What a hot subject.
I live well within the one-hour travel time to LGW. I agree with most of what’s been said re the work schedule practices of most airlines.
Fact is you can’t just switch off and sleep in the day before a night standby because in my experience you are doing day flights just prior to the night flights and you have to be rested for them as well.
Doing longhaul flight and then battling the M25 is a joy that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
I agree we all need to take responsibility for our rest, along with the companies we work for.
Since it would seem that our passengers are quite rightly concerned about our fitness to operate without adequate sleep and then drive home, I am only too happy to book myself a room. Since I am a professional pilot I’m now out of pocket and my BALPA CC will be putting in a pay adjustment claim to the Company I work for, which will no doubt pass the cost on to our passengers.
Problem solved…or not, now the fare paying public start complaining about the price hike…