BA Staff Travel - who is eligible?

[cellstar]

Hi there, I wonder if someone could clarify something for me.

My brother works for BA and has his partner nominated for his staff travel.
Each time he looks up tickets for me via his staff login, he says he can only get me hotline tickets?

Is this still correct, that as his Brother I'm only eligible for hotline tickets? The reason for asking rather than expecting him to be able to confirm this is that he works nights and is not very computer literate and if I can point him to the right section of the staff website etc?

Many thanks,

[Hand Solo]

You can nominate two people, and change them every six months. If you're not nominated then you're not eligible. Perhaps he doesn't want to nominate you for 6 month? Or at all?

[vctenderness]

Are you sure about that? I thought you could only nominate one person.

[Airclues]

Hand Solo is correct.

[cellstar]

Thanks for the replies, he only has one person nominated so we'll see if I can get added.

Cheers all

[Evanelpus]

cellstar

Ever thought he might be giving you a hint?

[cellstar]

Could be, what with this and always forgetting his wallet when we go to the pub, hmmm

[ExSp33db1rd]

........ and to give you that privilege BA have kicked out from Staff Travel the Oldies who long helped create the airline that your brother now has the privilege of working for.

Don't anyone keep repeating that S.T. is only a "concession" that can be withdrawn at any time, I knew that in 1958 when I signed up for a promise of S.T. for life in retirement, I'd be willing to forego the new benefits if I could keep that which I was promised - and worked for. Barstewards.

You can nominate two people, and change them every six months.
Are you sure about that? I thought you could only nominate one person.
Hand Solo is correct.

I too thought it was only 1 person, but that might be for the retired - now known as Former Staff - but I'm away from home and can't check my files, and anyway I only have access to the rules for Former Staff anyway, and am now barred from the ESS site to check.

If still serving staff can indeed take 2 "travel companions" and change them every 6 months, that's worse than I thought, assuming a career from - say - mid-twenties to retirement age of 65, that's some 40 years, which could potentially amount to some 160 people who have done absolutely NOTHING towards the interest or welfare of BA, and to accommodate them you have kicked out those of us who at least contributed to the present day success of BA.

Double barstewards.

[Hand Solo]

...you have kicked out those of us who at least contributed to the present day success of BA.

But who don't contribute anymore is what BA would say. For the purpose of full disclosure could you state when you left BA? I still find at least two 24 priority retired staff on most flights, who may well be denying a seat to 54 priority BA staff who are currently contributing to the present day success of BA.

[Evanelpus]

But who don't contribute anymore is what BA would say. For the purpose of full disclosure could you state when you left BA? I still find at least two 24 priority retired staff on most flights, who may well be denying a seat to 54 priority BA staff who are currently contributing to the present day success of BA.

This is well out of order Hand.

What difference should it make whether you still work for BA or not. If it was an entitlement before retirement you still have a right to use it irrespective of the fact you may take a seat wanted by a current BA employee.

I hope you think the same when you are in that position.

[Hand Solo]

Well I disagree. The aviation industry is subject to constant change. I've personally seen my staff travel benefits watered down, my pension hammered, my retirement delayed by ten years and my productivity increased until the pips squeak in my time in BA. Not for the current generation of BA employees are the perks of APS, retirement at 55, 400 hours per year of flying with long slips in exotic places in genuinely first class hotels. So on that basis, it doesn't cut a great deal of ice with current employees when those from the golden era of BOAC/BEA complain that promises made to them decades ago are no longer being honoured. They'll find sympathy a little thin on the ground, just as they do when they write yet another letter to the BALPA Log complaining about the issue.

And if BA terminate my staff travel in retirement? Well I'll just have to suck it up like all the other detrimental changes we've all had to swallow.

[ExSp33db1rd]

But who don't contribute anymore is what BA would say.........

and how much do the potential 160 total of "Travel Companions" free-loaders contribute ?

Your answer is exactly that of BA management and staff towards the retired, i.e. You're Alright, Jack, (the HYPPO priniple - Here's Your Pension, P**s Off ) and of course you'll never retire, will you, so why should you even give it thought ?

