British Airways Training - My Experiences
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British Airways Training - My Experiences
Hello guys. After a long absense of being off-line (from the internet that is - don't have access down in London), I thought that I would share my experiences of the training course so far with you all.
In the BA thread, there are lots of questions about accommodation, routes, fleets and the course itself so hopefully, being just FOUR days from completion of the course, I will be able to help some of you out with information.
I thought it would be nice to start this off as a new thread as it's really venturing away from the accommodation questions dealt with in the other thread.
A few hints for y'all about the course :
And with regards to accommodation, eating and fleets :
ACCOMMODATION : There is a lot of accommodation available around the Heathrow area. From guest houses to hotels and from bedsits to rooms in family homes. I suggest that, if you're unable to find anything suitably priced for your 6 week stay BEFORE you head down there, get yourself a hotel for a few days - even if you're paying 60.00 a night for it.
There are notice boards all over Cranebank (the training facility) with information about rooms available for rent so it shouldn't take you long to find something cheaper.
I am staying at The Millennium Inn - 20.00 a night on a long-stay rate. 20 minute walk to Cranebank and quite a few places to eat and drink within a couple of minute's walk. Great bus links, too.
They have a website - www.mminn.net. I really quite like it - perfect for the duration of the course .
EATING : If you're going to be staying in a hotel and are a little worried about cooking facilities and spending a lot of money on eating out all the time, don't be. British Airways have a pretty good canteen at Cranebank with a vast selection of food available.
They serve breakfast (full cooked or cereals) and lunch and the menu changes daily. It's pretty well priced, so you needn't spend a fortune.
FLEET : You never can tell where you're going to be put when you join BA. At one stage, it looked like all the Worldwide courses were full but then another pops up a few days later.
The fact of the matter is that the ad on bajobs.com specified EUROFLEET or atleast the interviewers would have made it clear that they were recruiting for Eurofleet. If you get Worldwide, you're VERY lucky. It's great to walk in on the Worldwide fleet BUT at the same time, it's GREAT to be working for British Airways.
Eurofleet Heathrow, Eurofleet Gatwick, Worldwide - it shouldn't matter. If you really want to fly and you really want to work for the best, take what's offered and stick it out. You should be able to move fairly shortly anyway.
I wish you all the very best with your courses, whether you're already on them or have yet to start.
Eddy
P.S. Nice to meet you, Flying_Sarah!!!!
In the BA thread, there are lots of questions about accommodation, routes, fleets and the course itself so hopefully, being just FOUR days from completion of the course, I will be able to help some of you out with information.
I thought it would be nice to start this off as a new thread as it's really venturing away from the accommodation questions dealt with in the other thread.
Day one was really quite odd. Arrived early (about 8:00am) and already the majority of my colleagues were there. We sat until about 9:00am before our trainers came down to meet us, introduce themselves and show us to the training room.
This first day is largely a paperwork day. Dealing with applications for (if you need them) American visas (longhaul Gatwick crew only need these), temporary non-flying IDs etc. We had a quick chat about Diners Cards which are provided to you as crew to fund your night-stops and about Scheduling.
We were also told that we would be flying Worldwide Gatwick. I have seen other post here regarding people who got Eurofleet and then quit but I do have to say that, certainly at MY interview, no mention was EVER made about Gatwick Worldwide. Other than hear-say, people should have had no reason to believe that they were going to Worldwide.
The rest of the first week of Customer Service training was very much just listening to the trainers and taking part in a few group activities. Nothing much in these first days that will REALLY help you deliver outstanding service onboard but still, interesting and good-to-know information.
The "First Steps" test is a multiple choice one and is not really anything to worry about. I had only had my books for about four days before the test but passed without any problems. As long as you read over the information once or twice, you'll be fine. The right answers jump off the page at you.
Following Customer Service training it was on to AvMed (Aviation Medical). This is really very interesting. You're taught all about a range of problems that may arise onboard your flights, and how to deal with them. From simple things like Panic Attacks, to full Cardiac Arrest and Choking.
Great information for both onboard the aircraft and on the ground in every-day life.
The practical part of the AvMed course deals with how to ressucitate a passenger, use a defibrillator on them, put them in the recovery position etc. On Exam Day, you're likely to be taken in to a room with three colleagues and given a scenario to play out. This could involve a passenger collapsing in the galley, becoming unconcious in their seat or in the lavs.
