A Very British Airline?
Join Date: Apr 2002
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New Management Loyalty To Long Serving Staff.
If you look at the Board's profile, 10-20 years ago the directors mostly had quite a few years service with BA themselves. As time has gone on the Board's experience within BA has diminished considerably. Hence less loyalty to existing staff. With regard to Engineers A and C is quite right. The lack of a proper apprentice scheme means in my department the youngest ex-apprentices are close to 40 years old now. Over the last 20 plus years BA has failed to recruit any significant number of new entrants and that leaves a yawning gap to the 18 year olds starting now. 
Ok. Some of us ex Bealiners did not base our retirement around staff travel so really don't care.
Did Bealine fly far enough away to need Staff Travel ?
Goodbye.
Last edited by ExSp33db1rd; 8th Jun 2014 at 22:06.
Mistrust in Management
Nobody builds their retirement around staff travel. I'm sure ex speedbird did not.
However he (as were many of us) were made promises which quite simply were not kept. Bit like the BA pensions fiasco where we were promised that those of us who elected to stay in APS (and not take the money) would be protected. Won't go into the details of the mess that followed but ex speedbird will have the full picture.
Such promises keep one loyal to the airline be it ex daylight division or long haul baron. To break those promises is quite simply immoral - that is BA management.
Back on subject. The program was OK although I'd had enough of Cabin Crew training and went off to the study for a fag. The silly 19 year old who couldn't speak properly should never have been taken on in the first place - felt sorry for her because BA screwed up yet again in the interview process.
The large fellow who was given the boot. As always you feel for anybody who fails - but that is life and I hope he learns something from it all. (Looking at the big hand and the little hand will be a good start)
The bubbing after the big chap got the boot left me in a bit of amazement. In life people sometimes fail - we don't all have to take a 15 minute bubbing break. Have a chat with him later and buy him a couple of pints - all sorted (oh and tell him what the big hand and the little hand actually mean)
All in all not a bad prog for the Beeb and good free advertising for BA.
I will get the Mrs (ex longhaul purser) to watch the other progs and let me know if any are worth catching up on.
Very much looking forward to anything on engineering in BA. Also interested in in Flt Ops as I went over to the 'dark side' from engineering many years ago.
Kind regards
Exeng
However he (as were many of us) were made promises which quite simply were not kept. Bit like the BA pensions fiasco where we were promised that those of us who elected to stay in APS (and not take the money) would be protected. Won't go into the details of the mess that followed but ex speedbird will have the full picture.
Such promises keep one loyal to the airline be it ex daylight division or long haul baron. To break those promises is quite simply immoral - that is BA management.
Back on subject. The program was OK although I'd had enough of Cabin Crew training and went off to the study for a fag. The silly 19 year old who couldn't speak properly should never have been taken on in the first place - felt sorry for her because BA screwed up yet again in the interview process.
The large fellow who was given the boot. As always you feel for anybody who fails - but that is life and I hope he learns something from it all. (Looking at the big hand and the little hand will be a good start)
The bubbing after the big chap got the boot left me in a bit of amazement. In life people sometimes fail - we don't all have to take a 15 minute bubbing break. Have a chat with him later and buy him a couple of pints - all sorted (oh and tell him what the big hand and the little hand actually mean)
All in all not a bad prog for the Beeb and good free advertising for BA.
I will get the Mrs (ex longhaul purser) to watch the other progs and let me know if any are worth catching up on.
Very much looking forward to anything on engineering in BA. Also interested in in Flt Ops as I went over to the 'dark side' from engineering many years ago.
Kind regards
Exeng
exeng - thank you.
Precisely - guess which airline won't be getting the remnants of my pension for air travel from now on ? Don't give a stuff.
Such promises keep one loyal to the airline...........
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Concessions for life.
I believe that you are now entitled to concessions on retirement equal to your years of service. If you have served 30 years and retire at 65 then you are entitled to your concessions until you are 95. I would think that the last thing you would want to do at that age would be to be on Stand-by and have to run to the gate!!
I have my concessions for another 5 years but I hardly ever use them as I would rather go as a commercial passenger (the fares are not that different now).
The old deal was no doubt better but the new one is not too bad really, as far as I am concerned anyway.
I have my concessions for another 5 years but I hardly ever use them as I would rather go as a commercial passenger (the fares are not that different now).
The old deal was no doubt better but the new one is not too bad really, as far as I am concerned anyway.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Looking forward to the training segment where cabin crew learn to eat during boarding and and at the same time how to ignore a pax with a missing seat belt.
As for the touchy feely sacking, and sharing the 'pain' with the group with a 5 minute recess, priceless.
As for the touchy feely sacking, and sharing the 'pain' with the group with a 5 minute recess, priceless.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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I'll stick to easyJet for my European flights, at least they don't suffer from delusions of grandeur and you know what to expect, consistently pleasant and friendly service and not a bunch of prissy queens and arrogant tarts.
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"Episode 1. Cabin crew member briefing colleagues..."we have a chablais (sic) here which is a chardonnay, 
"
Err, Chablis is made with the Chardonnay grape. Chablais in Switzerland, although famous for Chasselas also has a small acreage producing Chardonnay, so either interpretation is correct
"Err, Chablis is made with the Chardonnay grape. Chablais in Switzerland, although famous for Chasselas also has a small acreage producing Chardonnay, so either interpretation is correct
Let's not forget that next week we get to see some young hero future Nigels in the A320 next week. Should be worth a laugh or two. I bet they don't show the bit where they go "what's it doing now?" 
