BAConnect & Flybe

[TeaAnyone21]

Well this thread is getting interesting. I have been reading for a while and am so sad to see that there is (subtle) sniping between crew. We are all well aware of the issues at bases, BHX in particular. What I want to say though is spare a second for the 'old' Flybe crews. I agree that ex BA crew are experiencing problems. However, this week I have covered 3 145 duties and hours for alot of Dash crews are rising rapidly. What I am trying to say is that everyone is suffering so spare a thought for us!

It may be a one off but I was also amazed when I read about Swissport pushing to board when the crew were taking a rest on their 50 minute turnaround. Be grateful. The dash and 195 crews would love that. Most of our sectors are rostered 25 minute turnarounds back at base!

I also want to say that we really should give crewing a break. As most people do I hate it when my phone rings on standby but they are doing their best.

[tiggerific_69]

Most of ours are 25 minute turnarounds,but on a 6 sector day i think it would be a bit of a pi55 take not to give a longer turnaround at some point in the day.
I dont mind being called off standby,i know its part of the job.but its things like when you try and help them out and offer a solution to a problem,and they really dont care what you have to say.Its frustrating then that if there is a problem,sometimes crew are left to deal with it.for example positioning home and flights are overbooked AND weight restricted so you cant get on the flight, even though you've told them its overbooked,and offered to go on a flight to a different base and then road transport back to base.or when youre trying to check in for a positioning flight,and theres no booking,you call up and tell them,wait 15 minutes and nothing is done about it so you have to call up again.ground staff in outstations cant do the booking,so crewing KNOW it needs to be done and i know from previous experience of booking positioning tickets for crew myself,that it takes two minutes.
I think it is going to be a difficult summer and there is going to be a lot of disruption.But all we can do is go to work,and do our best for the fare paying customers onboard our aircraft and give them a good flight.

[cabingal]

Exactly Tiggerific, also, after a 14 hour day with no crew food it's not very nice to be told that the hotel you are nightstopping in has no rooms. Then try + phone crewing who don't pick the phone up for 45 minutes to then get told you are in a different hotel. I must've left my crystal ball at check in. Then being assured the next day that you are booked into a crew hotel for that night, get back to the hotel + surprise surprise - no room booked. The hotel asks to take credit card details so we can get into our rooms - do I look that stupid? The hotel rings Flybe - no answer - the receptionist makes a joke that Flybe have caller id + probably know who it who is calling so she witholds the number. Lo + behold the Flybe phone is answered within 2 rings. Coincidence maybe??? I think not.:ugh:

[JobsaGoodun]

Guys,
I'm not going to intentionally disagree but has it occured to you that whilst you are working your arses off at the moment, so are the likes of Operations and Crewing who are dealing with double the number of crew, but without double the number of Crewing/Ops staff!

They are probably working equally as hard as you are and trying to come to terms with a much larger workforce. However I'm intrigued as to know how you feel it is in any way beneficial to Crewing to withold your room at a hotel by not answering a phone????? Why not give them the same 'break' that you're asking for.

[tiggerific_69]

they knew they were taking on extra crew & that there would be teething problems,so why not plan for this and take on a few extra people down there?there are probably plenty of people who want to move around within the business who would do the job.

[JobsaGoodun]

Ok, accepted however you can't simply take a member of staff from Finance and make them a Crew Controller overnight. I imagine you embarked upon at least a 3 week training course when you were first employed as cacincrew?? (Stand corrected if wrong) Should not the same level of training be afforded to other people commencing in a new position.

In short, I'm sure that new people could have been recruited quite quickly however what about all the ex BACon Ops/Crewing staff at BHX, should they not have been given the opportunity to continue in their carreers? It isn't always as simple as it seems! What is required is a greater understanding of each others jobs.

[tiggerific_69]

the ex bacon guys in crewing/ops were given the chance.
there is only one still down in exeter.everybody else has commitments here and wasnt in the position to move down to exeter,or took the opportunity to have a change in career.
i know you cant turn someone into a crew controller over night,but they could have advertised vacancies as a back up plan.there was still a few weeks between completion of sale & changeover to get people trained.
and i understand each other's jobs,i previously worked in crewing/ops for BACX/BACON

[JobsaGoodun]

And what if Flybe had promoted some staff into cabincrew positions in that 3 week period from signing to completion and then turned to you and advised there was no no need of your services any longer?? With an acquisition where TUPE applies, both legally and morally it would have been wrong.

You can't advertise for a position that doesn't exist which would have been the case and I expect that there was a requirement to hold open any vacancies for any Ex BACon ops staff if they wanted it. Anyone who wanted, had to be given the opportunity to continue there employment which was absolutely the right decision. It is likely that the reason for the shortfall now is that some who had elected to go to Flybe then decided it was not for them and this would have left them short of ops staff.

