The Work Travel Thread

[DSM Turbos]

They won't let you set up a rewards program in your name??? Or at least set up a rewards program with whatever expense card you use for flights/hotels??? I was flying 250k/quarter on average and it didn't take long for the free first class upgrades to become the norm. Company card and personal card linked to the same flight/car rental/hotel rewards accounts. On the rare occasion I didn't get upgraded, I'd spring for the $15-30 Eco+ upgrade out of pocket.

I have rewards in my name and I use my personal card also so I get cash back. But I get my miles in from long flights and due to the fare shares it normally isn't very good for reward points. Also for hotels most of the foreign countries I go to you often can't stay in the american hotels that we have here, and I have never had to rent a car anywhere. I get upgraded on small legs, but the long 16 hour flights and a ton of points to upgrade.

 

[Andy J.]

I'm so envious - these trips look amazing!

I'm a Certified Welfare Fraud Investigator...

As a hard-working American tax payer, I’d like to say Thank You! I bet you’ve seen some crazy stuff. Makes for great campfire stories I bet!

 

[Fabrik8]

I'm a ME and travel all over the country, but to mostly the same places every year. Don't have time to do anything exciting unless I/we fly there early and spend the weekend. We try to hit the good restaurants that are within a reasonable distance, and the occasional local attraction. I don't bother taking pictures, don't really know why. Probably going to Germany soon for some equipment calibration. Trying to go to France one of these years but hasn't worked out yet.

 

[Willc]

Project Manager for True Value. I fly around and open hardware stores. I have been in a lot of states and out of country once. There is another member on the board that has been doing the same since 91 or so. 240 days or so a year in a hotel room and fly about every 10 days.Yes i get the points

 

[Andy J.]

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Feel free to post pics yall! That's why I started the thread! I may have some more M/H 53 pictures....I'll look.

Edit: found some







Some H60s in Norfolk.




This was working on the main gear box in Honduras last Sunday.

 

[ncsutj]

When I worked at Honda Power Equipment I went to Japan twice to visit suppliers. Those were pretty cool trips. Some food was good and lots of food not so good. I don't like fish or seafood other than cooked shrimp. There was lots of seafood and fish there. Even ate big ass raw shrimp. Japanese guys I was with would order the craziest shot they could find just to see if you would eat it.

Went to about all the Honda manufacturing plants in the US and one in Canada.

Now I sit at a desk and no travel. Some times i miss the travel and change of scenery.

Don't have any cool pictures on this phone.

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[mbalbritton]

Forgot I went to London also about 4 years ago for work also. Sadly travel for me is cutting back now. Last year I made platinum on AA with just 3 flights with how far I have to go. This year only 1 trip so far, so I probably won't get to keep my status. Might have a few China trips coming up though.

View attachment 275176

View attachment 275177

My favorite place. Maybe because I spent three years ther in high school, but I freaking love London. It will
Always hold a special place in my heart.

 

[mbalbritton]

Seeing as I just got back from Hong Kong and it’s 2:30 am local and I’m freaking wide awake... and it’s suppose to be 2:30pm to me...

Spent the past week in mainland china (as you may already know from
My other thread) I just got back from southern China inspecting a factory that is a new partner running a new job for us. I spent 3 days in Guangdong China and 2 days of play in Hong Kong. The guys that own the company I work for spoiled me and put me up in a 5 Star Hotel and sent me with a shit of cash to blow. The vendor that brought me over put me up in a nice resort on The China side as well, so my views may be some what scewed.

 

[Andy J.]

Seeing as I just got back from Hong Kong and it’s 2:30 am local and I’m freaking wide awake... and it’s suppose to be 2:30pm to me...

Spent the past week in mainland china (as you may already know from
My other thread) I just got back from southern China inspecting a factory that is a new partner running a new job for us. I spent 3 days in Guangdong China and 2 days of play in Hong Kong. The guys that own the company I work for spoiled me and put me up in a 5 Star Hotel and sent me with a shit of cash to blow. The vendor that brought me over put me up in a nice resort on The China side as well, so my views may be some what scewed.

Did you find the language barrier to be a problem? Any odd customs that you observed while you were there?

 

[skyhighZJ]

@Croatan_Kid when you get done working on them you need to figure out how to jump out of one. The 53 is one of my favorite RW Aircraft to jump from.

