Astraeus (merged)

[Lexy]

Is anyone on here starting training with Astraeus on April 4th?

[Hostessmostess]

Hope you get on ok, but Puritan why was Astraeus's permision to train at Manston withdrawn indefinitely?


Source: http://www.m-a-g.fsnet.co.uk/macc/03_09_25.htm

4.1 Complaints: In comparison with the same period in 2002, the number of complaints had fallen. Of the ten incidents attracting the most complaints, the top three had been training flights.

4.1.1 Investigations into an Astraeus training flight on 5th June had shown transgression of at least two regulations. As a consequence, permission for that operator to conduct training at Manston had been withdrawn indefinitely.

[flymeboy]

Dare I say :

Who cares about the above post here!

A fellow ppruner posted a question and you responded with that?!?!?!?!?!?!

Hope you enjoy your time at Astraeus!

FMB x

[atyourcervix73]

Hostess.....you sad sad sad person....

How "balanced" of you to single out astraeus..when Air Atlantique, Air Atlanta, The MOD....have all been subject to complaints of one form or another. Once again you have singlehandedly destroyed your intergrity with a shallow personal attack about something that quite frankly you are ill imformed and completely unqualified to comment with any authority. The report in question makes note of the breach of "local regulations" which can vary from departing after a set time...to perhaps the overflight of noise sensitive areas.....hardly serious breaches of air safety dont you think? I guess opinions are like [email protected] everyone has one.....eh hostess?:hmm:

[wheelbarrow]

another bitter ole bird dumped by de pilot community perhhhhhhaps ha :8 :8 :8

[DELTABOY]

What is it with this site & Astraeus, when ever there is a thred about AEU it always gets so nasty!
:bored:

[Fly_JEMS]

Welcome to AEU Lexy.. Hope you have a great time flying to the destinations we fly off too. Take no notice of some of the sour posts you read on here especially hostessmostess.

What is it with you Hostessmostess is your life so dull that all you can do is sit and slag everybody off. No wonder you got sacked!!! We don't need people like you in the company

[Lexy]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I have read positive as well as negative things about Astraeus but I'm going to go for it and find out for myself, I guess it's like any other company, some people love it, others hate it, but I can't make the decision that I won't like it before I even start, just from reading comments.

They seem like a great company to work for from what I myself have experienced so far. That is as a passenger as well as at my interview.

Maybe in 6 months time I'll be here saying I love it, maybe I'll be saying I hate it but I guess the only way to find out for myself is to try it and see what happens! I might want to leave after 2 months or maybe I'll still be there in 10 years but if I don't try I'll never know!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I will be there for a while!

[Jalite]

Well said Lexy! Welcome onboard - look forward to flying with you in the mad summer months to come!:D

[DELTABOY]

Yeah, well said Lexy, you go for it mate, i'm sure you will have a great time & meet some nice folk on your travels.

Good Luck! :ok:

[Alberville]

Did anyone note that the link posted by Hostessmostess was dated September 2003!?!

Hostessmostess - Time to move on girl! Think you've proved how bitter and twisted you are. You've reached a point where you are making yourself look stupid. Everyone knows who you are so why don't you attempt to save a little bit of dignity?

Lexy - I'm sure you'll have a great time at Astraeus:ok:

[SEED]

hi i am starting with aeu on the 11/04 at manchester, i am sick of hearing all the bad feedback about them and want to know if anyone is starting at the sane time as me!!
xx

[London Jets]

Lexy and SEED

Just want to wish you both the best of luck on your courses and I look forward to meeting and flying with you both during the summer months.

You have joined a good company and I am sure you will see that when you come out online.

L J

[flystarboy]

Right then i am getting so p*****d off with the slagging off of Astraeus I worked for them from the beginning and personal circumstances dictated that I left to go somewhere else. They were a fab Co to work for and I had worked for many airlines prior to working for them. They will give to the novice aviator a good grounding into aviation and you will have a fab time going to many places that the mainstraem charters dont.

I cant say more cos I will get a bit tearful and wont be able to type!!!

:ok:

[pacific.heights]

Despite what has been said about Astraeus, i d like to know more about what it is really like to work for Astraeus.

Do you guys night stop a lot? What is your average monthly salary. Do you do more short haul or long haul flight?
When you go to Acrra for instance do you night stop or is it there and back?

Thank you for your answers, for more privacy you can send me a private message. I dont bite!!