[dollydaydream]

Could I ask, jagu, in what capacity you work for Flybe?
Regarding crewing/ops etc I think we all appreciate that they are trying to do their jobs and are understaffed and I can just about accept the argument that new people couldn't be employed prior to the official signing date, although many crew underwent a 'welcome to Flybe' course well before signing!!
What I take issue with is the amount of time it is taking for them to now employ people in crewing, the 'well it's not my problem' attitude of some people in crewing/rostering/ops when they are rung with problems. I'm sorry but it is THEIR problem when people are stranded away from base with no hotels booked, no positoning flights booked etc etc - this is not heresay, it has happened to me. I don't think cabingal was inferring they were trying to 'withhold a hotel room' I think the more likely attitude was 'oh **** we've cocked up again' Recently in Sou crew were changed to a very nice hotel, (according to the taxi driver 'because that ex-Ba lot moaned about the other hotel' interesting to know where he was fed that information), on checking in they were told on the 3rd night the hotel was booked up and they were moving elsewhere. Given the problems with nightstop bags through security etc, crew were anxious to know when and where they were going, after 3 days of crewing/hotac (when they answered) insisting they were not moving the assistant manager eventually retrieved the e-mail sent to Flybe the DAY BEFORE anyone checked in stating the room situation and the fact that the hotel had booked rooms elsewhere for crew. No-one had a problem with moving, the problem once again was lack of accurate information, difficulty in speaking to someone who's responsible for arranging the hotels and flights. I am prepared to do my job to the best of my ability and give 100% - I didn't ask to work for Flybe but I was happy to give it a go. I still love flying but all the problems occuring in order for me to do my job are really making me think again. I don't like having pax asking me why the check in staff are rude and uninformed, and they are, I don't like going to work wondering what time I will finish etc.
I could go on but I suppose someone will say if you don't like it leave, I feel that for some thats what they see as a solution - don't fix it, get rid of the people who want it to improve!

[Miss BACON]

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.

[cabingal]

Jobsagoodun my point was that we were trying to get into our hotel room in BHD - Flybe told us it had been booked although upon arrival at the hotel there was no record of us so the hotel receptionist rang our crewing department or whoever it is that deals with hotels. They rang for ages with nobody picking the phone up. Then she withheld the number + they picked up within 2 rings. Like I said - coincidence??? or incompetence!!!

[emmyf]

hi! anyone here work for FlyBe?
was wondering about pay and rosters if you know anything please tell!!

[oldflyboy]

Emmyf,

Suggest if you want to work for a company that that treats you well and rewards adequately, avoid flybe like the plague! There are lots of airlines who have good terms and conditions, flybe is not one of them!:=

Good Luck!

[emmyf]

oooer!
Whats so bad about them?
Pay Rosters Management?
Bit worried now!

[oldflyboy]

Emmyf,

Yup, not good here. I am based at BHX, and currently our junior crew are earning around £800 to 900 per month. Lots of days not flying and when you do crewing can turn you around after 2 sectors without notice. lots or touring at present away from base.

Management here is not good. Our CC Manager couldn't manage his way out of a wet paper bag and likes to shout at crew, his PM's are OK, but they can't make a decision without referring it to head office in Exeter!

Lots of ex BACON crew will be leaving soon or have put notice in, which is OK as rumour has it the base will only need 100 of the 180 currently based here.

Other bases are also unhappy we hear.

I really would not want my sister to work for flybe, and I will be off to BA asap!

As I said, look elsewhere, masses of opportunities around. Try Monarch, they have a great reputation, but suggest avoid ryanair.

Good Luck!

[barbiejetset]

just for the record some of us here at flybe from the former connect side are enjoying it despite teething problems at the beginning- but its only 3 months down the line!!- and i dont remember connect being the best thing since sliced bread ---- far from it.
last summer 300 hour months as a number one- this year 200 for july- am i moaning - no way!- am i glad to have 3 days in iom - yes, how fed up was i of the radison in frankfurt???- snotty city passengers.

you need to grow up or get out- for my fellow no1's going to mainline to 10k a year please go, the ones off to virign(why??- with a looming strike) bye bye--- leave flybe to promote the girls who would make great no1's get there.

you all moan about crewing, managers,,pm's - they all do what they can- i managed with a couple of blouses and cope and adapt as best i can- as all true cabin crew should be able to do-

long live flybe


ps love the crew room , thanks flybe for investin in us

[cabingal]

Shame the passengers don't feel the same way - take a look at the airline quality website.

[marlowe]

barbiejetgirl i guess you fancy your chances as a senior then? well best of luck many have sat at the back of the Aircraft thinking i can do that only to find actually they cant!!

[oldflyboy]

Cabingal, thanks for the tip, suggest EVERYONE in flybe should read comments about us on the 'SKYTRAX' website. Go to the flybe passenger comments section as every one in this company should be forced to read what our customers think about us and how badly we treat them!

No wonder barbiejetset so many of us are leaving, but good luck to you if you stay, you will need to grow a thicker skin I feel to survive the passenger comments! Incidentally, what does it say about a company that cannot even clothe its crew properly?

I understand from contacts in swissport that flybe does not have a customer complaints department, quote " If we do report passenger complaints we know they will not be dealt with, so why bother!!"

STRONGLY SUGGEST ANDREW THAT YOU START LISTENING TO PEOPLE, EITHER CREW OR MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY, PASSENGERS!!

Safe flying all, let's hope we see some impovement soon, but I doubt it!!

[Airbourne-Adamski]

This web site, is it public or just staff intranet?

