I think it is an impossible task for us mere minions to decifer "REAL" flight crew costs from the little we can truly gather about franchise costs, BA overheads, costs to BA for Brand versus cost of franchise to GB for BA branding(despite an earlier post Easyjet, Ryanair and GO have spent 100's of millions on their branding over the past couple years, otherwise their profits would be nearer their revenue and triple that reported) turnaround costs, forced service providers for refueling/cleaning , pensions, etc.
What all us pilots need to acknowledge is that airline management and accountants are using us all as pawns against each other in their grand schemes of personal promotion. This year they might profess BA/LGW pilots are expensive, next year GB pilots. All the while we fight against each other instead of supporting each other. A pay rise for another outfit means better pay for us all over the coming years. BA have played LHR versus LGW pilots against each other in the same manner for years, why should this game not be as successful between franchises.
It is not about efficiency or BA flight crew take-home pay why routes have been lost, and if you believe that then you may oneday be steamrolled from behind also. I have warned that some of the BA posts will be angry out of frustration to prevent a derioration that is not borne out of our hard work. The real enemy lies in the hidden detail and the handshakes behind closed doors.
Pilots must realise that all our pay and conditions have continually declined for the last decade or more. It will continue to do so until we wake up to the fact that the average Joe's wages on the street have risen to above those in our lower ranks. We are no longer seen as a profession, and this is reflected in all our pay. Instead of worrying about your own tiny back-yards lets get the big picture and put an end to this ROT. If we were all overpaid I don't think we would waste so much time fighting over a few routes. And finally, ask yourselves why have those in our union that we have all paid full-time money to protect our terms and conditions have failed so miserably. It's time for change folks.
Last edited by airrage; 19th May 2002 at 00:10.