Nrt - Nwa

[~~~^~~~]

Just curious if anyone here operates in that system.

What are the trips like?
Where are you based?
Hearing any rumors about SEA and the 767ER?
Can DAL pilots J/S NRT to Asian destinations?
How senior is it?
What is the mix of aircraft operating out of NRT?
How are the loads?
How do they staff reserves?
Do they keep reserves in NRT?

 

[jetflier]

Narita is operated as a hub and could very well be a base.

Northwest owns the Radisson Narita Hotel which has about 400 rooms, most of which are FA and Pilots, but there are regular customers as well. Its a great hotel with a small golf putting green, tennis, pool, sports bar, and workout facilities. There's a golfcourse nearby and you can usually find most crews at the local eats getting geyoza...

Trips vary for the 747, 330, and 757. Weve also had the 320 over there as well. The narrowbody aircraft fly the local asian flights to surrounding cities and countries.

Its a great place to fly into and the locals are friendly folks.

Needless to say , its an impressive operation.

 

[135Drvr]

The 757 trips tend to be from 8 -14 days long, staffed from both the DTW and MSP bases. In the beginning they were going junior, then the senior guys figured out it was a good deal.
The trips start with a DH over to NRT and end with the DH back to your base - nice - 20 some hours of credit for eating and sleeping.
Jump seating around Asia is not a problem as far as I saw. Getting over and then back to the states can be a problem if it's a busy time of year.
Most of the lines are pretty good ...NRT - GUM, Day off, GUM - NRT, day off, NRT - SPN, day and a half off. Not bad at all. There is one really crappy pattern we call ground hog day - PUS - NRT, sit for 4 hours and then back to PUS. This repeats for days. It seems it's a good pattern to bid and then call in sick for, thus the reserves get to pick it up a lot.
NRT really isn't "staffed" like a base. What scheduling does if someone gets sick is re-schedule somebody who's already there (i.e. awaiting the DH home) and then send a reserve over to cover the rest of the pattern.
Good flying and mostly nice locations. You'll like it if you can stand being away from home that long.
Hope this helps.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I've met several of the NRT crews at the airport and out and about in the "watering holes" all of them without exception have said that they like it very much, a few of them have made the comment that they like being "away from the suits"

 

[~~~^~~~]

Thanks for the information. Mostly just curious about the NRT operation for an upcoming trip to do some diving, fishing and look over some investment ideas.

Which is the crew hotel in MNL? Can you jumpseat NRT/MNL?

Any idea if the local Philippine airlines will let us Jumpseat into Katlican, Cebu, or Bacolod? I'd like to see the islands from the air and the rental options are simply rediculous & don't look all that safe.

 

[qxdash8]

The 757 trips tend to be from 8 -14 days long, staffed from both the DTW and MSP bases. In the beginning they were going junior, then the senior guys figured out it was a good deal.
The trips start with a DH over to NRT and end with the DH back to your base - nice - 20 some hours of credit for eating and sleeping.
Jump seating around Asia is not a problem as far as I saw. Getting over and then back to the states can be a problem if it's a busy time of year.
Most of the lines are pretty good ...NRT - GUM, Day off, GUM - NRT, day off, NRT - SPN, day and a half off. Not bad at all. There is one really crappy pattern we call ground hog day - PUS - NRT, sit for 4 hours and then back to PUS. This repeats for days. It seems it's a good pattern to bid and then call in sick for, thus the reserves get to pick it up a lot.
NRT really isn't "staffed" like a base. What scheduling does if someone gets sick is re-schedule somebody who's already there (i.e. awaiting the DH home) and then send a reserve over to cover the rest of the pattern.
Good flying and mostly nice locations. You'll like it if you can stand being away from home that long.
Hope this helps.

This is probably one reason that DL is looking at putting the 7ER out of SEA. That would boost efficiency by eliminating the DH to and from NRT for the 757 crews.

 

[PowerCurve]

For the 757 pilots deadheading to NRT, a 747 flight over 13 hours gives you a seat in business class. Less than 13 you are coach, *unless* there are seats available in business class.