[barbiejetset]

thanks marlowe for assuming i am a no3 but been up the front for a long time!!!!

and oldflyboy(just how old??) i've got 2 jackets, 2 skirts, coat, 3 blouses- hear more are on the way, bags and belts??? so whats the problem - i know 3 blouses is crap but then i do realise that they will arrive, and as people leave i'm lucky to be the right size to pick up a couple more, but its not the end of the world!!

regarding all the ones who 'hate flybe' i had it all as brymon/citiexpress/ex-bar --- you all hated them too?? so bite the bullet and leave us in peace

[cabingal]

I never hated Citiexpress or Bral at all, in fact I loved my job. That's why I chose to stay at Flybe - I wanted to make it work. I really wanted to make it work. After being treated like dirt for a few months it is sadly time for me to move on. I am gutted as I have always loved my job but I also realise that I have no desire to work for a shambles called Flybe. Oh, did I say shambles? I meant company.:yuk:

[oldflyboy]

Well said cabingal, 4 months on and flybe is still a shambles. As I have said before, I would stay if I honestly believed that there was a will to improve things for us and our passengers, but have as yet seen nothing to suggest either group will be satisfied soon, if at all.

Good news is that there may be hope if WM is allowed to bring BA style customer service to the operation on the ground at BHX, but the guy has a low point from which to climb.

Bad news is that I believe Flybe will be very happy to see all the ex BACON crew go, as we seem to be the only ones who want improvments, so when we are all gone they can carry on as before. This is particularly true I think here at Brum, for when Barbie jet goes they will only need 100 crew to operate.

I would be interested to hear if anyone from the ex BACON base at Manchester has a view, what's it like there? I hear the Tootills have left?

Safe Flying!

[Airbourne-Adamski]

Jim French Recieves 'Best Management Award' For Flybe in Paris. :} :}

PMSL, Sure many of you BACON guys are 100% behind that and flybe guys to.

Sorry ya have to laugh.


Oh and here is another one..................

FLYBE VOTED BEST LOW-COST CARRIER

Consumer research specialist places Flybe above all other low cost carriers

Flybe, Europe’s leading low-cost carrier, has been crowned the top low-cost airline by leading customer insight specialist, The Listening Company, in its latest study of the travel industry and UK consumer booking habits.

The research highlights Flybe’s position as the leading low-cost carrier in the UK and Europe and places Flybe as the fourth most recommended carrier overall, just behind Emirates, P&O and Virgin.

The study asked 8,000 consumers across the UK which carriers, travel agencies and holiday destinations they would actively recommend to others in order to understand customer satisfaction, thus accurately reflecting what travellers think.

The outcome of the survey reflects Flybe’s commitment to providing an efficient, low-cost service for travellers, with customer satisfaction front of mind.

Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer, Flybe commented: “To be recognised as the UK and Europe’s leading low-cost carrier by travellers is a huge achievement and a great honour for Flybe, especially as the research is solely based on customer satisfaction.

“The honour is a testament to the hard work of everyone at Flybe to provide comprehensive, first class customer service to our travellers and we look forward to building on this success and hopefully featuring in the research again next year.”


However guys please dont think i am takin the p*ss out of you crew cause im not, I know how hard you work. Just having a general laugh at jim french

[TechProblem]

Maybe you guys aren't seeing the bigger picture?

Manchester alone has about 60 flights a day, and i guess you op 2-4 depending on the desternation.

Some of the major problems having been with tech a/c or the former Ba 146's (at Man). With lower crewing numbers if a a/c goes tech its alot more difficult to source another a/c to do the flight.

My point is with all the crew that have left, weather them being former Bacon or just regular Flybe, if all those staff had stayed there wouldn't be the crewing problems they now seem to have.

As most of you will be aware it takes alot of time to train and get a 'Blue' pass (Whats is the training time for first office/cabin crew?)

It is getting better, but slower than i expected. If you can stick with it guys and gals, believe it or not some of us think your doing a very good job, hence the 'Low Cost Carrier Award'. - Putting yourseld down Airbourne is going to get you no where.... :ugh:

[barbiejetset]

well said techproblem and oldflyboy i think you'l lfind end of march to end of june is only 3 months!!- so it does get better as time goes on, catering got sorted, crew food got sorted, uniform got sorted- i for one dont think its too bad when you consider all the baggage flybe have taken on, the 145's look great in the new logo(how many baconnect logos did we see after a year?- think you'll find ba painted 2)
again like all companies we are always first to point out the negatives- but just looking at what i mentioned above i thinks theres a lot of positives too.

just been to fraggle rock and its a nice change from all those fra-lcy's!
3 days off now and back on a midday - now is that bad???- i for one say NO

have a great weekend

[Mia Donna]

sorry barbie jet set i had to laugh when i read your comment s!!! i think the fact that you decided to give yourself that name only confirms why your opinions of flybe are so AMAZING.

Whilst i think it is great that you are enjoying flybe and that you are very positive i do not think it is very appropriate to be going on about it in such a manner when there are a lot of people losing their jobs , losing their leave , losing their staff travel with ba , and losing the ability to come into work thinking they were only doing two sectors when in fact they will be turned around to do another four !! good people are struggling with the change so i think comments you made are a bit out of order really.

