UPS,Fedex ?

[psysicx]

I was talking to a UPS captian and he told he that he would have gone the airline route.He said that the back side of the clock flying takes years off of you.I know that the majors are not hiring but it is that bad would you have choesen a different path?

 

[Big Beer Belly]

I was talking to a UPS captian and he told he that he would have gone the airline route.He said that the back side of the clock flying takes years off of you.I know that the majors are not hiring but it is that bad would you have choesen a different path?

Life's a big trade off I figure. For me, I worked 43 days and flew 157 hrs in '04 at UPS (worked 4 out of 100 days in the middle of summer). Sure some of that was on the back side of the clock, and back side of the clock does suck, but to me the trade off was worth it.

 

[Echopapa]

Ask any of the thousands of furloughee's from United, American, Delta, or NWA about their current job satisfaction.

Or prehaps you could ask the UAL or USA retirees that have lost thier pension (more to follow I'm sure) about how they felt about their decision to fly passengers.

It makes me sick to my stomach to hear about some UPS captain bitching about the hours he has to work......thats ludicrous. He works maybe 8 nights a month for 250K a year....you gotta be Sh!ting me.

That captain is delusional if he thinks that passenger carriers don't work tough hours. I flew a Delta flight that blocked out at 5 AM...that's a 3:30 wake up. I have seen many a passenger carrier come in well past midnight. Or how about 7 hops a day on SWA. Its a though life no matter which "airline" you choose.

 

[PurpleTail]

It just all depends on the person.

I have never been a morning person. I hate having to set an alarm clock and get up at the butt crack off dawn. I even avoid the day flying at FedEx (which is a lot these days with all the mail) if I can.

I am a night owl by nature and always stay up late whether I am working or not. I would rather fly all night, get to the hotel exhausted and sleep as long as I can sleep (7-8 hours) and not worry about an alarm clock going off. But that is just me.

Backside flying is definately not for everyone but if you manage your sleep right it is doable, IMHO of course.

Oh yea...the money makes it a little easier too

 

[PCL_128]

I'm with PurpleTail. I've had about as many 4am wakeup calls as I can take. I can never get to sleep before midnight no matter how tired I am, so I end up with less than 6 hours sleep almost every day I'm at work. Everyone is different. Some people I'm sure hate the night flying. Other people like me dream of the day when we can say goodbye to the late hotel arrival and early wakeup call.

 

[On Your Six]

I was talking to a UPS captian and he told he that he would have gone the airline route.He said that the back side of the clock flying takes years off of you.I know that the majors are not hiring but it is that bad would you have choesen a different path?

Plus, the UPS flight attendants are nasty...

 

[busdrver]

I was talking to a UPS captian and he told he that he would have gone the airline route.He said that the back side of the clock flying takes years off of you.I know that the majors are not hiring but it is that bad would you have choesen a different path?

Wonder how he knows. I presume HE hasn't died yet.

 

[psysicx]

Thanks for the help.I am definitly a night person but was wondering how it affects you all.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I was talking to a UPS captian and he told he that he would have gone the airline route.He said that the back side of the clock flying takes years off of you.I know that the majors are not hiring but it is that bad would you have choesen a different path?

I will trade places with him.

 

[psysicx]

I think a lot of people would love to trade places with him.

 

[Purpledog]

I'm a morning person and it's a little hard for me. I figure it will be pretty easy though when I early retire at 55 to a solid pension though. I just couldn't do the 7 leg a day gig and the days of the legacy lifestyle are over for good. So I count my blessings everyday, after my third cup of coffee.

 

[FastCargo]

Count me in for night flying! Those early wake up calls suck...I'd much rather live like a rock star and not use an alarm clock if I can help it. It really depends on what you can handle...

Now pass the Jolt cola...

Fly Safe!
FastCargo

 

[Clyde]

Thanks for the help.I am definitly a night person but was wondering how it affects you all.

Psysicx,
Just for the record, I turned down 2 passenger airlines (majors) to come to UPS. And that was pre-9/11.

How does it affect me? I would say no different than any other kind of flying. It's a trade-off. The night flying is definitely tough, but I think getting up at 0330 to start your day is tough too.

Will it take years off of my life though? I doubt it. Shift work is hard, no doubt, but I think you have to look at each person individually. Myself, I eat a very healthy diet, drink a lot of water, and I exercise quite frequently. In turn, I am able to sleep very well during the day and I have no trouble readjusting to my off time when I come home.

Nights are still tough, and my diet and exercise routines only make it more bearable, not necessarily easier. But, I still prefer night flying with the boxes. Traffic is lighter, I'm not worried about anybody in the back, and I feel it is more relaxed. To be honest, I think my friends and colleauges on the PAX side have a much harder job than I do.

I don't why or what that captain mentioned earlier was complaining about. No place is perfect, and you're always going to have a few people anywhere who are going to be unhappy. Some people just like to complain, and they tend to want company.

 

[psysicx]

Is all the internaional flying at both companies at night?

 

[klhoard]

Alot of it is Night, then Day, then Night. . . .
.
.
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MEM-NRT and KIX-MEM. . .
.
.
.

 

[VaB]

Alot of it is Night, then Day, then Night. . . .
.
.
.
MEM-NRT and KIX-MEM. . .
.
.
.

I just did MEM to NRT, it was night until the last 2 hours. I slept the first 6 hours, not bad. Corky's has a way of working on you at 5 in the morning.

 

[Clyde]

Is all the internaional flying at both companies at night?

Speaking only from a Brown perspective, it's mixed. I tend to see daylight more when flying international. However, there is a lot of intra-Asia and intra-Europe flying where it is done at night, as well as some nighttime ocean crossings.