pack lunch vs buy for 10% discount

[TonyC]

I was thinking about printing out EternalOptimist's post on tips for packing lunches and putting it on the refrigerator, but decided against it... (Probably about as smart as buying her a vacuum cleaner for her birthday - - no, I didn't).


Then I read the follow-up post, and I'm seriosuly considering the risk vs. reward here...


Nahhh... I better keep my mouth shut.



Well, anyway....


Excellent posts, EternalOptimist. We'd all be lucky to have better halves with your positive attitude.

 

[EternalOptimist]

Hang in there guys (and gals)

I honestly wasn't trying to shame any of the hard-working spouses out there who are supporting their better half in the only way(s) they know how. I'm sure my husband would tell you that I'm not always there for him and that I don't always listen the way I should or show the kind of compassion and understanding that I could in many situations. We all have a selfish side. But I really try to and I really feel a responsibility to those of you who are in the industry to encourage you and let you know that there are people out there who understand and are pulling for you. I want to do whatever I can to help you Regional guys out - help you survive until you get to the majors. I remember all of the penny pinching and the hard work and pushing toward the goal that always seems to be out of reach. I also know what it's like to have reached the goal and feel the let-down when the anticipation of the thing was so much better than the thing itself.

But life goes on and there are so many wonderful qualities I enjoy in my husband. He is not defined by his job, he has so many other talents and interests and we have a great life that doesn't have any connection to what he or I do for a living. I think another trap spouses, family members and friends tend to fall into is thinking that being a pilot is enough of an explanation of who you are. How many times has your mother introduced you to someone and said "he's a pilot" - then you end up spending the evening talking about flying and answering stupid questions about the airlines and listening to every bad experience this person has ever had on every trip they've ever been on? You were hoping to get away from work and enjoy some time with family and meet some new people and you once again got sucked back into talking about work. My husband plays the piano and organ, he can also sing and he enjoys jazz and classical music. He likes to work with his hands and can build or fix anything he sets his mind to. He restored a 17' 1947 Chris Craft Runabout (wooden boat) and has a 1947 Chev. Coupe he's working on restoring to pull the boat with. He can cook and he has a green thumb. He saves us a lot of money by working on our vehicles himself and by doing maintenance around the house himself - another set of skills that have helped with our budget in the past - especially when he was a regional pilot. I try never to bring up work with him - I let him tell me whatever he wants to tell me - and he tells me a lot about what goes on in his work life. I am probably one of the more informed wives when it comes to contract negotiations, hiring predictions, un-reported emergencies, etc. But I let him talk about it when he wants to and when he wants to put it all behind him and just hang out with me, he can relax and know that I will not be one of those people who doesn't let him forget what he does for a living.

Keep on keepin' on guys. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[beech1900kid]

If you are really into the health kick, I find a great way to pack in a meal without the space is to bring protein bars or premade protein shakes. They fill you up for a few hours and cost about 1/4 of a full meal. Plus I found out quick (with my border-line high blood pressure) that ramen noodles and canned foods are usually loaded with lethal amounts of sodium. If your blood pressure is a concern, definitely consider the protein bar approach and a few sandwiches.

I also leave a bunch of frozen stuff in the major hub crew room freezers. It's typical to hit ORD or LGA what seems like 90 times over the course of a four day trip. Leave stuff there and tote it out with you on the last leg of the day for some dinner.

I wish I had a wife to tell me how cool/danegrous my job is. Sometimes, well $hit, most times, I forget about that.

 

[beech1900kid]

Hey Eternal Optimist, do you have any sisters???

 

[EternalOptimist]

Hey Eternal Optimist, do you have any sisters???

I have a sister. She's single. No way would I ever let her marry a pilot.

 

[beech1900kid]

D'oh!!

 

[moscowcfi]

Okay, I think what we are all wondering is... when the heck is this discussion going to get around to PFT? After all, PB&J sandwiches are a perfect segway.

 

[DougCorp-9]

I would advise that you not take drinks from the aircraft. Most companys have policies against this and consider it stealing. I know that many people, especially FAs, do this but is your job really worth risking for a 50 cent coke? Something to think about. You never know who is watching.

Dougcorp-9

 

[WhiteCloud]

I have a sister. She's single. No way would I ever let her marry a pilot.

How about just "dating" then?

 

[flx757]

I would advise that you not take drinks from the aircraft. Most companys have policies against this and consider it stealing. I know that many people, especially FAs, do this but is your job really worth risking for a 50 cent coke? Something to think about. You never know who is watching.

Dougcorp-9

You're not one who believes what the AirTran F/As believe, are you? That the company was/is marking the bottom of the Coke cans, then checking the hotel room garbage for marked cans and if they found any you would lose your job?!?

You're right. You never know you is watching. Maybe they are circling your house RIGHT NOW. RUN!! HIDE!!!!!

 

[EternalOptimist]

How about just "dating" then?

My sister is not really like me. I doubt you'd get her to pack your lunch for you.

 

[Speedtree]

I pack a fairly large cooler. I can go a four day trip without buying food if I do it right. I like to buy an egg mcmuffin for breakfast sometimes though. Or go out with the crew for a good meal once in awhile. (although with our schedules it's been hard lately). I can do a whole trip for less than $20 (Assuming no beer nights) including tips. The effort really does save alot of money. Plus you can eat whenever you want.

I pack home-made burritos, large tortillas, scrambled eggs, beans of some kind, rice, ground sausage, some salsa, whatever you want. Warm the tortillas in the mic and wrap them up, put in tin foil. We have a microwave in the crew rooms so all I need is about 5mins to walk in and warm it up.

Baby carrots, yogurt, pbj, other sandwiches, nature valley granola bars, cookies, fruit cups (the kind out on the shelves with the canned fruit don't need to be kept cold) oranges and other fruit, leftovers. I use an ice pack/hot water bottle, the kind with the wide filler neck that sits on your head. You can fill it up with ice and it keeps the water from leaking. Put a cloth in the bottom of the cooler to soak up any condensation. I put ice packs in the freezer in the crew room and switch them out on my turns if I have time. It's a lot of effort and the cooler is heavy but as has been said, it saves tons of money and it healthier. And when you are groundstopped on the ramp at ORD for 2 hours it's all right there.

 

[speedwings]

Has anyone ever tried those freeze dried meals they sell at camping stores? I bought a beef stew one just for the heck of it but I doubt they are very good. They're not very cheap ($3-4) but cheaper than a meal at TGIF's.

 

[Dash8301]

It depends on who you work for. I pack a lunch and even take Lunch meat sometimes I have a 9can cooler with a strap and to keep things cool I use a Quart size freezer bag and use the Hotel Ice machine and If needed I ask the FA to top my Ice off through the day just make sure you use sealed bags for your food because the Ice will sweat and pool in the bottom

 

[OPECJet]

Many crew rooms have a 'fridge in them. I pack a few sandwiches when I leave the house, and leave them in the crew room until I need to get one when I pass through. Just make sure you put your name, and the date on them. They do clean out them out from time to time.

Another word of advice. Try to avoid using those plastic blue ice things. I had one break on me the other day. It ruined a lot of my food, and made one mell of a hess in my lunchbox.