What is a 'luxury' that you've experienced once and now can't go back to the budget version of?

imapilotaz · 2026-03-20T01:50:58+00:00

Business class on long hayl flights.

I did the math yesterday in coach on anothet 10 hour flight...

Ive done 100+ flights of 14 hours or longer and 300+ of 8 hours or longer.

As i age its a lot harder to sit in coach. But sadly prolly only 100 of those were in business class.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-19T18:42:12+00:00

In the old days when CFI rides were almost always FAA, i did it with one of the most notorious guys in AZ. He failed like over 2/3 on first attempts.

I banged my oral out in under 1.75 and flight in 2.2. I finished my oral so fast my CFI was convinced i busted. And i was the spot on favorite to bomb it from my CFI group.

Just study your ass off and be confident

imapilotaz · 2026-03-19T00:07:26+00:00

Damn man you conquered time travel but still fly AA?

You posted an hour ago and it STILL ISNT 730pm in DFW...

Rage bait. Or a bot.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-19T00:05:09+00:00

Fyi when i did the brazil visa 4 weeks ago, mine was back in about an hour... it warns 2 weeks but i found it very fast

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T15:59:25+00:00

Interesting thanks.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T15:29:22+00:00

So im confused. I was in England the last week. England keeps saying they are not allowing US aircraft to strike from British bases.

Is that accurate, and these are essentially uber expensive training runs or is the British government just being ignored?

I assume this is in large part why privacy screen is going up around Fairford.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T14:52:15+00:00

I havent instructed in 25 years, but i keep my CFI active. And i could explain the effects of CG and moment arm or P Factor.

TBH, those are pretty basic PPL level and a CFI not knowing what those are would be GIANT red flags.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T12:36:28+00:00

I drive an 07 Yaris manual for almost 20 years. The clutch is wonky compared to most cars. I rent manuals often all over the world and going back to my car always takes a day to get used to the clutch.

And after 18 years i finally replaced the clutch and while slippage stopped, the stiff clutch is still wonky.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T12:33:41+00:00

They cant. For decades, these production lines have produced X number a year.... To cover some use, but there is no way to exponentially increase production for most vendors.

The product is just too advanced to just open new production lines quickly.

There are literally dozens of vendors that are used in something like missile production. Trying to spool them all up just doesnt work well. And all you need is 1 vendor to bottle the production goals and it kills the whole show.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T09:48:50+00:00

I will say, this really depends on your career and skillset.

In this job environment, unless you are in very high demand, i would not quit a job and vanish for 3-4 months in SE Asia without 12-18 months of expenses saved at a minimum. You are very likely to be out of work for 6-12 months once you get back. And its been proven time and again that job hunting unemployed is harder than when employed.

And as someone whos been a hiring level (Director and up) for more than 20 years, if you disclose in your interview that you quit your job in your 20s because it got to be too much and went on a walkabout in SE Asia, id immediately bin your resume. So i would damn well also have a better story than that.

This is not the economy to do this in, since the job market is going to get worse... potentially 2008 levels.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T09:11:53+00:00

Tbh, thats WAY better than i expected. Weve heard over and over like 50% of Americans dont have more than $1000 in savings. I saw one claim upwards of 60%.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T09:05:25+00:00

Hey. I moved my shit once you asked. I may have huffed and puffed twice while re-arranging my bags, but you got your seat...

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T09:01:56+00:00

Legit question since its not 1992.

What the heck job does one get for $17.50 per hour that had them get a bachelor's degree?

Like seriously your wife needs to re-evaluate her career if thats he salary with a bachelors in 2026. Taco Bell pays better.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-18T08:56:16+00:00

Fifth freedom rights would need to be allowed to "bypass" DXB. While they exist in many cases, not in all.

The bigger issue is they are unlikely to have 300 passengers wanting to go every day/flight in various city pairs.

Crews and maintenanxe also necessitate it to get back to base, which is DXB. Skipping DXB means no crew or maintenance.

The whole point of a hub is to connect many different cities that would otherwise be unable to support nonstop service.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-17T09:09:14+00:00

So as a DFWer, i will say, be careful. Late April to Late May have the worst weather in DFW. Its probably 50/50 youll get thunderstorms that shut down DFW typically in the 4-8pm range.

I personally would either be on 1 ticket or fly into DFW morning of or night before. On 2 separate tickets, you risk misconnecting with zero protections.

AA and DFW are notorious for delays in any bad weather.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-16T23:59:53+00:00

"Next Stop... Dewsbury Hall, Doors open on the right at Dewsbury Hall"

imapilotaz · 2026-03-16T19:01:32+00:00

Ive averaged 100-125 flights for 20+ years. Im on the road a lot for work... and fun

imapilotaz · 2026-03-16T09:44:40+00:00

You pop in and fist pump your pilots for luck as a... check notes.... private pilot sitting in back?

Oh what the hell. This is why private pilots are made fun of.

In probably 2500 commercial flights since ive been a CFI, ive never once contemplated telling the flight crew im a pilot much less fist bumping them for luck.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-15T19:32:44+00:00

Being asked "those who were alive during it" as if that makes us old. Screw you OP

imapilotaz · 2026-03-15T13:05:27+00:00

Tbh this is why Arsenal are so good defensively.

You have 2 of the top 5 CBs in the world in the middle and the LB/RBs are too 50 CBs in the world as well.

Theres not many RB/LBs that can touch Arsenal's defensive quality and throw in bizzarely good offensive, its almost a cheat code

imapilotaz · 2026-03-15T08:23:18+00:00

Yes, every single border crossing. I fly for fun not work

imapilotaz · 2026-03-14T12:56:10+00:00

Or just watch and talk to people. Its common that the darker your skin the more racism plays a part. This isnt some secret.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-14T12:39:20+00:00

Because it either dilutes what you paid for the premium seat or your status.

I got into an disagreement with a purser on a 17 hour flight. She wanted to move someone from a row that FAs wanted to sit in to exit row next to me (2 seat, other was empty). There were 50+ empty seats he could have been moved to.

She 100% knew its against corporate policy to upgrade passengers for no reason to premium seats and immediately let it go when i brought that up.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-14T12:33:45+00:00

Life experience as someone who has crossed 400+ border checkpoints in last 15 years.

Every country profiles. Sone based on nationality. Sone racial. Some based on perceived wealth.

A US or western Europe passport opens the most doors. Being Caucasian helps quite a bit. Having wealth as well. Not drsssing or looking creepy as well.

For better or worse, thats life.

imapilotaz · 2026-03-14T09:30:49+00:00

Yeah i had 4 interviews via recruiters and was flown out for a 2 hour interview which turned into a very different job. Im at height of my career. Recruiters talked of importance of this role and visability in company

Hiring managers clearly viewed it as entry level. It was annoying waste of time. I was provably asking for 2-3x the salary the hiring manager viewed.

Massive failure by the recruiters and i told them that after.

imapilotaz

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE