Yet again it has to be forcefully pointed out that what airlines say they prefer, especially in FTO publicity material and at conferences, is often at complete odds with reality.
Actually it is utter tosh and we see them giving the sheepish glances at the experienced when they utter this crap.
Starters, what BA prefer is a nice day out, some good company, lunch and a few drinks then say what people want to hear. They aint in the market for low timers, haven't been for years and show no sign of being so in the near or middle future.
Anyone, I mean anyone care to rebut that statement?
Even more egregious is the bollocks about Emirates. Emirates, like Virgin doesn't touch low timers. Never has done. A significant proportion of their new entry ex-pat effo's are moving from the left seats of jets from well respected airlines. The rest have several years airline experience.
Again: Anyone of you out there care to naysay that??
That's last one is especially sick if it's being spouted on the Balpa website. I will be having words when I'm there in the next couple of weeks. Emirates and Virgin are second or third jobs in your career.
One of the reasons for starting this forum in the first place was to stop this nonsensical chinese whispers business. If you trust any FTO employee who allows these stories to simmer, percolate and spread you deserve everything you get.
It's bloody marketing and nothing else. Airlines and FTO's backslapping, padding their images and having a nice day out. There is an established circuit around the shows and conferences. Same faces, same presentations, same lines being pedalled. Anyone in the business more than 3 years care to pick holes in that?
Be warned, you are playing with large amounts of money and potentially missing significant savings in the present market. In the case of the large schools you are financing their overheads in keeping the glossy simulators and marketing departments ticking over in the hope of jam for them tomorrow with cadet courses from airlines.
Regards
Rob Lloyd
Last edited by PPRuNe Towers; 28th January 2004 at 06:40.