Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

Which hotel in Dubai do you stay at?

And what about London?

We stayed in Earl's Court at a Premiere Inn. Saw a few near the airport and I was wondering if you guys would stay there. Might've been a Hilton.

When meeting up for a tour we had to walk around the corner to a more fancy hotel. Whilst waiting we chatted with a US aircrew. Normally they stay somewhere else but whoever it is who organises their accomodation had put them up in this particular one. Quite nice.

We move hotels pretty regularly. London has just had us move back to Kensington (where we stayed for many years). In Dubai, I think it's a Hyatt. Dunno where the cabin crew stay...they're almost always in different hotels.

Airport hotels are not somewhere we want to stay. Generally, they're in the middle of nowhere. They also tend to be full of very noisy guests. Very few people regularly use hotels, and the vast majority are not "hotel trained", so slamming doors, and talking loudly in the corridor, very loud TV, etc, is the norm. Sadly, we almost always need to be able to sleep during the day.

 

[jb747]

Your next trip sees DXB during Ramadan, from what I am told its quite a significant change, I will be interested to hear of how much from a crews perspective.

As long as the hotel bars are open at some stage, I doubt that we'll care all that much. I gather Dubai is rather more relaxed than (for instance) Sharjah.

 

[mjt57]

We move hotels pretty regularly. London has just had us move back to Kensington (where we stayed for many years). In Dubai, I think it's a Hyatt. Dunno where the cabin crew stay...they're almost always in different hotels.

I would've thought that the entire crew would stay together.

Kensington is nice, not far from where we stayed.

As for noisy guests, I'm hearing ya. People can be quite inconsiderate.

 

[Bjet]

<Redacted>

Contrary to thread rules.

See the note from markis10 in post #4446

 

[Bjet]

<Redacted>

Contrary to thread rules.

See the note from markis10 in post #4446

 

[markis10]

Just remind everyone - Please do not ask crew which hotel they stay due to security reasons. Thanks

FWIW in the case of the question asked, Qantas and the hotel concerned actually put out a press release when the appointment was made.

Please also note the rules on this thread:

As this is an "ask the pilot" thread, we ask that non-pilot members refrain from answering questions that have been directed to pilots until the pilots members have had a good opportunity to answer the question (i.e. at least 7 days). Posts contrary to this request or discussions that get too far off topic may be removed or moved to a more appropriate thread or forum so we can retain order and respect in this thread.

 

[jb747]

I would've thought that the entire crew would stay together.

Kensington is nice, not far from where we stayed.

As for noisy guests, I'm hearing ya. People can be quite inconsiderate.

On the 380, we never stay in the same hotel. It varies from place to place, and is, I expect, a combination of the hotels' willingness to accommodate the numbers, and possibly differing contractural agreements. I agree with you that Kensington is a nice place.

it might surprise some of you, but I'm rarely aware of the hotel brand. As long as the rooms are quiet and the block out curtains work, and the Internet isn't knobbled, then my only criteria is the location.

 

[simongr]

I assume no loyalty/status points are awarded so the need to be aware of brand etc. is probably limited.

 

[legroom]

Apologies if this had been covered previously.

JB, is there any QF INT female captain yet ?

If yes, how many is it ?

If not, how far away is that date in your view ?

For example, have you worked with a female FO in any of your A380 yet ?

Probably not in your purview, but could you shed some light on the same issue on QF DOM as well ?

 

[simongr]

"In 1992 Sharelle Quinn became Australia’s first woman international captain when appointed by Qantas airlines. "

 

[jb747]

JB, is there any QF INT female captain yet ?

If yes, how many is it ?

If not, how far away is that date in your view ?

For example, have you worked with a female FO in any of your A380 yet ?

Probably not in your purview, but could you shed some light on the same issue on QF DOM as well ?

Whilst there are more male than female pilots, I think that has more to do with the supply than anything else. There are many in Qantas, spread across all of the divisions. I think there are only two female 744 Captains, and none on the 380, though there would have to be five or six with sufficient seniority. The girls have commands on all of the other fleets.

The longest serving have had command for the better part of 20 years.

 

[legroom]

Whilst there are more male than female pilots, I think that has more to do with the supply than anything else. There are many in Qantas, spread across all of the divisions. I think there are only two female 744 Captains, and none on the 380, though there would have to be five or six with sufficient seniority. The girls have commands on all of the other fleets.

The longest serving have had command for the better part of 20 years.

Thank you, JB.

Have you met or heard of any female A380 captain from another 1st tier airline?

Or, only Qantas is still female-less as far as A380 goes ?

 

[jb747]

Thank you, JB.

Have you met or heard of any female A380 captain from another 1st tier airline?

Or, only Qantas is still female-less as far as A380 goes ?

I have no idea whether there are any or not. Given the airlines that have most of the 380s, I'd suspect not....it is still a very small club.

 

[Ansett]

Hi JB

may not be the best time but do you have any thoughts or heard anything re the Asiana Crash?

 

[madrooster]

jb747,

I noticed the black on yellow gate numbers above each gate on the exterior of the terminal buildings do not match the customer-facing interior gate numbers. For example I think the 3 gates I've seen QF use are D2, D3 and D4 on the exterior but are really gates A9, A10 and A11 for customer-facing purposes on the interior. Concourse A on the exterior appears to have D-numbered gates on one side and A-numbered gates on the other for example.

Do you happen to know why DXB does this?

In places like LHR, they use numbers like gates 301, 303, 305 on the exterior but these at least correspond to Terminal 3, gates 1, 3 and 5 respectively for customer-facing/interior purposes.

 

[jb747]

Hi JB

may not be the best time but do you have any thoughts or heard anything re the Asiana Crash?

My bet is that it was more or less the same as Turkish at AMS.

 

[jb747]

jb747,

I noticed the black on yellow gate numbers above each gate on the exterior of the terminal buildings do not match the customer-facing interior gate numbers. For example I think the 3 gates I've seen QF use are D2, D3 and D4 on the exterior but are really gates A9, A10 and A11 for customer-facing purposes on the interior. Concourse A on the exterior appears to have D-numbered gates on one side and A-numbered gates on the other for example.

Do you happen to know why DXB does this?

In places like LHR, they use numbers like gates 301, 303, 305 on the exterior but these at least correspond to Terminal 3, gates 1, 3 and 5 respectively for customer-facing/interior purposes.

Gates and bays often have different designations. Even at Melbourne, they differ slightly (D17 vs. 17). The Dubai example is one of the more puzzling. There can be more than one parking bay serviced by one gate. This also happens in Melbourne, so we always have to be careful that we pick up the correct guidance, and don't try to line up with something meant for another type.

 

[tallboy]

I have no idea whether there are any or not. Given the airlines that have most of the 380s, I'd suspect not....it is still a very small club.

I believe that Lufthansa has at least one female A380 Captain, with numerous female Captains flying on other fleets.

As JB indicates, it would be unlikely at most other A380 operators, as some of them do not have any female pilots...

 

[legroom]

Hi JB,

What is the process at Qantas after an overseas incident like the recent Asiana 214?

Would there be an internal briefing / analysis provided by the Company Chief Pilot / Training Captain to the fleet captains / FOs once the official reports are published with all the facts known / analysed ?

Or, would it be a DIY process whereby you have to read the various reports yourself with no input from the hierarchy upstream ?

I'd like to think it is to be the former rather the later option but your confirmation would be appreciated.

Thank you, JB.

 

[mannej]

My bet is that it was more or less the same as Turkish at AMS.

Both had a crew member being checked/trained on board.

Does have a training captain on board add any more stress to the flight or should it be a non issue?