British Airways - Wannabes & Recruitment IV
Join Date: Apr 2008
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BA Referencing...
Hey guys,
I've just been told by one of my referees that BA has contacted them for my airport security pass - can I assume this is a good sign and a definite step forward towards being offered a start date?
The lady I spoke to on the phone informed that whilst they were starting my referencing, it wasn't a guaranteed offer of employment - but am I still right to get my hopes up slightly?
Anybody else in the LGW Hold Pool getting their references checked?
I've just been told by one of my referees that BA has contacted them for my airport security pass - can I assume this is a good sign and a definite step forward towards being offered a start date?
The lady I spoke to on the phone informed that whilst they were starting my referencing, it wasn't a guaranteed offer of employment - but am I still right to get my hopes up slightly?
Anybody else in the LGW Hold Pool getting their references checked?
Join Date: Apr 1999
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I wouldn't take it as any sign just yet. All internal sources are saying there has been a complete ban on external recruitment. Checking references may be a prelude to being put into the holding pool, but if there are no jobs available then the holding pool is where you'll stay unfortunately.
Join Date: Apr 1999
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If they've already signed a contract BA has historically honoured it. Following 9/11 they then unceremoniously dumped cabin crew when they reached the end of their 6 month probationary period.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Uhm....that was slighly confusing......
There are people on the December & January courses who are external candidates with no previous BA employment.
Me thinks a few too many peeps on unpaid leave and some more peeps getting close to 900 rolling hours might have something to do with the above.
Also people who knowingly applied for a temp contract at LHR are not getting pereference over those who intently applied for perm. contracts at LGW - and I think there is some sense in that. Off course there will be selection from that LHR pool coming down to LGW.
There are people on the December & January courses who are external candidates with no previous BA employment.
Me thinks a few too many peeps on unpaid leave and some more peeps getting close to 900 rolling hours might have something to do with the above.
Also people who knowingly applied for a temp contract at LHR are not getting pereference over those who intently applied for perm. contracts at LGW - and I think there is some sense in that. Off course there will be selection from that LHR pool coming down to LGW.
Join Date: Apr 1999
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Unfortunately people on unpaid leave can be recalled to work with minimal notice, and have been. The 900 hours limit isn't going to be an issue if the downturn is anything like as bad as expected as 747s will be parked to be replaced by 777s (freeing up 3 crew members) and long haul flights are reduced with an increase in short haul flying to safeguard the slots. I would imagine the very last thing on the minds of manpower planning is the risk of being short of crew next year, and thats before any crew productivity increases are sought by management.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Well if anything short haul flying will result in additional rolling duty hours...
Anyway - the question was asked earlier today and the answer is: Yes, there are courses in December and January with external candidates....end of.
Anyway - the question was asked earlier today and the answer is: Yes, there are courses in December and January with external candidates....end of.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Thankyou for replying...
Carnage - I've been in the LGW holdpool since my interview back in March/April... I'm hoping that I've waited long enough, and that this is a sure sign that I'm moving toward training!
Lauderdale - Knowing that there are ext. candidates in the Dec/Jan training's lifting my hopes up, too - but again, I'm not getting too excited about it all.
I'll keep people updated as this progresses - I'm sure there are many in the holdpool that are just as eager as I am to get started, and any news (whether from BA or from people like myself) is better than no news at all.
Lauderdale - Knowing that there are ext. candidates in the Dec/Jan training's lifting my hopes up, too - but again, I'm not getting too excited about it all.
I'll keep people updated as this progresses - I'm sure there are many in the holdpool that are just as eager as I am to get started, and any news (whether from BA or from people like myself) is better than no news at all.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Hi Dicegirl
Well if your course starts on the 05th of Jan then you will be on the same course as my friend!
No I don't fly with BA out of US - but have I worn the uniform and I can still be seen at Waterside every now and then!
Well if your course starts on the 05th of Jan then you will be on the same course as my friend!
