I have just heard through the grapevine that recruiters at LHR are finding it really hard to fill the new CSM positions on Mixed Fleet.
Apparently they have plenty of young people wanting to be main crew or Future Talent but getting people from other airlines to apply for the CSM position is proving very hard. The applicants have to have had previous 'In charge' experience and as well as that, external applicants need to have had 'in charge experience' with an airline that operates long haul flights.
Apparently, they had thought more current BA cabin crew might have applied but a lot of current crew either don't want to work on Mixed Fleet terms and conditions or don't have previous 'in charge' experience, which the CAA are insisting on, due to it being a new fleet.
The actual CSM pay does not compare that well to other airline SCCMs pay and also has a lot of other administrative duties which requires the CSMs to live close to LHR as some duties involve working in the CRC at LHR.
The bizarre part of all of this is that they currently have too many CSDs on E/F which is a result of the 757 going and the shrinking of E/F because of Mixed Fleet taking some of the routes.
You just couldn't make it up!!