Thank you

[prb46]

Why all the bashing?
I am in the middle of a book that includes a purser that
is ex Astraeus.
I have been to the ops room one night,but maybe it has moved
now.
So I am just writing to say that whatever people say,come next May your airline will be very popular.I thought it was excellent.
If you want to know what he has to go through,go to
spectators gallery,and 757-200 performance,
Anyway,back to the writing now!!

[Heffer]

Whats happening next May?

[aeulad]

Right, let's get this cleared up! Here's the full story for all those who are joining, or considering joining Astraeus;

Astraeus is a medium sized privately owned charter and scheduled operator with bases at London Gatwick, Manchester and new for this summer, Leeds Bradford.

SUMMER 2005

LGW
B757-200
B757-200
B757-200
B737-300

MAN
B737-700
B737-700

LBA
B737-300

I can only really speak for the LGW base, so these are where we are supposed to be flying this summer:

RETURN FLIGHTS (2 operational sectors, or 'there and back')

ALGERIA

Hassi Messoud

AUSTRIA

Salzburg

CANADA

Deer Lake

CANARY ISLANDS

Tenerife

CROATIA

Dubrovnik
Zadar/Split triangle pattern

CYPRUS

Paphos

EGYPT

El Alamein
Hurghada
Sharm el Sheikh
Taba

FRANCE

Bastia
Calvi

GREECE

Heraklion
Kalamata
Kefalonia
Mykonos
Preveza
Samos
Santorini
Volos
Zakynthos

ITALY

Alghero
Olbia
Verona Brescia
Verona Brescia W pattern with Bristol

NORWAY

Bergen

RUSSIA

Murmansk

SPAIN

Murcia

TURKEY

Bodrum

One sector 'trip' flights

DJIBOUTI

Flights are operated for Daallo Airlines. Twice weekly in the summer, weekly in the winter. Flights operate via Paris CDG both ways. Arrive early morning, depart again the same late evening. Hotel is very nice, great pool and nice food.

EQUATORIAL GUINEAU

Malabo. Once weekly, arrive SSG early morning, depart again the same late evening. Hotel OK, no pool.

GHANA

Accra. These flights have been suspended due to lack of payment from the tour operator, but will hopefully be resumed in the near future. Great hotel down there apparently! Flights should be twice weekly with MON-THU or THU-MON trips.

SIERRA LEONE

Freetown. These flights currently operate twice weekly, with a possibility of a third rotation. Trips are either MON-FRI or FRI-MON. We stay in an OK hotel but very basic, it has a nice pool. Weather is usually hot all year round.

PAY

Main crew clear in the summer, between approx 900 and 1500, and Seniors between 1100 and 1600 pcm. It all depends on your roster, how many trips, how many long day flights with more flight pay and better commission. Astraeus offers incentives, and bonuses for top sellers and top bars. We also operate flights for Jetair, a broker and they have an employee of the month scheme.

In my opinion, Astraeus is a great company to work for. I have been here over a year now, and have been flying for over 3 years. Astraeus is friendly, the flying programme is anything BUT boring, and when you join, you are not just a number, people know your name. The company organises staff day trips, the next of which is to Rome. When I joined in Feb 2004, a lot of people from my training course had left by the end of the summer season, for varying reasons, as is the same with ANY airline. Not one person was laid off at the end of the summer period, and we have a very active flying programme in the winter too.

At the end of the day, we are all different, and to some, AEU is the best airline to work for, for some it is the worst. You have to make up your own mind. Before you join, or consider joining, have an open mind and take on the positive comments about AEU aswel as the negative.

Regards

Mike

[London Jets]

Mike

Cheers for posting that, that was going to be my job this afternoon but you beet me to it!!!

No doubt see you in the crew room soon!

L J

[Sgt.Peppeh]

Hey Mike, with such an up-beat article I would have thought you are quite a good sales man,but it`s true,I must agree with you that I like Astraeus,because I have flown with them,I did not notice anything perticularly about the sexy cabin Fem`s,but I can say I noticed the aircraft was in `ship`shape,Capt. & Flt crew definitley not `cowboys` & the ride was proffessional. Lets hope they maintain these standards regardless of which backward African country they are dealing with.

The Sgt.

Sierra Leone.

[TightSlot]

Just curious - El Alamein? Is this some sort of history tourism or is it now a resort?

[London Jets]

TightSlot

El Alamein is a resort on the Mediterranean. There is alot of history there as well, Battle of El Alamein in 1942.

