Doug the Head - always a pleasure. As one who hates and despises easyJet, which of course you are entitled to do, what mystifies me is why you are still here. There are numerous opportunities to go elsewhere, and some great guys are heading off out the door of easyJet. Why are you not joining them? You feel I have some relationship with our management that simply does not exist, but we are all entitled to our little fantasies to brighten up those dark nights at easyJet. I have a realistic view of life here - which includes both the good and the bad. For all its numerous hassles, I fundamentally enjoy it and will therefore stay. You hate it and therefore you should leave - it really is that simple.
Love them or hate them, our managers are the people with whom we have to deal. I do not like our Ops Director any more than any other pilot at easyJet, but have no doubt he will be soon be drying his eyes on Fifty Pound notes on the way out the door. My point is that all airlines are full of money-grabbing, bonus-hunting losers trying to make a quick buck over two or three years before clearing off to their next burglary. All airlines are also full of whining, bleating negative pilots who have hated every company they have ever worked for and would only be happy if their company went bankrupt - you are that man Doug. The idea that easyJet is the only company in that category is clearly nonsense and I am therefore happy to fight it out here.
There is much pontificating on here about the evils of low-cost and that is fine if that is what floats your boat. The fact is that there are literally thousands of pilots in jet jobs now who would never had had them were it not for low-cost. Does that mean we should accept the constant attacks on our terms and conditions? Absolutely not. Does that mean that we should accept the crazy and ludicrous actions of incompetent managers who can save thousands but lose millions through their own foolishness? Not a chance. What it does mean is taking part in credible and professional dialogue with the team you have to play against, rather than the one you wish you were playing instead. What gives me so little patience for this constant negative 'I hate easyJet' drivel is that it is completely problem-centric rather than offering solutions to the real difficulties we face. That does not mean we should deny the existence of the problems, but it does mean we should work to see them resolved rather than throw our hands in the air and just surrender without a fight.
So go on Doug, and your numpty mate superced - get a proper job in Utopian Airways where your 'talents' will be fully appreciated, they will pay you twice as money for doing half the work, give you 10 weeks' leave in the summer and pay 25% into your pension and give you bonuses just like the management. I know that company is out there - I keep looking every week in Flight International but somehow the advert just keeps getting ripped out before the postman delivers it.