I myself was bacx then flybe and have recently left because i could , i have no serious financial comittments unlike others who are having to put it with the change. Just a question :

If you are so into the flybe philosophy why did you not join them earlier ?? i mean they have a base in bhx do they not ??

and how do you think your comments would be recieved were this not an anonymous site ??

my suggestion is to go into ANY crew room ex bacx or not with a sign saying " I LOVE FLYBE" and see what the reaction is even from veteran employees of flybe !!!

For everyone reading this who currently works for flybe i wish you the best and really hope things get better for you .There are a lot of fabulous people who have worked for bral , bacx and bacon who did not deserve to be treated the way they have without people rubbing their noses in it.

[Mia Donna]

P.s the novelty of an iom nightstop will soon wear off x

[Mia Donna]

no personal offense intended barbie x

[oldflyboy]

Miadonna,

Nice one!

And barbiejetset, 3 months?, 4 months?, does it matter, do you honestly think things have improved since flybe took over the ex BA bases???????:hmm:

I seem to recall being able to go into the fleet office to resolve a leave problem and getting it sorted quickly, rather than it having to be bumped up the chain of command. And being able to plan a life without some twonk in crewing deciding to put you on another 2 or 4 sectors as "you are the only one who can do it"!:=:{

And having a manager who didn't look down on me, or the girls blouses!:=

Safe flying all!

[cabingal]

Mia Donna - excellent statement - definitely agree with you - IOM night stops will definitely wear off!!! Now, I know what I would prefer - either a nice classy 4 or 5 star hotel in Fra or a crappy 1 star hotel in IOM? mmm, tough choice!!!

[Airbourne-Adamski]

Tech Problem

Putting yourseld down Airbourne is going to get you no where....

Trust me I am not putting myself down. I am on a high in my job which is now at easyjet.

I come to flybe/bacon as flybe is my previous airline and it is interesting to see what is happening in the world of flybe, if it is better or worse now than when I was there, and to catch up on gossip, and of course it is even more interesting with the bacon merger.
As I have said on many occasions I have nothing against crew at flybe, however I do like to add my comments and agree with you guys about flybe and now bacon crew are treated by management.

[flybacon]

Exactly Tiggerific, also, after a 14 hour day with no crew food it's not very nice to be told that the hotel you are nightstopping in has no rooms. Then try + phone crewing who don't pick the phone up for 45 minutes to then get told you are in a different hotel. I must've left my crystal ball at check in. Then being assured the next day that you are booked into a crew hotel for that night, get back to the hotel + surprise surprise - no room booked. The hotel asks to take credit card details so we can get into our rooms - do I look that stupid? The hotel rings Flybe - no answer - the receptionist makes a joke that Flybe have caller id + probably know who it who is calling so she witholds the number. Lo + behold the Flybe phone is answered within 2 rings. Coincidence maybe??? I think not.:ugh:


I'm not going to intentionally disagree but has it occured to you that whilst you are working your arses off at the moment, so are the likes of Operations and Crewing who are dealing with double the number of crew, but without double the number of Crewing/Ops staff!


With all respect to the crewing and hotac staff at EXT, who I'm sure have their work cut out, we ex-Ba CON crew rarely experienced such problems in our past life and when they did occasionally arise, it would take one phone call (answered promtly may I add) and it was sorted within a matter of minutes. As for the claim that Flybe crewing are dealing with twice the amount of crew I recall there was only one guy employed on hotac (as well as other duties) who worked standard office hours whom i believe had fantastic relationships with both crew and the hotels. In fact the only time there was major problems, it usually stemmed back to the fact he was actually out of the country on leave and there was no cover!

Here at Flybe there may be slightly more crew however there are actually in fact 4 hotac controllers as well as a hotac superviser who cover the operation for 12 hours everyday including weekends and there are LESS nightstops than before! common sense says there is something wrong somewhere!!

[oldflyboy]

:ugh::ugh:Dear All,

Just spent a few moments on 'skytrax' looking at our passenger comments section, and I have a question for anyone from our 'Management' team who may bother with this forum. ( 'Managment' as in could not manage a way out of a paper bag team!)

DO YOU ACTUALLY GIVE A TOSS ABOUT OUR PASSENGERS?????:ugh::ugh::ugh::sad::sad::sad::sad::sad::sad: :sad::sad:

Seems not if you read the reviews?

DOH!

Please BA, let me have my course date SOOOOOON!!

Safe flying!

Sad Oldflyboy.

[HZ123]

Oldflyboy: I regret to inform your comments apply totally to the BA management as well that you soon hope to join. Unlike Bacon / Flybe et al mainline management group BA would be unable to find a brewery in the first place.

[oldflyboy]

HZ123,

Sorry, can't agree, as when we were BACON at least our customers were treated with respect and handled well on the ground by BA staff who knew what they were doing, unlike Swissport. Also our ops team were very experienced and kept delays & cancellations down, something the bunch of adolescants flybe employ in Exeter seem unable to be able to do! :ugh:

And if you read what the customers say, no-one at flybe wants to contact them back to answer complaints. A friend who works on the BHX airport info desk tells me that flybe are the only airline operating ex BHX who won't take calls from the public. The switchboard are instructed to tell them to contact the airline on line or by mail!:=

I know, as I flew BA recently, that they respond to comments, as my concerns were answered within seven days!

