Yes I am out of the loop with EasyJet
But I am in the loop with BA
I did 24 years to command and I started from school!! Thats why I am still here..
Our current retirement age of 55 will change after 2006 by law so the old timers like me who were due to retire 2007+ will probably stay.
The rewards were always at the end of the rainbow in BA, you have to be young at the start.
BA has in the last 10 years taken in large numbers 1000 + of young cadets under 30 some at 23, the early ones were lucky and got quick commands after me. But there are a lot of older cadets and later direct entry pilots that do not have the seniority relative to age. They at best can expect to be junior captains on shorthaul or permanent longhaul copilots.
In short if you are over 30 forget BA.
To add to this you have to say that BA is in trouble our own Chief Exec has said so. Costs have to be cut etc. I feel in a few years Easyjet will have forced us to contract shorthaul, we will never be able to compete with our massive overheads which are not related to or under the control of the pilots.
We have dumped the final salary pension scheme for new pilots, and anybody joining now will be the first of the low contributary style pension group.
True the salary at the top is the best in the uk industry with GROSS salary incl everything BEFORE DEDUCTIONS of about 11000 to 12000 a month. BUT THATS THE TOP AND AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
We have a longevity pay structure so you have to have done more than 25 years AND be on a senior captain on the 777 or 747 to get that sort of money.
Most DEPS and older cadets will NEVER GET THERE!!!!!!!
The copilots and captains on shorthaul get similar money to every other operator like Easy Jet.
Hence my warning BEWARE of Pots of Gold you cannot reach. It is not the nirvana that everyone thinks.
Last edited by WhoopWhoop Whoops; 3rd May 2004 at 18:25.