In any of these situations, you're most important piece of information to remember is the "PRIMARY SURVEY" :
D (anger) - Ensure the area around the patient is safe
R (esponse) - Shake the pax and try to get a response
S (end) - Get a colleague to get your medical eqpt
A (irways) - Check the airway is clear by tilting head back
B (reathing) - Check is patient is breathing
C (irculation) - Check for signs of blood circulation
D (efib) - Use defibrillator on patient
You're then given a test - multiple choice again - which is also fairly straight forward. The AvMed trainers are ABSOLUTELY fantastic so nobody should have any problems with any aspect of this part of the course.
After AvMed, it was time for the part of the course that most people dread - S.E.P. This part of the course deals with how YOU handle an emergency onboard the aircraft; things like fire, unplanned emergency landings, unplanned ditching in water etc. There is a LOT to remember and quite a few different scenarios that you might be faced with on your final practical test.
Few tips though - practice your bracing position (you'll be taught this on your first or second day) and ALWAYS remember to hold the handle at the side of the door whenever you push the door open/inflate the slide.
Again, you have a multiple choice exam for S.E.P.
Following the main part of S.E.P. (which is hard work), you'll move on to "Conversion Courses" which teach you about the location of safety and emergency eqpt onboard the aircraft. You'll be tought where Survival Packs are kept, where Axes are and where you might find water containers. You'll also find out the location of Rescue Beacons etc. You will have one of these conversions for each aircraft you fly (the 747 was a TWO day course and 777 was ONE day - don't know about the narrow-bodies).
As part of the conversions, you'll enjoy Aircraft Visits which are great fun and really let you see first-hand where everything is onboard the plane.
At the end of each of these conversions, you have another multiple choice test.
By the time you're finished with the Conversions, it's back to Customer Service for your last week!!!!
I've done two days of my final six in Customer Service. These days have been spent doing "Manual Handling" - how to correctly lift items onboard and how to look after yourself while on duty -, "BarPlus" - British Airways' onboard computer to help you manage duty free sales -, and Aircraft Technical which is similar to the Conversion courses above but this time you're looking at the location of service eqpt like Beverage Makers, Ovens, Fridges etc. You have an exam for each of these aircraft Techs again - both written AND multiple choice.
Tomorrow I am going to Waterside - the BA head office - where I will be doing "Mock-up Service" which is where you have to perform a full meal service on a "fake" aircraft. This is where you really start learning about the customer-contact part of the job.
This first day is largely a paperwork day. Dealing with applications for (if you need them) American visas (longhaul Gatwick crew only need these), temporary non-flying IDs etc. We had a quick chat about Diners Cards which are provided to you as crew to fund your night-stops and about Scheduling.
We were also told that we would be flying Worldwide Gatwick. I have seen other post here regarding people who got Eurofleet and then quit but I do have to say that, certainly at MY interview, no mention was EVER made about Gatwick Worldwide. Other than hear-say, people should have had no reason to believe that they were going to Worldwide.
The rest of the first week of Customer Service training was very much just listening to the trainers and taking part in a few group activities. Nothing much in these first days that will REALLY help you deliver outstanding service onboard but still, interesting and good-to-know information.
The "First Steps" test is a multiple choice one and is not really anything to worry about. I had only had my books for about four days before the test but passed without any problems. As long as you read over the information once or twice, you'll be fine. The right answers jump off the page at you.
Following Customer Service training it was on to AvMed (Aviation Medical). This is really very interesting. You're taught all about a range of problems that may arise onboard your flights, and how to deal with them. From simple things like Panic Attacks, to full Cardiac Arrest and Choking.
Great information for both onboard the aircraft and on the ground in every-day life.
The practical part of the AvMed course deals with how to ressucitate a passenger, use a defibrillator on them, put them in the recovery position etc. On Exam Day, you're likely to be taken in to a room with three colleagues and given a scenario to play out. This could involve a passenger collapsing in the galley, becoming unconcious in their seat or in the lavs.