Safe Flying

[1964nick]

Stop moaning Ex Bacon crew be glad you have a job and that Flybe saved your bacon. Get on with it or get out you have a choice !!

[oldflyboy]

1964nick,

Suggest you start opening your eyes! Presume you don't listen to your customers, or don't interface with them, or you would understand how badly they are treated on the ground and how flybe disregard them when cancelling flights etc.

FYI, BACON were not 'rescued', it was a tactical decision by BA, and lots of us, both pilots and cabin crew have given it a chance, realised it's not for us and are leaving.

HOWEVER I still reserve the right to speak on this forum about the bad stuff flybe do, in the vain hope that the airline improves.

Bottom line is, BA treats its staff better, recognises them appropriately and Manages them effectively, something flybe just seem unable or are unwilling, to do. I don't think its deliberate, it's just that they don't have enough experience or nowse to do it properly.

As a recent post from me indicates, as soon as I get a course I will be off, and you won't have anyone to remind flybe how cr*p they are.

Hooray I hear you cry!

Safe Flying.

[tiggerific_69]

so has everybody had their winter leave forms?it seems flybe have mislaid a few of our leave days for winter.maybe theyre in the same place as the summer sunshine thats gone missing :ugh:
does anybody know if legally they can reduce our leave given that we have not yet signed a flybe contract?

[Airbourne-Adamski]

oldflyboy

Bottom line is, BA treats its staff better, recognises them appropriately and Manages them effectively, something flybe just seem unable or are unwilling, to do.

It was exactly the same when I was strutting my stuff at flybe/british european/jersey european.

I was also wondering how flybe will react to easyjet soon starting to operate from BHX. Only a couple of routes to start with, but i reckon it will start competing against the likes of flybe.

[chrism20]

I was also wondering how flybe will react to easyjet soon starting to operate from BHX. Only a couple of routes to start with, but i reckon it will start competing against the likes of flybe.

Wouldn't surprise me if EZY were to start operating from BHX to complement their current offering from EMA.

I also wouldn't be surprised if WW were giving Flybe a serious tanking on the domestic routes giving BE's current crewing problems

[oldflyboy]

Airbourne-Adamski,

Any chance of Easyjet opening a BHX base? Some of us would rather not leave Brum, and word from our ex bacon pilots is easy is a good place to be??

Safe Flying

Oldflyboy

[Airbourne-Adamski]

OFB
Regards to easy opening a base at BHX i have not heard anything.
The initial flights out of BHX is to start on the winter schedule operating to GVA and GNB. Wether this will be just a winter thing Ii dont know, I cant really see easy just buying slots for winter out of a major midland airport. It would not suprise me if easy are testing the water in BHX and just seeing how well they do. My own opinion is if successful in BHX in winter then they may look at sun destinations for summer. Oh and dont forget easy have a strong brand in scotland so is there room to compete on that market?
As I recruit easy crew as well I have not heard of base plans, but you guys will be the first to know. I would'nt say its a certain no but who knows.

is easy is a good place to be??

Not just saying this cause iam ex Flybe and now at easy but HELL YEAH. I could spend ages telling you how much better, but i have not time today LOL but eg. Better pay, Loads of fantastic incentives on selling as well as 10% commission. Great management WHO LISTEN to crew and talk to crew including the big chief, and the list goes on.

Any way hows life at flybe ;)

[oldflyboy]

Well AA,

New crew room all glistening, but that's about the best of it. Our PM's still have to refer everything to HOCS even stuff like roster change requests, obviously the woman can't let go!

Number 3's ( sad how flybe calls crew by numbers rather than name) sitting at home doing nothing on permanent standby, no airport standbys any longer, so chance to gossip is reduced!:ugh::sad::sad:

Number 1's are working hard as we seem to be short still on barbie jet. Lodsa good crew left, very few of the ex Brymon ones left, and only a couple of ex BAR still here. Think we must have lost nearly 70 or so crew from here. Our male PM not doing himself any good, heard on grapevine he doesn't like being asked SEP questions in briefing!!!!!:=

No improvements to the way Swissport look after our customers, despite our ex BA PM on secondment to flybe's customer service team.

Oh yes, and our Manager George is off poorly, hope he is OK, but frankly we don't miss him!:E

Safe Flying

OFB

[barbiejetset]

hey
think you're going to the rock for 3 days and they make you do a delayed trip, where do you put your bags????!!! yeh its hit and miss at the moment
but as we know thats the airline business???

on a good note the crew rooms looking good- nice and spacious
and nice cosy room for our delays

g.mck is off, but fair play to the pms who we see, they are doin a great job and last time i flew with the male pm his sep was spot on?-so another rumour wrong? - all i know is hes about all the time, the others arent!

anyway off to sou for a few days, or am i???

safe flying
b/jset

[smoggytart]

Hi everyone

This is my first posting as I am a pprune virgin! I have been fortunate enough to be told by Flybe that I have an interview with them on 8th August but I am worried about the maths test as my maths is not very good.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

:ooh:

[Airbourne-Adamski]

Well what news for flybe............

