Well, I seem to be posting quite often on this thread and I am not even in the same company as the 'twins'
, but I am still singing from the same song sheet....
I also used to work for DHL Air UK, before the T & G it must be said. It was a good job in that it payed the bills, was as solid as rock (no fluctuations in pax due to world events and perceived terrorist 'risk'!) and they have a very nice UK base in EMA, etc etc. BUT, and it's a big but, you went away for 5 or 6 nights off round Europe and the only timings that were rigid on the roster were the start and end times of the 'tour'. The rest was irrelevant as their operation required constant change to make it work. This wasn't a problem, but the constant nights takes its toll and requires a certain 'type' to fit in. Many, many guys who were there when I joined have now left, I have even seen a name of a former colleague appear on our latest seniority list some 3 years after I joined.
The pay was ok, the pension crap and there wasn't much else to it. If the T & G can get a better package there then good luck to them, but it wasn't a career airline then and isn't going to be one no matter what they (or anyone else) does. You flew about 300hrs a year but clocked up as many duty hours as a charter or low-cost pilot, spending many an hour in a smokey crew room somewhere around the network in the wee hours. If you have kids (or get them) it's a nightmare as you never see them and when you do you are jet-lagged. I know captains there still who are looking to leave.
Holding DHL up as a shining example to Jet2 guys of the benefits of T & G membership I am afraid is a non-starter, pretty much like the T & G have been thus far in DHL. Nothing has changed since I was there from what I hear.
PP