What a bleak picutre you guys paint of LHR.
I would hasten to add that I'm in no doubt that it is the truth. However ETOPS does have the right attitude and break the ice with the ICCM and everything goes a bit better from then.
It is true Cabin Crew can be an odd bunch SOMETIMES. Money of course is a big motivator (especially in somewhere like GVA where a pint is £5).
At LHR people have been around for years as the pay is good and they've probably been to that destination loads of times and to be honest "it's just a job". Not that they don't do it well, it's just the shine of being downroute has worn away long ago.
You really haven't had a LGW perspective on here either and although not a pilot I'd like to put my 10 pence worth in. Most peeps on here seem to be giving you the WWLHR favour of things, and EFLGW/SFLGW is as I would say "a different gravy".
It's a hard working fleet that trawls around europe (at the moment
) on 737's that have seen far better days. Always seen as the poor (in more ways that one) relation to all the other fleets, EFLGW as that "Dunkirk Spirit" of working together (pilots and crew) to get things done. We also have a great relationship with most of our pilots (there are always exceptions), because....that's the way it's always been.
The majority or the crew at the moment are a combination of ex EOG, CFE, and DAN AIR people. Companies or subsidiaries that have always has a culture of the crews working and playing TOGETHER. Of course with a smaller fleet where you see of fly with most people at least once of twice a year, things are going to be a bit more cozy as well.
The average age of crew at EFLGW has always been pretty low as the crew generally move to LHR or leave, so we've always had a constant influx of new crew. The Average age of Pursers is of course much lower as crew are eligable of promotion after 2 years, not invited in seniority order as at LHR.
With the onset of the single fleet, again things are changing again. What was a fleet that was a bit down and worked bloody hard without the big rewards, is getting it's chance to play with the rich kids toys.
The fleet is buzzing with excitment and everyone seems to be on a promotion and training course of somesort. Add to this an intake of 700 new recruits (OMG they're young!) who are eager and proud to be working for BA, as well as try out the shandy in the local bars. You can imagine what SFLGW is going to be like come Oct1st.
All routes will have been handed over to SFLGW by Feb 1st aznd I can assure you that the crew WILL NOT BE STAYING IN for at least the first 6 months.
Hope that paints a different picture of life in BA for you. It just depends where you are. Unfortunately people evevitably go to LHR for the cash and of course way of life (which as it would seem of here is not all it's cracked up to be), pilots and crew alike.
See you all in Carribean soon!
