Despite my reservations, I'm joining BALPA and quitting the IPA/IPF.
With tax relief it's cheaper than I thought for the first couple of years, and if there is no representation by then I won't have spent much.
I'm happy at Jet2 and certainly don't want to see a gulf between the pilots and a friendly management, but a bit of constructive consultation wouldn't go amiss.
My concern is that quite a few pilots seemed determined to leave for a top job and therefore regard the future of Jet2 as irrelevant to them. But not everyone can join the best employers. For the benefit of all of us, I urge as many as possible to join BALPA asap. Even on the bottom F/O salary, hopefully you can afford the net sub of around £11 per month?
Pilot Pete et al, it's okay, you don't need to flame me with "told you so" - but I expect you will!