Don't worry, you'll never come across me on any BA service as a, now, full fare passenger denying you a Standby seat, my hard earned pension ( set on early 80's rates of pay, just in case you ask ) will go to keep other airlines in business.

Don't bother to reply, I'm outta here.

[vctenderness]

Hand Solo

When you look at the wait list and see someone with a DOJ in 2014 has a higher priority than you with 40 years of loyal service to the airline you may see it differently.

We went through a hell,of a lot of change during our careers I can assure you and not all of it good.

[Hand Solo]

and how much do the potential 160 total of "Travel Companions" free-loaders contribute ?

There's no such thing as a 'Travel Companion', only nominees, who may be the staff members spouse, or children, or parents, or other such free-loaders.

Your answer is exactly that of BA management and staff towards the retired, i.e. You're Alright, Jack, (the HYPPO priniple - Here's Your Pension, P**s Off ) and of course you'll never retire, will you, so why should you even give it thought ?

One might suggest that your attitude is typical of some of the more militant retirees, still trying to extract goodies from the company decades after you've left. I'll have a guess that you retired at 55, which means you've had 20+ years outside the company now. I'll be lucky to be in a fit state to travel 20 years after I get to retire!

Don't worry, you'll never come across me on any BA service as a, now, full fare passenger denying you a Standby seat, my hard earned pension ( set on early 80's rates of pay, just in case you ask ) will go to keep other airlines in business.

So where's the problem? Just by full fare tickets for your important travel like so many BA staff do. We don't fly to New Zealand anyway.

VC - I regularly see people with a 2014 DoJ ahead of me, but a quick look at the priority codes on the company intranet will tell you why they are ahead of you.

[Flap62]

HandSolo,

Agree with you 100%

ExSpdBrd

Give it a rest! No matter what the thread you manage to come on and whine incessantly about how you've been badly treated. You know what, times change. I have nothing near the benefits I was promised when I joined BA but, you know what, I am mature enough to accept that the world has changed. You typify a lot of the older generation who (counter intuitively) think that the world still owes them a living. For someone of your age it might be strange to hear it but - grow up! Thank God you no longer fly BA, you would be a complete nightmare to sit next to. No matter what, the wine would be to cold/warm, the food too spicy/bland etc. Just let it go!

[blind pew]

Interesting Blinkered responses!
When the likes of exspeedbird and myself started we couldn't afford to live on our "salaries" nor use "concessions".
We put up watching the "Atlantic Barons" fly and the their obnoxious behaviour to make the industry what it was twenty years ago.
True we lived the life of caviar, champagne, debutants and pop star's parties but we fought for a decent salary, conditions and a reasonable retirement.
What have you got now...crap salaries, no pensions and idiots having to work beyond a sensible age....(when they should be playing bowls).
So while some of you have been criticizing exspeedbird and his likes (I don't have any concessions because my last company was sold down the river by those without spines) they gave as a legacy carrier career to be proud of which NONE of you will ever experience.
Tant Pis

[Ancient Observer]

"the wine would be to cold/warm, the food too spicy/bland etc."

How did you guess?

Er, and the cabin is much too hot/cold, and this seat is too small/big.

As a retired customer, rather than a retired employee, I would add that exspeedbird forgets to mention all the goodies that have been removed from customers.............(Like my permanent silver status)

[blind pew]

you forget to add seats that recline...getting to the airport ten mins before push back instead of a couple of hours...not taking your socks and shoes off at security.....knowing that if the #### hits the fan the pilots can actually do a quick circuit and land instead of flying around london waiting for maintrol to let you know what you should do (let the computors sort it out)....the list is endless but at least I can now chose with whom I can fly....back to the cold plonk..

[G-F0RC3]

Businesses need to adapt to stay competitive. Sometimes this involves making unpopular decisions that contradict previous policies and procedures. I do feel for the people whom this impacts, but ultimately this is the reality of running an airline business in an incredibly competitive market. If BA did not adapt to the changes in the industry then it would no longer exist.

It's also worth noting that BA is not the only airline that has had to make such changes. Name one non-state-sponsored legacy carrier that hasn't had to evolve to avoid being blown away by the LCCs?