Once you're over in NRT, you may or may not fly your pattern as assigned. If someone calls in sick you will be reassigned to (perhaps) more days over here or just a swap out of an overnight.

Typical 757 layovers:
NRT Narita
NGO Nagoya, Japan
KIX Osaka, Japan
PUS Busan, S. Korea
CAN Guangzhou, China
SPN Saipan, NMI
GUM Guam
TPE Taipei, Taiwan

Some patterns have just one leg a day. Some have 1 leg, sit for 4.5 to 5 hours, then another leg. Some are 2 legs with 1 hour turn time, eg. GUM-NGO-SPN.

Layover length varies from 14 hours to 33 hours.

The trips can be pretty long, up to 2 weeks. Most of us bring a laptop/skype to keep in touch with the family.

Operations usually run like clockwork.

 

[GogglesPisano]

For the 757 pilots deadheading to NRT, a 747 flight over 13 hours gives you a seat in business class. Less than 13 you are coach, *unless* there are seats available in business class. .

Delta's PWA guarantees business class for any ocean-crossing deadhead. I'm assuming this stayed in the JPWA.

 

[wmuflyguy]

So on an a 10-13hr DH. Do you have to wear your uniform or can you wear more comfortable clothing?

 

[NuGuy]

So on an a 10-13hr DH. Do you have to wear your uniform or can you wear more comfortable clothing?

You can wear something more comfortable as long as you keep 15 pieces of flair.

Nu

 

[GogglesPisano]

You do not have to wear the uniform to DH. But you must always wear the hat.

(And NuGuy will have to wear the flair.)

 

[jetflier]

You do not have to wear the uniform to DH. But you must always wear the hat.

(And NuGuy will have to wear the flair.)

I don't know, but I'd guess that a DAL pilot has to have a big head to keep that large cap from falling off....so much bling...

 

[Crucianpilot]

Run in to crews all the time in Guam. They all love the trip, narita operation is pretty impressive. Sure wish we had some of their work rules. Would make our 8 day trip a lot more productive.

 

[Flybywire44]

Can NWA pilots start and end trips in NRT?

 

[iaflyer]

This is something the Delta FAs I fly with keep asking, so I'll ask here: are the Flight attendants out of NRT US based? NRT based Americans, or NRT based Japanese (or other asian nationalities)?

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

They are locals. I think only 2 of the on board FA's on the "beyond japan" flights have to be regular nwa FAs.

 

[FBN0223]

They are locals. I think only 2 of the on board FA's on the "beyond japan" flights have to be regular nwa FAs.

Asia Interport flying has two US based FA's the rest are Asia based. Their bases are BKK, MNL, KIX, NRT, NGO, HKG and probably a few more that I am leaving out. They are excellent FA's and provide an outstanding onboard service for our passengers. They all seem a bit "up in the air" regarding the merger as they know nothing about Delta.

 

[NuGuy]

Asia Interport flying has two US based FA's the rest are Asia based. Their bases are BKK, MNL, KIX, NRT, NGO, HKG and probably a few more that I am leaving out. They are excellent FA's and provide an outstanding onboard service for our passengers. They all seem a bit "up in the air" regarding the merger as they know nothing about Delta.

Which is pretty much a harbinger for what the the rest of Asia thinks....

"Delta who?" "Doesn't Delta mean fourth??"

Hilarity ensues...

Nu

 

[General Lee]

Which is pretty much a harbinger for what the the rest of Asia thinks....

"Delta who?" "Doesn't Delta mean fourth??"

Hilarity ensues...

Nu

Do people in Europe know who the heck NWA is? Maybe in AMS, but that is about it. How about in Africa, Latin America, South America, the Caribbean, etc? But hey, they will ALL know who we are soon, and you will look great in your Sub Commander uniform, along with your hat.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Asia Interport flying has two US based FA's the rest are Asia based. Their bases are BKK, MNL, KIX, NRT, NGO, HKG and probably a few more that I am leaving out. They are excellent FA's and provide an outstanding onboard service for our passengers. They all seem a bit "up in the air" regarding the merger as they know nothing about Delta.