No I don't fly with BA out of US - but have I worn the uniform and I can still be seen at Waterside every now and then!
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Usually you have two days off after training before your first flight. It depends whether your ID has actually come through. If it has, two days later after your training. If not, once it has come through!
Enjoy training!
Enjoy training!
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Hi Dicegirl,
Firstly welcome to Gatwick Fleet!! In answer to your question, yes you will be flying long haul from day one. Current LGW longhaul route are: Atlanta, Orlando, New York (All 24 hour stopovers), Tampa and Bermuda (Between 24 and 48 hours stopovers), Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and Kingston (Anything from 1 night to 5 nights away). The longest trip for this winter is Kingston which is a total of 6 days (You leave on a Monday, land back on a Saturday), there is also a 5 day Kingston as well. I think St Lucia is between 5 and 6 days as well.
Although in both Antigua and St Lucia your trip will generally be broken up by a shuttle. (From Antigua to Grenada, Tobago or St Kitts) and from St Lucia to Port of Spain. All are little return trips from Antigua..You will leave the hotel early afternoon and be back at the hotel by around 8pm.
Don't forget that we do whats called mixed flying at LGW, which means you will also be doing a fair amount of shorthaul, ranging from 1 day trips (there and backs) to 4 day trips. As we also stop over on shorthaul as well..Currently we nightstop in: Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Geneva, Toulouse, Jersey, Malaga, Bologna, Venice, Naples. Am sure my colleagues will add to any that I have forgotten!!
Good luck with your course, any thing else you need to know, let me know
Bunny X
Firstly welcome to Gatwick Fleet!! In answer to your question, yes you will be flying long haul from day one. Current LGW longhaul route are: Atlanta, Orlando, New York (All 24 hour stopovers), Tampa and Bermuda (Between 24 and 48 hours stopovers), Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and Kingston (Anything from 1 night to 5 nights away). The longest trip for this winter is Kingston which is a total of 6 days (You leave on a Monday, land back on a Saturday), there is also a 5 day Kingston as well. I think St Lucia is between 5 and 6 days as well.
Although in both Antigua and St Lucia your trip will generally be broken up by a shuttle. (From Antigua to Grenada, Tobago or St Kitts) and from St Lucia to Port of Spain. All are little return trips from Antigua..You will leave the hotel early afternoon and be back at the hotel by around 8pm.
Don't forget that we do whats called mixed flying at LGW, which means you will also be doing a fair amount of shorthaul, ranging from 1 day trips (there and backs) to 4 day trips. As we also stop over on shorthaul as well..Currently we nightstop in: Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Geneva, Toulouse, Jersey, Malaga, Bologna, Venice, Naples. Am sure my colleagues will add to any that I have forgotten!!
Good luck with your course, any thing else you need to know, let me know
Bunny X
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Thank you Bunny,
that has given me a little insight as to whats in store for me over the next few months. Its quite nice to get a positive reply.
There are a lot of people still in the hold pool for training dates. I have been in the pool since July but I finally got a date through. I am due to start December 1st.
I know people are saying that this could still be withdrawn, fingers crossed its a bit too late in the day for them to do this now.
Anyway must stay positive, here's hoping I will be flying to the Caribbean mid January.
Thanks again for your reply.
Dice Girl
that has given me a little insight as to whats in store for me over the next few months. Its quite nice to get a positive reply.
There are a lot of people still in the hold pool for training dates. I have been in the pool since July but I finally got a date through. I am due to start December 1st.
I know people are saying that this could still be withdrawn, fingers crossed its a bit too late in the day for them to do this now.
Anyway must stay positive, here's hoping I will be flying to the Caribbean mid January.
Thanks again for your reply.
Dice Girl
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Hello Carnage Matey,
I have been in the hold pool since July, I have recently been offered a date for training due to start Dec 1st.
I have exchanged contratcs, are you saying that my offer could still be withdrawn this late in the day?
Dice Girl
Ps I am external applicant with no flying experience.