In any of these situations, you're most important piece of information to remember is the "PRIMARY SURVEY" :
D (anger) - Ensure the area around the patient is safe
R (esponse) - Shake the pax and try to get a response
S (end) - Get a colleague to get your medical eqpt
A (irways) - Check the airway is clear by tilting head back
B (reathing) - Check is patient is breathing
C (irculation) - Check for signs of blood circulation
D (efib) - Use defibrillator on patient
You're then given a test - multiple choice again - which is also fairly straight forward. The AvMed trainers are ABSOLUTELY fantastic so nobody should have any problems with any aspect of this part of the course.
After AvMed, it was time for the part of the course that most people dread - S.E.P. This part of the course deals with how YOU handle an emergency onboard the aircraft; things like fire, unplanned emergency landings, unplanned ditching in water etc. There is a LOT to remember and quite a few different scenarios that you might be faced with on your final practical test.
Few tips though - practice your bracing position (you'll be taught this on your first or second day) and ALWAYS remember to hold the handle at the side of the door whenever you push the door open/inflate the slide.
Again, you have a multiple choice exam for S.E.P.
Following the main part of S.E.P. (which is hard work), you'll move on to "Conversion Courses" which teach you about the location of safety and emergency eqpt onboard the aircraft. You'll be tought where Survival Packs are kept, where Axes are and where you might find water containers. You'll also find out the location of Rescue Beacons etc. You will have one of these conversions for each aircraft you fly (the 747 was a TWO day course and 777 was ONE day - don't know about the narrow-bodies).
As part of the conversions, you'll enjoy Aircraft Visits which are great fun and really let you see first-hand where everything is onboard the plane.
At the end of each of these conversions, you have another multiple choice test.
By the time you're finished with the Conversions, it's back to Customer Service for your last week!!!!
I've done two days of my final six in Customer Service. These days have been spent doing "Manual Handling" - how to correctly lift items onboard and how to look after yourself while on duty -, "BarPlus" - British Airways' onboard computer to help you manage duty free sales -, and Aircraft Technical which is similar to the Conversion courses above but this time you're looking at the location of service eqpt like Beverage Makers, Ovens, Fridges etc. You have an exam for each of these aircraft Techs again - both written AND multiple choice.
Tomorrow I am going to Waterside - the BA head office - where I will be doing "Mock-up Service" which is where you have to perform a full meal service on a "fake" aircraft. This is where you really start learning about the customer-contact part of the job.
- Make use of the Quest Centre
Quest is a learning centre where you can access parts of the S.E.P., AvMed and Conversion exams on the PCs before and during your course. This is an excellent way of getting to grips with the format of the test, the types of questions you're going to be asked and how to actually use the computers. - Ask questions and get involved
It's important on the course to really be involved. Have your say on whatever the class is discussing - it never hurts to be outspoken, but reservedness (?) can be a killer. If you're unsure about anything, ASK - your trainers will respect you for it. - Learn from your colleagues
Even if you've flown before, there's always someone else on the course who knows something you don't. Get their help with anything you're unsure of; speak to them about aspects of the course and work with them to test eachother on things. Your colleagues can be an invaluable source of information.
And with regards to accommodation, eating and fleets :
ACCOMMODATION : There is a lot of accommodation available around the Heathrow area. From guest houses to hotels and from bedsits to rooms in family homes. I suggest that, if you're unable to find anything suitably priced for your 6 week stay BEFORE you head down there, get yourself a hotel for a few days - even if you're paying 60.00 a night for it.
There are notice boards all over Cranebank (the training facility) with information about rooms available for rent so it shouldn't take you long to find something cheaper.
I am staying at The Millennium Inn - 20.00 a night on a long-stay rate. 20 minute walk to Cranebank and quite a few places to eat and drink within a couple of minute's walk. Great bus links, too.
They have a website - www.mminn.net. I really quite like it - perfect for the duration of the course .
EATING : If you're going to be staying in a hotel and are a little worried about cooking facilities and spending a lot of money on eating out all the time, don't be. British Airways have a pretty good canteen at Cranebank with a vast selection of food available.
They serve breakfast (full cooked or cereals) and lunch and the menu changes daily. It's pretty well priced, so you needn't spend a fortune.
FLEET : You never can tell where you're going to be put when you join BA. At one stage, it looked like all the Worldwide courses were full but then another pops up a few days later.
The fact of the matter is that the ad on bajobs.com specified EUROFLEET or atleast the interviewers would have made it clear that they were recruiting for Eurofleet. If you get Worldwide, you're VERY lucky. It's great to walk in on the Worldwide fleet BUT at the same time, it's GREAT to be working for British Airways.