I know the airport has only just been built.

Peltours website for El Alamein (http://www.peltoursworldwide.com/sublocation.asp?viewcountry={253FFD77-4389-4682-B98E-7443D3193559}&id={84ECB37C-31A0-4A25-AA46-85BDCDA70D06}&sublocation={51E15754-872A-4ABA-B2C5-85B759B0B25E})

BBC history - Battle of El Alamein (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/battle_el_alamein_01.shtml)

hope this helps.

L J

[TightSlot]

It does - Thanks :D

[Rallygirl]

After all the nasty things that have been said about Astraeus, how refreshing to read something nice at last!
I will be starting my training with them on the 11th of April and have to say that i am really looking forward to it. Looks like life with them is anything but boring and from those that i have met they are all professional people who enjoy what they do!!
I will certainly be making up my own mind and will not be pre-judging or assuming anything.

Nothing ventured....Nothing gained!

PS Anyone else starting on the 11th at Gatwick PM me...It would be nice to know a few people before we start

[titmitch]

hostessmostess as per usual you cannot help but add a bitchy comment to get peoples brains ticking as to whether Astraeus is s**t to work for. It's not!
Lexy - I'm actually leaving on the 30th of april to go travelling for the next 10 months, but i maybe coming back next year. Astraeus is good to work for, pay negotiations are happening soon so that will boast morale. I've had a fab time working there and I'm going to miss alot of people. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what the company is like and people are like to work with, good luck and have fun.
Aeulad you have excelled yourself with the info you posted. Well done mate and i'll speak to you soon

This maybe my last posting for a while, good luck everyone and have lots fun

T xx

[Gunship]

From aeulad :

GHANA

Accra. These flights have been suspended due to lack of payment from the tour operator, but will hopefully be resumed in the near future. Great hotel down there apparently! Flights should be twice weekly with MON-THU or THU-MON trips.

In the mean time AEU changed to another travel agency (GH Tours) and the first flight was last Friday 22 April 05.

Fri flights continues.

From 2/3 May a new weekly flight will start so Mon / Tue and Friday and ...

From Thu 9 June another flight making it three per week to Accra.

Crews like the hotel and night life / restaurants and bars - just said good night to them as nature called :zzz: :zzz: :zzz:

[airmemphis]

aeulad, I know AEU have increased their scheduled (5W) LGW-SSH flights from 1x weekly to 3x weekly (B752) and started a new MAN-SSH (B73G) this month, but I wanted to know what will happen to these flights in the winter which is traditionally peak season? Will it ramin the same or will frequency be increases/decreased? And with GB Airways starting their own 3x weekly LGW-SSH flights in October how will this impact AEU?

Thanks

[London Jets]

Gunship

Good to see you about, hows life? are you in Accra at the moment?

L J

[aeulad]

Astraeus has operated niche routes for some considerable time now.

In the coming year, AEU will witness the entrance of some stiff competition on it's most frequently operated routes.

Hassi Messoud

BA is starting twice weekly scheduled flights from Gatwick to Hassi. AEU operate a private contract to HME, but there may be some deflection from the AEU service as BA offers interlining opportunities at LGW, especially for passengers connecting from the US to HME. I have no idea what will happen, but a reduction in frequency by AEU may occurr. We will see. Hopefully there is room enough for both BA and AEU on the route. AEU do offer a far superior cabin service to what BA will offer on the route.

Sharm el Sheikh

AEU took the bold step of setting up scheduled flights to SSH from both MAN and LGW. GB are setting up a thrice weekly operation on the route. Again, the Astraeus 757 has far more legroom, and having flown with GB to LPA recently, AEU has by a long shot, the superior cabin service, and also has IFE available. The bar on GB may be free, but apart from that, I cannot see why pax would chose BA over AEU. AEU is now well established on the route, and while pax may try BA/GB, AEU provides the better all round package. In terms of the winter schedule, I am not sure what will happen.

Acca

Accra has started up again, and AEU is now the second designated scheduled carrier from the UK on the ACC route. FJE and TOM are due to cease on the route, leaving just AEU and BA. When the full schedule is up and running, flights will operate 3 times a week, departing LGW on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Regards

Mike

[Gunship]

Gunship

Good to see you about, hows life? are you in Accra at the moment?