We used to have Indian flight attendants based in DEL (when we served DEL), and BOM, but as soon as we started nonstop flights to JFK, that stopped. They were very sharp people, with some who were trained as doctors or lawyers, who came to Delta to make more money in India as flight attendants.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Occam's Razor]

Our Asia-based F/A's are referred to as "South Girls", because they work the "South" destinations out of the NRT hub.

Tip: Under no circumstances should you hook up with a South Girl for dinner in her native country. The tab for the stuff she orders will never be under $300. The most dangerous thing is the Pacific is a South Girl with a menu in her hand.

 

[Schwanker]

Our Asia-based F/A's are referred to as "South Girls", because they work the "South" destinations out of the NRT hub.

Tip: Under no circumstances should you hook up with a South Girl for dinner in her native country. The tab for the stuff she orders will never be under $300. The most dangerous thing is the Pacific is a South Girl with a menu in her hand.

Are you sure about that? I can think of a few things in Thailand that just might trump a menu--don't ask!

Schwanker

 

[Occam's Razor]

3 important phrases to learn in Thai:

1. Are you a girl?
2. Have you always been a girl?
3. If not, can you keep a secret?

 

[Schwanker]

You have to check for the adam's apple; and if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Schwanker

 

[DTW320]

3 important phrases to learn in Thai:

1. Are you a girl?
2. Have you always been a girl?
3. If not, can you keep a secret?

4. If not, say hi to General Lee for me.

I apologize.....I really do....GL: I love ya man....I had to say it though...it was too perfect a setup...the voices in my head forced me to the keyboard...I had no choice...I'm sure you understand.

 

[jetflier]

Do people in Europe know who the heck NWA is? Maybe in AMS, but that is about it. How about in Africa, Latin America, South America, the Caribbean, etc? But hey, they will ALL know who we are soon, and you will look great in your Sub Commander uniform, along with your hat.


Bye Bye--General Lee

That's exactly what happened when Pan Am was assimilated by Delta.

Pan Am was the most recognized trademark second only to Coca Cola.

I still think that my Pan Am hat is better looking than the German U-boat Commander hat.

At Pan Am, we used to say that we had white hats and black socks while Delta Pilots had black hats and white socks

 

[135Drvr]

Can NWA pilots start and end trips in NRT?

Yes you can "early DH" over and "Delayed DH" back. If you live in say LA you can Non-rev or jumpseat over and back to NRT but you are on your own - no positve space. I've done it several times but it can be a pain if the flights are full - which they usually are.

 

[fareview]

Thanks for the information. Mostly just curious about the NRT operation for an upcoming trip to do some diving, fishing and look over some investment ideas.

Which is the crew hotel in MNL? Can you jumpseat NRT/MNL?

Any idea if the local Philippine airlines will let us Jumpseat into Katlican, Cebu, or Bacolod? I'd like to see the islands from the air and the rental options are simply rediculous & don't look all that safe.

No J/S'ing on the Philippino carriers for US pilots.

fv

 

[aircowboy]

Word to the wise Philippinas are not your normal submissive Asian gals.... Matriarchal society nuff said stay the hell away.

The Trips are great. Our newhires get to fly these trips all of the time on the whale... sorry to disappoint General Lee who thinks they are all stuck on the DC9. The Hotel is super nice the people are great, food is awesome and there is a lot to do. The hotel will shuttle you to Tokyo or Naritasan where a number of crews are always hanging out.
For you Deltoids this is not the normal out and back overnights your used to. This is a full blown hub for us and we have a whole terminal here. The South Girls Asian Flight attendants are equivelant to what US flight attendants were in the old days....... young, thin, hot, and nice. The nice deal is you can do one long trip and go home if you want. I can't say enough good things about the Japanese people that work for NWA. Word is on the street Delta is planning to outsource our gate agents to a vendor......big mistake if it happens.