Ryanair announced they will start operations from BHD to LPL, EMA and PIK (Glasgow Preswick). with more routes to be announced.

Initial routes much in competion with flybe.

Also heard while night stopping at Belfast Intl that when Ryanair come to BHD flybe will move their belfast operation to Belfast Intl.

Interesting news and gossip don't you think.
I wonder what real impact Ryanair will have on flybe in Belfast?

[JobsaGoodun]

I wonder what real impact Ryanair will have on flybe in Belfast?

I anticipate very little. All routes are once daily and there are none in direct competition. BHDLPL is operated by Flybe but is only on Saturdays. FR will be going for the low yield traffic anyway and so I wouldn't think it would be a huge problem for Flybe.

It would be foolish to underestimate the power of frequency and with 9/10 a day on BHDMAN, 7 a day on BHDBHX and 4 a day on BHDGLA, this will ensure Flybe maintain their presence on these routes.

[Airbourne-Adamski]

A few posts back I mentioned about easyjet going into BHX only doing a few initial routes in winter, and suggested if easyjet are testing the water for more.

Old Fly Boy
You asked about the future of easy at BHX and as i said I would keep you imformed. Our found this on our web site. I have only pasted the last section as I think its the more interesting.

David Osborne, UK Regional General Manager, commented:

“easyJet’s expansion from Birmingham International Airport is great news for skiers from the Midlands, giving them more choice and a brand new service to Grenoble.With the daily service to Geneva and twice weekly flight to Grenoble they now have the opportunity to fly to the major ski gateways for the French and Swiss Alps.

Our expansion in Birmingham reflects our commitment to growth across the UK, we recognise the strong demand for low-fares with convenience and Birmingham's great potential."


Peter Vella, Business Development Director at Birmingham International Airport, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome easyJet to Birmingham and offer our passengers a brand new service to Grenoble and increased services to Geneva. We look forward to working with easyJet to make these routes a success and we hope this is the start of a growing presence at Birmingham.”

[Skylion]

FlyBE's problems seem to be primarily at BHX where the Bacon tribe longs for the old days and the high cost culture of their now defunct employer. There are inevitable problems with any takeover, and even more so when those taken over have some sort of illusion that they were /are superior and provided a better service than those in the organisation which has taken them over. Yes, Bacon had more admin backup and the merger is giving FlyBE some indigestion but folk would be better helping the new organisation through the initial difficult period rather than raising a constant barrage of whinging. The original FlyBE people must be fed up with it and the sooner the whingers move on the better. Then the rest can get on and enjoy life,- less pampered though it may be.

[cabingal]

I am ex Bacon/Flybe crew + am certainly enjoying life now that I have left. Shame as I used to love my job but was treated dreadfully at Flybe. Even the pm's admitted that I had a raw deal what happened to me. I couldn't be happier now though. Good Luck boys + girls xx

[oldflyboy]

Skylion,

Just checking understanding? Personally I only 'whinge' here, as it is a rumour and conversation site, I am positive with my passengers and crew, but the fact remains flybe are a very poor company to work for. Without going over old ground, it's not about money for me as salaries were protected, its about quality of life. I wonder if crewing had their days doubled at the drop of a hat, or constant disruption in their lives how would they deal with it?

One of my constant themes is how poorly our passengers are treated on the ground, and that the decision making process and their ability to therefore support us have been removed form our direct line managers, i.e. PM's.

I do hope flybe gets its act together, but basically when it comes to looking after staff and passengers, we are a second rate outfit!:=

Safe Flying

[cabingal]

:D well said oldflyboy. Well said.

[Airbourne-Adamski]

Was talking to a friend of mine who is still at flybe,
He was saying how things are difficult at the minute, with many BACON crew leaving so there is no crew to operate ex BACON aircraft, thus leading to 'flybe' aircraft having to do the flights leaving canx flts and all sorts of mess. Is the summer schedule struggling?

[biddedout]

Does anyone know anything about Flybe buying 5 of BA City Flyers RJ100 aircraft (Ex BAcon). Nothing heard from Flybe even though it shows up as a potential change of ownership on the CAA website.

Flybe into LCY?

http://www.jethros.i12.com/fleets/fleet_listings/ba_cityflyer.htm

[barbiejetset]

friend works high up in cityflyer, says the rj's are for flybe's new lcy routes???-interesting as we are now dash/emb145/emb95 sop'd.

[Airbourne-Adamski]

Could this mean that the "New Citiflyer" is also going flybe?

Or is it a case of flybe just acuiring some cheap 2nd hand jets for new routes?

[oldflyboy]

Anyone have goss on the ex BACON RJ's coming into the business?:eek:

Safe Flying!

[Island Jockey]

This could be that these aircraft were on leases to BACON and as all of Bacon is now owned by FlyBe these aircraft will have been sub-leased back to BA Citiflyer. The other aircraft are on BA leases

I doubt that FlyBe will be taking RJs for their operation.

[barbiejetset]

OFB- what are you going to do now that lhr has closed taking people on?
are you going to LGW?- friends of mine did that and in 18months were LH LHR, but warning to those going to LHR another friend resigned when she saw her roster as they were 2 sector days, and commuting from BHX!

