Originally Posted by
Pander216
Djeez, you are comparing the acquisition and integration of Air UK that was 25 years ago, with becoming a mainline pilot these days? That was a whole different ballgame. If anything, you can say that the UK pilots that took the mainline contract and learned Dutch are all very happy and respected colleagues. They are transitioning now to captain longhaul, whereas the pilots that chose not to integrate indeed had these problems.
We can also include the MP debacle that is still in court? Also the MP pilots that took the mainline contract are already captain 737.
If anything, it shows it is best if you go on a KLM mainline contract.
You are cherry picking a little here.
Firstly, when the opportunity came to get a KLM contract it meant immediately leaving the pilots UK base and moving to an AMS base, either uprooting a family or a tiring commute, for many years. The UK bases were shut later. Secondly, learning Dutch wasn't a factor in any pilot's decision-making process. Thirdly, I don't know of any ex-KLM UK pilots who have yet enough seniority for Captain long haul.
By the way, I find your use of the word 'integrate', let's say, 'unfortunate' here. The very few UK pilots still on a UK contract operate to the same terms, conditions and standards as their Dutch colleagues do and are rostered the same. Typical problems they have had, occurring when their UK bases were shut, are the same problems their ex-colleagues faced.