L J

Good to hear from you LJ ! :ok: Yes right here with the crew. Just seen them at breakfast. They had a rough night that started in a Lebanese Restaurant and somewhere with Karaoki ? spelling and ramba and that thing where you bend backwards under a pole ;)

I am here - get your bumm here :ok:





Acca

Accra has started up again, and AEU is now the second designated scheduled carrier from the UK on the ACC route. FJE and TOM are due to cease on the route, leaving just AEU and BA. When the full schedule is up and running, flights will operate 3 times a week, departing LGW on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.


Lo Mike, Flyjet ended their relation with GH Travel in March already (think it was the 14th). Rumour from the airport has it that they will start again on 7 May. But that will be a charter - pressume once a week. There is place here for them and AEU 3 times a week and you did not mention Monarch - they are still once a week on Wednesday mornings.

BY / TOM ended last Wednesday.

BA as you correctly say a flight a day.

Cheers from blues skies and sunny Accra :E

Gunssszzz

[Thunderball 2]

QUOTE: "Acca has started up again, and AEU is now the second designated scheduled carrier from the UK on the ACC route."

aeulad


I'm out of the Ghana airline scene now, and have been for two years, but - with respect - I simply cannot believe that Astraeus has been designated as a second UK scheduled service carrier on ACC. The BASA will only permit one UK carrier, and the aeropolitics of Ghanaian aviation makes the UK election campaign look like a Women's Institute meeting (not that I've been to one).

According to Ghana Rumour Astraeus is simply flying a charter programme on behalf of Ghana Tours.

[Gunship]

Thunderball - you are right in a certain sense.

AEU actually did get a scheduled service. As you might know the aviation regulator is lately the office of the President.

So they where given the go -ahead. In the mean time the paper war started to get everything done and till Fri nights flight was a charter (in a schedule slot) but I speak under 90% correction - Monday / Tuesday's first flight for this slot will be a schedule :ok: and so will be next Friday night.

Hope it helps - sorry out for the weekend - will repsond (if neccesary) on Monday night.

Cheers,

Gunzzz

[titmitch]

Hi all you AEU babes and ex babes. Just thought i'd drop you a quick line to say that i leave the country on tueday the 14th June to go travelling. Hope you all have lots fun this summer
Take care

T xx ;)

[firstchoice7e7]

;) slightly off topic, kind of - can anyone tell me what aircraft AEU use on their LGW-Mykonos flights dep Fridays in September? Cheers in advance :ok:

[mr.777]

Sorry...another off topic post.
Can anyone tell me what a/c is doing TFS on Fri 17june...737 or 757? Only ask as I'm going on it !!!
Been on the AEU website and quite impressed so far

Cheers

777

[aeulad]

Hey Tit!

I hope you have a great time, sure you'll have your mind broadend n all that! Don't forget us, and keep us posted with your progress!

Mykonos with Respect Holidays is on the premium 757.

Regards

Mike

[OLBA18]

Just posted this on PASSENGERS AND SLF forum then saw that there was an active Astraeus post, so posting here aswell ! - does anyone know which are the best seats to ask for on Astraeus 737's to Deer Lake N.F ??

[starbag]

mr 777.

Lots and lots of TFS flights on Friday.

MAN-TFS AEU545 73G
MAN-TFS AEU433 73G
LGW-TFS AEU335 733
LBA-TFS AEU937 733
LGW-TFS AEU321 757

OLBA18

Best seats on the 73G - Either row 1 - no real extra leg room but no one reclines in front of you. Row 12 + 14 are exit rows, but don't recline. 14 A and 14 F have a seat missing in front of them. If you can put up with sitting upright, you'll have a 60 inch pitch. Avoid at all costs row 26 - last row, next to the toilets, and non reclining. As they are next to the rear doors, they are classified as exit seats, and check in may hand them out assuming they have extra legroom. Remember the 737's don't have IFE, so bring along plenty to do!

[mr.777]

Thanks for the info. Really hoping I'm on the 757. All I know is my flight leaves at 17:30 from LGW...don't have the flight number as my travel agent has been too inept to provide me with it!!
Is the 17:30 on the 757 or the 733?

Thanks again

777

[starbag]

Looks like you're on AEU 335 which is scheduled to depart at 17:55 local. At the moment it's due to be operated on B737-300 G-STRA.