Just back from IOM, lost bags but my matey the PM he sorted me out :-))

[tiggerific_69]

according to that list, G-BZAZ is one of the Flybe ones,and has indeed been sitting on the ramp at the cargo airport at BHX for the last few days,and as far as im aware,Cityflyer havent been doing any of the charters that they normally do at weekends.would be good to have them back,im a bit bored of the embraer now!!

[marlowe]

Most of the bhx cityflyer charters have been sub chartered so thats why you are not seeing the Rj doing the routes. As for Flybe doing LCY routes well the place is jam packed at peak times so cant see slots available!! And besides its all business routes, doesnt exactly fit in with FLYBEs business plan does it, after all they never really developed the ex BACON business routes they inherited

[Airbourne-Adamski]

I remember when at flybe we atarted operating into LCY. And it grew and grew at became one of the main operaters from LCY. Then the flybe model came in and the dash 200 & 300 went so they pulled out.

[Flying Princess]

Hi

Ive not registered for staff travelyet. Though I am thinking of goin somewhere on my leave. What r the prices like? Where do u purchase the tickets from?

Many thanx in advance x x x:O

[Maude Charlee]

You need to call or e-mail staff travel in EXT at least 24 hours before you plan to travel. Standby tickets are £38 return for domestic routes (can't remember the overseas price, but not much more), and firm tickets are more expensive still.

Payment is usually made at your nearest Flybe ticket desk.

[kate140983]

Does anyone have an interview for Flybe for nwi base next Tuesday?:)

[red17]

Any ideas as to the reg of the a/c sat by the former BACON hanger in IOM? Seems G-MANS is operating elsewhere and D-AMGL out of service due to yestersays 'little incident'

[kate140983]

Hi I have an interview for FLYBE next tuesday based at norwich. Problem is the interviews are now held in Exeter. I rang Flybe HR and explained it was going to cost me between 100 and 200 pounds just to come to the interview. The response was basically tough, if you want the job you have to get here!!!! She couldn't get me off the phone quick enough.

[cabingal]

Sounds about right Kate! Sorry to hear that - are there any other airlines you are interested in applying to?

[tiggerific_69]

i wouldnt waste your money!!!!
what happened with D-AMGL?

[cabingal]

Say it like it is Tig!!!

[Flying Princess]

hi gd luck with interview. it may cost but worth it if u get the job. gd luckxxx

[mansp]

hi all
i know this is a crew thread, but would like your views/opinions.

how do you think it has gone from a ground services/handling agent point of view? obvously you were used to be BA handling, now Aviance/swissport/flight support etc etc

from you boys and girls in the air has it got better or worse in the last 2/3 months, if worse why and what cud ground crew do to make it better?

Dont want reference to how it used to be with BA (no offence), just how its been since.

[tiggerific_69]

ask if we're actually ready for the passengers!!!!!!!!!!
Im sick of every turnaround,dispatch get on and they say "passengers are all here,i'll send them down now". how about NO!!!!!! we actually want a break on these stupid 10 hour days with 25 minute turnarounds everywhere.
or some places where dispatch just send them,and they dont even come and tell us how many we've got,any specials etc.you're tidying up because you've just had a busy flight,the cleaners (if theyve turned up) are faffing around and next thing you know,theres a bus full of passengers outside.
also,having been delayed for a positioning flight myself,ive seen things from the other side as to how the passengers are treated when theyre in the departure lounge.absolutely diabolical.the only information we were told was "operational reasons" and "more information at..." and most of the time,more information didnt come at the time stated.after 2 and a half hours,the groundstaff decided to give us a voucher for...yes a whole £3.50.now they need to be a bit realistic here.we're in an airport,paying airport prices for a sandwich and a bottle of pop,NOT tesco prices.once they'd started giving out the vouchers, they announced that the flight would be departing within the next hour,and the ground staff moaned that people were still coming for their vouchers even tho the flight would be going soon.what sort of attitude was that?!?! im sure if she was in the same situation, she'd still be queueing up for her voucher!!!!
another time,positioning again,they called the flight,bundled us onto a bus and it was one of these days when it was a bit sunny & warm.everyone was onboard,it was busy and hot.and we waited,and waited and waited.we sat on the bus for 45 minutes,with NO information.the groundstaff didnt give a to55,they didnt even have the courtesy to come on and apologise for the delay.just left us waiting there.
before handling changed at outstations,the groundstaff would meet the aircraft,come on board,liaise with ALL of the crew for a time to bring the passengers,they would actually know how many passengers we had (as opposed to "errrrm no i dont know") but now,they just seem so....unprepared.
im sorry if this is harsh, but you asked. ive heard passengers say they wont use flybe again because of the way they've been treated on the ground - surely that says enough.

[Maude Charlee]

"another time,positioning again,they called the flight,bundled us onto a bus and it was one of these days when it was a bit sunny & warm.everyone was onboard,it was busy and hot.and we waited,and waited and waited.we sat on the bus for 45 minutes,with NO information."