 

[trailhugger]

But we have some pretty daggone cool vendor trips though. Most to tour factorys, but many are just FUN trips. ALWAYS get to stay in nicer hotels than my cheap ass would EVER pay for

I don't think architects get much more than sweet potato biscuits from vendors.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

@Croatan_Kid when you get done working on them you need to figure out how to jump out of one. The 53 is one of my favorite RW Aircraft to jump from.

I'm just waiting for a squadron to offer me a chance to fly in one....preferably one that has had a recent TRDC job done though.

 

[skyhighZJ]

The first time I rode in one for a jump I was a young skeeter wing private and being a bit mechanically inclines I realized there was a mist of oil strewn through the air. I got the attention of the loadee and he said “no that’s fine, when it isn’t leaking let me know cause we got a problem” I couldn’t get off that thing fast enough haha.

 

[obullfish]

The first time I rode in one for a jump I was a young skeeter wing private and being a bit mechanically inclines I realized there was a mist of oil strewn through the air. I got the attention of the loadee and he said “no that’s fine, when it isn’t leaking let me know cause we got a problem” I couldn’t get off that thing fast enough haha.

I see things haven’t changed. If it ain’t leaking it’s empty was our saying back in the day.

 

[mbalbritton]

Did you find the language barrier to be a problem? Any odd customs that you observed while you were there?

Seeing as I Don’t speak a lick of Chinese, yes it was a bit of a hurdle. Not many in China speak English. There were three people at the factory that spoke some English, and you just hope that what you were saying was being translated correctly.

Odd customs? Overall cleanliness was a bit lacking. As well as not drying your hands after you wash them was odd. Yet they think hot tea sanitizes your chop sticks,, cups and bowls...

 

[Andy J.]

I’ve done a couple business cabins for Chinese airlines and one time we held a critical design review meeting (which is basically the last time they get to see a prototype prior to production) and not a single delegate from the airline spoke English. It was basically a multi-day, multi-million dollar game of Charades.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

That's what I loved about Japan...90% of them speak English and it's taught in their schools. If you put forth a little effort, they really appreciate it and are more friendly towards you. They're also very clean, structured, and centered around respect. 5 year old kids can walk to school alone. It's pretty awesome.

However, they do think that the crispy edge of a fried egg will give you cancer....nevermind everyone smoking though.


And yes...53s are a flying hydraulic leak, inside and out. It's like the Detroit Diesel of helicopters.

 

[CasterTroy]

That's what I loved about Japan.

I'm typically a homebody. Don't really have a DESIRE to go anywhere. Cant really understand when others drone on about wanting to go to a foreign land (my HS girlfriend was OBSESSED with Australia)

However, having said that; Japan is the only place I've ever had the true desire to WANT to visit (and still haven't )

 

[BigBody79]

I'm just waiting for a squadron to offer me a chance to fly in one....preferably one that has had a recent TRDC job done though.

The military flies you all over the place to work on helicopters but yet you haven't even been up in one?

That's a load of b/s.

Do they call you in when there are certain problems or when the boots on the ground can't get it done?

 

[awheelterd]

I'm jealous. I travel 5mi each way for work each day. I only get to take trips to check out new equipment everybfew years but only within the US. We bought a line from Germany a few years back and I had the opportunity to go for final inspection but had too much going on to make the trip

 

[Croatan_Kid]

The military flies you all over the place to work on helicopters but yet you haven't even been up in one?

That's a load of b/s.

Do they call you in when there are certain problems or when the boots on the ground can't get it done?

There's different levels of maintenance. We're depot level and it's the most in depth. So, it's usually just stuff the squadrons aren't allowed to do. That Honduras trip was just to replace four locking studs on top of the main gear box, but airframes put everything else back together when we got done. However, when we do a tail fold/tail rotor disconnect coupler, that's much more complicated and requires several fixtures that we hang to check alignment and stop gaps.

If I ever get to go out on a ship or in to a hazardous/dangerous zone, I'll likely be flown in on a military flight.

It's only like 8-10 miles from my house to work...but I get to go places sometimes

 

[Andy J.]

I’m doing the non-glamorous part at the moment, but the people-watching is good entertainment.

 

[kaiser715]

I was lucky, in 35 years only had to travel 3 times for work. Once to Orlando, twice to Atlanta for dealer training. Suited me just fine. Couldn't get out of each place fast enough, either.

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[StretchASU]

I’m doing the non-glamorous part at the moment, but the people-watching is good entertainment.

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Airport people watching never disappoints.