Airlines are weird!  Most of them (the US carriers) are treading quicksand, and chopping salaries and benefits.  Being pinched from the 9-11 shutdown and high fuel prices.  But some things never change.

My Wife is friends with this lady in Dallas (my wife lived there before we met and married).  She works for a major Airline (name to be withheld - but some may guess it).  Anyway, once a year (she is a dispatcher BTW), she is required to jump seat a 5 hour trip (at least 5 hours round trip).  She thought she had this year back in April.  But her due date is June and it has to be taken within 30 days of her due date, so the April flight did not count. 

So she popped into Richmond Va to visit us and have lunch!  She is now on her way back.

Now this is not a perk!  It is a requirement!  And as anyone knows, the more weight a plane takes, the more fuel it uses.  So her trip was not free to the airline, just to her.  And yet it is required.

I guess I will not understand US Airlines.  They cry and moan and ask for salary and benefit concessions, yet require the non-flight people to take flights at least once a year. (The Benes of working for the airlines is that you do get free - via stand by - flights anywhere they fly).

Listening to her story today, I just thanked my lucky stars that I dont work for an airline.  Those Job requirements are crazy!