My delayed response!
Re: entries 210-214
Dear 1964nick, techproblem and dustybin,
I am glad you have had good experiences with Flybe - I guess someone has to! Perhaps there is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel for the ex bacon crew, I really hope so.
Personally speaking, I have been forced into redundancy at my preferred regional base, where I have been extremely happy for the last 11 years and it has come as a complete shock, as you can probably imagine. Like you, “dustybin”, for personal reasons I chose not to be based at LGW or LHR with another airline, but saying this I really didn’t expect to be given the choice of relocating to BHX or EXT, both 80 miles away, when the merger took place. It was also very upsetting to find out that if I did relocate I would lose my 11 years seniority, a week’s annual leave, my basic pay would be red-ringed (or frozen for the immediate future), and my private medical cover would cease to exist.
Perhaps now, it is clearer why I am not pro Flybe! If the situation had been reversed and Bacon had taken over Flybe and the three of you had found yourself in my position with the very few options I had, I am sure you would also feel slightly aggrieved to put it mildly. A bit of empathy wouldn’t go amiss…
Flybe have lost, and are continuing to lose, some exceptional crew - both cabin crew and flight deck and I hope they haven’t shot themselves in the proverbial foot by their treatment of ex Bacon crew. By the way “1964nick,” if Flybe are so wonderful to work for, then why are you leaving to take up employment with Bmed? Seems a tad hypocritical…
Anyway, thank you to all those people that have sent me personal messages of support. It’s very much appreciated and I wish you all the very best of luck. Me thinks, you’re going to need it, I’m sorry to say. Happy flying, I sincerely mean it.
PS To answer your question “dustybin,” NO, I do not think Flybe cabin crew “can’t get into other airlines.” I think the majority of cabin crew all choose to fly for their chosen airline but having worked for Flybe, all be it for a short time, I am quite surprised to learn that ex fliers from “bigger airlines than BA” have chosen to compromise in such a dramatic way just to be at their chosen base. Like you point out “dusty,” maybe some of the smaller bases don’t have an awful lot of airlines to choose from.