I think BALPA should be giving us more for our 50 quid.
With the current format, it would have been better spent on another hour in the log book. (Or inventing a age-reverser to get back under 30!!)
It's all very well BALPA getting together 20 or so airlines, but the format of the day needs completely reviewing. The presentations were ok - it's never easy standing up in front of 400 people telling them they're not wanted. But the bun fight/queue to be told you've: not enough hours/too old/not integrated is a complete waste of time.
Why not provide the prospective employers a list of all attendees, grouped and sorted by experience - preferably a few days in advance. If they spot someone they like the look of - have a quick chat on the day and invite them to interview. It can't be a best use of time to try and get 400 people queueing up to see the same people to be told the same thing, over and over.
The timing of the conference needs reviewing too: Many operators said they hadn't yet got their plans together for Summer 2005, so couldn't give any useful recruitment figures. Maybe the EOC needs to be mid-Nov instead?
Summary: Waste of £50 plus parking, plus petrol, plus time. But with a few refinements, could be a very useful day.