Perhaps they were busy waiting for the crew who should have been ready to board to take the unscheduled break they decided to have because they were soooo tired. :}

[mansp]

tig, i actually agree with a lot off what you say. From a ground staff point off view our biggest gripe is sometimes we have a serious lack of info from EXT to tell the pax, which just makes the situation worse.

I dont know what station you had the delay at, and i am never going to say that we are perfect, but at least most off my collegues do actually give a toss and do care about the pax,keeps coming back to the lack of info, sometimes we just dont know whats going on and cant get a answer from anyone, and £3.50 for a delay, thats crap at any airport! (we dont decide how much to give, Flybe ops instruct us on that one)

Saying all that, i cud never do what you boys and girls in the air do, give me 400 pax delayed on the ground for 24 hours anytime!!

Hats off to you all :ok:

[dollydaydream]

I dont know where or who you work for but I take offense to that statement.
Most of the time we are playing 'catch-up' so any breaks, unscheduled or otherwise are forgotten to ensure we get home at a reasonable time!!! There are many reasons for delays, some genuine some not but I have never been delayed because of crew not being on the aircraft or by them taking a break.
MC your sarcasm is unecessary.
A few weeks ago at MAN after being called in off sby I stood on the tarmac for 20mins waiting for an inbound aircraft, I was joined by a couple of pax, who, having got tired of waiting for information about their flight decided to GO AND LOOK FOR IT!! They were wandering allover and took some persuading to go back inside - there was no-one on the gate and when I did manage to contact someone they were unconcerned by the potential risks of the situation from both a safety and security concern - that cannot be blamed on lack of information!
I too when positioning have been on the receiving end of rude, misinformed check in staff with a very uncaring attitude to fare paying pax. It took me 7 hours to reach SOU and along with those pax we were given neither explanation or vouchers..............
I could go on, my theory is that Flybe does not encourage it's staff to go out of ther way to provide good customer service and like tigeriffic I have heard a lot of people comment they will never fly with them again!!
What a shame - it could have been ok it they hadn't tried to make so many changes all at the same time.

[red17]

How do you all find flight support turn arounds compared to other airports?

[Maude Charlee]

Dolly,

I think you'll find we work for exactly the same people, and I'm more than familiar with the alleged state of affairs with regard to turnarounds, and it's quite frankly a gross distortion of reality. Most of our flights run early, or on time, only a small percentage are delayed, and the majority of those delayed only a few minutes. I'm frankly sick to death with all the whining from crews - flight and cabin - and especially from the likes of tiggeriffic who expects to have it both ways. As a crew member, she wants to be able to take unscheduled breaks because she thinks she's being worked too hard and doesn't want pax at the aircraft until she's ready, yet as a pax, she expects to be able to board the aircraft when it suits her and boarding delays are unacceptable. :ugh:


The vast majority of people in the company enjoy the job and just get on with it. If you don't, well nobody is holding a gun to your head to make you stay. You know where the door is and you're free to leave at any time.

[dollydaydream]

You seem to be contradicting yourself a bit there maude!! I was objecting to your sarcasm previously not your opinion! We are all entitled to those.

Frankly, what I am sick to death of is being told where the door is!! It seems it is only the ex-ba connect crews who are not allowed to moan about anything - justified or not, There seem to be a lot of longstanding flybe crew who moan about the exact same things (obviously because things need changing) - but that seems to be ok.

I do not feel that Flybe rescued me, I think it was niave to assume that connect was formed as anything other than a company to sell and Flybe were the 'chosen' ones. I do know where the door is and when it suits me I will use it - for the time being it suits me to stay where I am. I don't particularly like it, I am sick of being got at by various people because I am ex-connect, I don't think I am any different and certainly no better than anyone who has worked for Flybe for some time, I do my job professionally, efficiently and make the best of it as do the vast majority of people I fly with.

My main complaints about Flybe are that it is so hard to contact anyone about anything, they seem to have bitten off more than they can chew without thinking things through, they don't have an infrastructure of likeminded people throughout the company i.e. from high up down to air and ground crews and superficially the uniform is uncomfortable, impractical and I can't my bloody scarf to stay in place!!!

But thank you MC for once again telling me about that door - it's nice to know we are on the same wavelength!!

[tiggerific_69]

NO,i dont want an unscheduled break,youve got me completely wrong there.
Im on about situations where we are early/on time,or got a longer turnaround FOR a scheduled break, and the ground staff are there hounding you to go,when actually you've still got a few minutes to spare before its time for boarding at minus 20.they just dont leave us alone - im sure they have breaks throughout the day, so why should our short breaks be disturbed?we dont get time during the flight to eat anymore because the flights are busier,so the only time we get is on the ground.

The boarding delay was acceptable and i know that delays are inevitable.it was the lack of information that was COMPLETELY unacceptable.if they had just come onto the bus and said "the crew arent ready yet" then i wouldnt have minded.its the fact that the groundstaff didnt give a toss that was the issue.It was only once we got onboard that we were told the aircraft had suffered a technical fault at the last minute which needed to be rectified before we could go because there were no spare aircraft.

I have found in delays that passengers tend to be more patient and tolerable of delays when they are kept informed than when they are left in the dark,and i think the groundstaff need to bear this in mind.

And yes,i know where the door is too. Im just trying to find the key to unlock it.