[mr.777]

Thanks again for the info...slightly upset not to be going on the 757 but I'm sure the flight will be great anyway.
Out of interest,do you know if any of your (assuming you work for astraeus!) a/c park at the new pier 6? I know stand allocation is impossible to predict (former LHR flight dispatcher!)...just wondered as I'd love to have a look at the new bridge.

777

[starbag]

Think Pier 6 is all BA handled - it always seems full of GB Airbuses. Aviance have the end of the pier furthest from the departure lounge. Many flights bus out I'm afraid (but it's a much shorter walk departing and arriving!!). You never know, RA may go tech and you'll get a 75!!

[firstchoice7e7]

thanks for the info mike, my first time on AEU. On AEU265 LGW - Mykonos on the 2cnd september. look forward to flying on the premium 757 :)

[Wefeedumall]

mr.777 You may be lucky as a few of the Astraeus flts have been going from pier 6,usually stands 101 or 102.Good luck and have a nice flt they are not a bad bunch to deal with despite some postings you may have read.:cool:

[titmitch]

OLBA18 - The best seats on the 737 is row 1 or rows 12 and 14.

To all you AEU guys and chicks. I'm in South Africa. Its a cool place to be. I've climbed a mountain, been on a wine tour and stroked a cheetah today.
Hope you are all ok and not working to hard!!

Take care

T XX :ok:

[titmitch]

Hey Aeu
Still in South Africa. I've done the world's highest bungy:ugh: , zip slide over a river and waterfalls, been a free booze cruise, yes free even the booze! I went whale watching yesterday on the Indian Ocean, saw 2 it was great.
Doing a 4 day safari on wednesday, then off to Oz on 11th July
:D
Hope you are all ok!
Take care

Tit XX:p

[titmitch]

Hey Dudes

Hope you are all well. Australia is a cool place. I spent nearly a week in Sydney. I'm now making my way up the east coast to cairns. I did the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. It was a beautiful clear day and the view was amazing. I've been surfing. I can stand up just, but that was as good as it got. I'm in Byron bay at the moment. I leave in the morning to Surfers paradise. I've got family there so I'm going to save myself some money on accommodation.
Hope the summer is good for you all.

Take care

T XX :)

[Gunship]

I'm in South Africa. Its a cool place to be. I've climbed a mountain, been on a wine tour and stroked a cheetah today.
Hope you are all ok and not working to hard!!

A shame I only read this posts of yours only now.

I am on holiday in my house in SA on the wine route ... remember to contact me next time :ok:

Enjoy Australia mate ;)

[titmitch]

Hello Aeu Babes

Heard about the decompression incident on Alpha :eek: . From what I have heard and read the crew handle the situation with true professionlism. Well done all you guys. I may be on the other side of the world but still like to make sure you're all ok. The flight deck forum about the situation was good to read. you boys do know how to bitch like girls when you get started!! Just Kidding.;)
Well I'm currently in a place called Mission beach in Australia. I'm doing my sky dive tomorrow, scary but should be alot of fun:D

Hope you are all well back at home. And to the crew on Alpha that day once again well done you have again proved that Astraeus is not as bad as some people like to make out.

Keep smiling :)

Toni XX

[titmitch]

hi party people its only me
i hope you are all well. I just thought I'd send a quick message to say that i'm on Singapore. I arrived today. I flew from Darwin, which is a pretty cool place and very hot.
When I've got more news to tell you all then I will.
I hope you are all well
Take care

T XX
;)

[titmitch]

Hi Aeu Babes

Hope you are all well!!
I left Singapore on the 17th of sept and I'm currently travelling up through Malaysia.
I'm in Kuala Lumpar but am leaving in a min. I got here a couple of day ago. its a very hot busy place. I've been to the chinese market twice and bought some cool stuff, went up the Petronas towers and KL tower.
Well mut dash

T XX ;)

[titmitch]

Hi everyone

I did put on an up date on here about 2 weeks ago but hasn't seem to come up. There so much that has happened since my last post that it wuold take to long to write.
So just quickly to say that I am currently in Bangkok and leave for Japan in the morning;)
Hope you are all well and not working to hard

Take care

T XX

[travel bug]

Is there anyone that knows or can tell me anything about astraeus? i.e - working conditions, rostats, nightstops, how busy you can expect to be. Everything would be a massive help!!

[starbag]

Which base are you looking at as Gatwick, Leeds and Manchester are all very different?

[flyblue]

travel bug,
you can also try the "search" function, there have been a few topics about Astraeus in the past.

[travel bug]

it would be based at london gatwick