I have been in the hold pool since July, I have recently been offered a date for training due to start Dec 1st.
I have exchanged contratcs, are you saying that my offer could still be withdrawn this late in the day?
Dice Girl
Ps I am external applicant with no flying experience.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I'd just like to correct something Carnage wrote...
After 9/11, no-one was given the boot after their 6 months probationary period, unless they were not suited for the job of course (as in bad assessments, snapshots, reports etc). We had a major shake-up after 9/11, with temporary part time and long periods of unpaid leave being offered to a lot of crew. To this day, the company avoids forced redundancies as much as possible (it has implications on later recruitment). This is why there are so many redeployments within the company right now, as well as voluntary redundancy in some departments (mainly management).
We're still flying high though, so for those of you in the hold pool, please be patient, don't despair just yet. There's an uncertain future for a lot of comanies and people right now, so if I were you, I'd concentrate on working hard in whichever job you have right now. Save as much as you can (training and first month of flying is not easy on the wallet). Pretend you're crew, learn airport codes, watch all kinds of customer service, from phone calls to supermarket to restaurants. This will help you with your onboard and class room performance. Read up about countries and cultures (it comes in very useful - I wish I'd done that at the time).
Keep breathing, don't drown swimming around. You will hopefully get the call at some point, it's just taking a bit longer than usual, due to the global credit crunch.
Good luck!
Gg
After 9/11, no-one was given the boot after their 6 months probationary period, unless they were not suited for the job of course (as in bad assessments, snapshots, reports etc). We had a major shake-up after 9/11, with temporary part time and long periods of unpaid leave being offered to a lot of crew. To this day, the company avoids forced redundancies as much as possible (it has implications on later recruitment). This is why there are so many redeployments within the company right now, as well as voluntary redundancy in some departments (mainly management).
We're still flying high though, so for those of you in the hold pool, please be patient, don't despair just yet. There's an uncertain future for a lot of comanies and people right now, so if I were you, I'd concentrate on working hard in whichever job you have right now. Save as much as you can (training and first month of flying is not easy on the wallet). Pretend you're crew, learn airport codes, watch all kinds of customer service, from phone calls to supermarket to restaurants. This will help you with your onboard and class room performance. Read up about countries and cultures (it comes in very useful - I wish I'd done that at the time).
Keep breathing, don't drown swimming around. You will hopefully get the call at some point, it's just taking a bit longer than usual, due to the global credit crunch.
Good luck!
Gg
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Hi there everyone, just would like people to know I have created a group on facebook called 'British Airways Holding Pool' if people would like to join to chat, share info, photos - anything really. I searched and only found a Virgin one so thought it was only right BA should have one too haha.
Hopefully speak to you and new people soon.
haha.Hopefully speak to you and new people soon.
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Light at the end of the tunnel, just been offered a start date on the 19th of Jan for BA WW!!!!!
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Yep this is the 11 month temp contract.
BA have their hands tied by the union, they're not allowed to recruit for permanent crew into LHR WW, as there are so many people waiting on other fleets for a transfer. They compensate by recruiting for temporary contracts to allow for crew movement and then offer the temp crew positions in other fleets if they're available. If they transfered into LHR WW when ever positions were available, rather than offer temp contracts to cover short falls, then all of BA's experience would be at LHR due to the seniority system they operate. Therefor they have no choice but to let the current WW temps go. It will be the same story when my contract expires I'm sure.
Hope that makes sense 747.
BA have their hands tied by the union, they're not allowed to recruit for permanent crew into LHR WW, as there are so many people waiting on other fleets for a transfer. They compensate by recruiting for temporary contracts to allow for crew movement and then offer the temp crew positions in other fleets if they're available. If they transfered into LHR WW when ever positions were available, rather than offer temp contracts to cover short falls, then all of BA's experience would be at LHR due to the seniority system they operate. Therefor they have no choice but to let the current WW temps go. It will be the same story when my contract expires I'm sure.
Hope that makes sense 747.