 

[AceCrackshot]

At least the NJA guys can get some variety. There is more variety (and often health and taste) in a case of MREs than the crew we're starting to get. Gone are the days of 3000 calorie Rudy's lunches with actual fresh fruit and vegatables.

Selection is key, and there have been some significant issues at FLOPS with regard to crew meals not addressing crew members allergy or dietary restrictions.

And it always bears repeating...if you're hungry, stop!

 

[netjetwife]

If Flex forces pilots to choose between food or funds--

What worries me about a forced policy of having to pay for your meals or do without, is that some of the pilots might be tempted to skip a meal to save the money. Please don't bother to tell me that that would never happen. You have pilots that count on per diem to supplement their wages who have probably factored that money into the monthly budget. It's outrageous. I can only imagine how the Flex families are feeling.
I don't care what policy they wrap it in, in the end it's still a pay cut! :angryfire