Actually, some interesting CRM points from the one last night - their man in New York was busy trying to tell their Ops where a Captain could and couldn't divert to as it would make things too tough for them looking after pax. While I agree you should be thinking about commercial, ops will quite happily lead you down a nasty dark blind alley should you let them - in this case, "that short, contaminated runway with RVR550 OVC002 has lots of nice empty hotel rooms nearby, Captain"
Actually, some interesting CRM points from the one last night - their man in New York was busy trying to tell their Ops where a Captain could and couldn't divert to as it would make things too tough for them looking after pax. While I agree you should be thinking about commercial, ops will quite happily lead you down a nasty dark blind alley should you let them - in this case, "that short, contaminated runway with RVR550 OVC002 has lots of nice empty hotel rooms nearby, Captain"
Join Date: May 2010
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The bit I found most ridiculous in the first episode was the idea that a buckle from a shoulder bag making a small scratch in the plastic around some FC seat would result in precious time wasted buffing it out or repairing it. Maybe for the inaugural flight but not every single time it happens. Any passenger that complains about a minuscule scratch like that should be shown the door. (at 30,000 ft)
The point about food is also well made. BA have always done this. They try to feast the eyes and not the palette. Some foods just don't work at 30,000 ft and soufflé is just barmy. More relevant to the ego of the chef than the passenger.
L
The point about food is also well made. BA have always done this. They try to feast the eyes and not the palette. Some foods just don't work at 30,000 ft and soufflé is just barmy. More relevant to the ego of the chef than the passenger.
L
"that short, contaminated runway with RVR550 OVC002 has lots of nice empty hotel rooms nearby, Captain"
Operating Perth - Auckland, we carried Island Reserve, not a designated alternate, but due to the AKL - slightly - dodgy forecast he demanded extra fuel to make Sydney, not popular but he did it anyway.
At ToD AKL it was very foggy, and not expected to clear anytime soon, so gleefully diverted to SYD, with an " I told you so" expression.
Shortly afterwards the Company rep. asked why he was going to SYD with a load of pax. travelling to New Zealand when Christchurch was wide open and clearly within range. So.... he turned back - I know, I know, but he did.
Arriving at CHCH. it proved to be even more foggy than AKL, so with AKL having a better ILS, and facilities ( in those days at least ) and a 'possibility' of a midday clearance, he went back to AKL, held until fuel was a consideration, and eventually cobbled up the auto-land and never did see the ground until they automatically landed on it.
He had a well known, voluble, Flt. Engineer. He said "Dave" was very quiet on that approach !
I think he was exonerated on the grounds of incorrect Met. information, dunno, long time ago now, but knowing NZ, quite likely !
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Great programme..It reminded me why I love flying so much with the Scouse Cabin Crews of Easyjet. The wannabee`s they had dug up sounded like a chorus line from Roedean School and the only one with with a normal accent got fired.
It made you think that if you were unfortunate enough to be flying economy with this circus you would be well and truely looked down on as failure who could`nt afford business or above (half of those flying said class couldnt afford it on their own either)..
If you want to know how bad they are ask Capt Peter Birkhill
It made you think that if you were unfortunate enough to be flying economy with this circus you would be well and truely looked down on as failure who could`nt afford business or above (half of those flying said class couldnt afford it on their own either)..
If you want to know how bad they are ask Capt Peter Birkhill
I know I keep banging on about loss of Staff Travel, but we took our last trip a few months ago and yes, we were upgraded, thank you, and yes I was wearing jacket and tie, thank you (unlike them what had paid full price for their seats) but No, we weren't allowed to have a tablecloth to eat our meal off, 'cos we were "staff", and No, we weren't allowed knapkins, either. I helped myself to paper towels out of the toilet. I kid you not.
I'm truly glad that now I will be paying full fare like everyone else, I won't have to put up with B.A. ever again. I have a choice now. (and I won't have to travel with a tie, either !)
And No, I didn't watch the film, "Contents not available in your location" I'm glad to say, I'll keep my memories of how it used to be. "BOAC Takes Good Care Of You" used to be the slogan, World's Favourite ?? Yeah ! Right !
Goodbye.
I'm truly glad that now I will be paying full fare like everyone else, I won't have to put up with B.A. ever again. I have a choice now. (and I won't have to travel with a tie, either !)
And No, I didn't watch the film, "Contents not available in your location" I'm glad to say, I'll keep my memories of how it used to be. "BOAC Takes Good Care Of You" used to be the slogan, World's Favourite ?? Yeah ! Right !
Goodbye.
Join Date: Jul 2001
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You don't have to marry her, B.A. staff can now nominate a "travel companion" - who need not be related, and also have no connection whatsoever to B.A. - to take with them at the same "Staff Travel" rates, and ..change that nominee every 6 months, that's a potential 90 strangers over a possible lifetime career ! Make friends with one, NOW !
To achieve this B.A. have terminated Staff Travel concessions to those of us who gave a lifetime of service, and were promised concessions for the rest of our retirement as a result. "Integrity" is not a word known to B.A. management.
To achieve this B.A. have terminated Staff Travel concessions to those of us who gave a lifetime of service, and were promised concessions for the rest of our retirement as a result. "Integrity" is not a word known to B.A. management.
Rest assured those that make the rules won't loose their travel
Mr Angry from Purley
a.k.a. one Willie Walsh.
note - he's not taking on Iberia - they keep theirs !
I guess another Spanish Armada is more than he can cope with - we're a bit short of Francis Drakes' these days !
Rest assured those that make the rules won't lose their travel
note - he's not taking on Iberia - they keep theirs !
I guess another Spanish Armada is more than he can cope with - we're a bit short of Francis Drakes' these days !