Eurofleet Heathrow, Eurofleet Gatwick, Worldwide - it shouldn't matter. If you really want to fly and you really want to work for the best, take what's offered and stick it out. You should be able to move fairly shortly anyway.
I wish you all the very best with your courses, whether you're already on them or have yet to start.
Eddy
P.S. Nice to meet you, Flying_Sarah!!!!
Eddy
Great post. It's fascinating to hear the inside story of your training and I'm really pleased to see so many positive comments.
I have been flying for BA for 18 years and for the last 3 in command of 777's at both Heathrow and Gatwick. I can tell you that you will love working at LGW, the crews are very friendly and some of the destinations are warm and sunny.
Please feel free to visit the flight deck, notwithstanding the locked door. Just ask your purser, at a quiet moment, if you could come upfront to check the operation of the cockpit door and video camera system. It will not matter who is flying - we all like showing new crew members the "office".
Enjoy the rest of the course - see you in Antigua!
Great post. It's fascinating to hear the inside story of your training and I'm really pleased to see so many positive comments.
I have been flying for BA for 18 years and for the last 3 in command of 777's at both Heathrow and Gatwick. I can tell you that you will love working at LGW, the crews are very friendly and some of the destinations are warm and sunny.
Please feel free to visit the flight deck, notwithstanding the locked door. Just ask your purser, at a quiet moment, if you could come upfront to check the operation of the cockpit door and video camera system. It will not matter who is flying - we all like showing new crew members the "office".
Enjoy the rest of the course - see you in Antigua!
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Great Post !!
this would have to be one of the best posts i have read on PPRUNE. Sort of a Trip Report for wannabes 
Very well written and thought out with heaps of little tips.
Thankyou Eddy. Goodluck with your flying!
Ascent
Very well written and thought out with heaps of little tips.Thankyou Eddy. Goodluck with your flying!
Ascent
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Vast quantity of info
One correction: we do have electrictiy in London as well as internet. No excuses. OK.
Very interesting post, as a non BA bod, I was very interested in the details explained.
Perhaps wait two months and repost an update, please....
Very interesting post, as a non BA bod, I was very interested in the details explained.
Perhaps wait two months and repost an update, please....
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Very good topic Eddy! 
I have made it a sticky for a while, so that a maximum of people can benefit from it (and on my opinion not only BA!)
Thank you for your generosity, well done
flyblue
I have made it a sticky for a while, so that a maximum of people can benefit from it (and on my opinion not only BA!)
Thank you for your generosity, well done
flyblue
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BA Gatwick
Glad you've been successful and have been given the opportunity to work for the Worldwide Fleet... Many of my friends from other airlines have also been fortunate to land themselves a similar position...
I would just like to ask you to think about those of us who have worked for BA for many years at Gatwick on the short haul fleet.. we have endured bad times over the last few years and work very hard to keep BA the Worlds Favourite Airline... Many of us would dearly like to be where you are and have worked hard to get recognition.... However we are quite upset that new comers have taken what we've been working so hard to get!!! Many of us also worked for other airlines before hand to, so there are a lot of years of work and hope in our hearts...
We are plsed for you all, but at the same time, rather disappointed in the system...
So no moaning in the coffee shop eh! If your Houston wasnt as fun as you thought it would be, we don't wanna hear about it!!! Lol... And you can buy us a coffee, we'll no doubt be in the middle of a two day six sector trip... one of the 60 sectors we get rostered each and every month!!!!
I would just like to ask you to think about those of us who have worked for BA for many years at Gatwick on the short haul fleet.. we have endured bad times over the last few years and work very hard to keep BA the Worlds Favourite Airline... Many of us would dearly like to be where you are and have worked hard to get recognition.... However we are quite upset that new comers have taken what we've been working so hard to get!!! Many of us also worked for other airlines before hand to, so there are a lot of years of work and hope in our hearts...
We are plsed for you all, but at the same time, rather disappointed in the system...
So no moaning in the coffee shop eh! If your Houston wasnt as fun as you thought it would be, we don't wanna hear about it!!! Lol... And you can buy us a coffee, we'll no doubt be in the middle of a two day six sector trip... one of the 60 sectors we get rostered each and every month!!!!
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LHR Eurofleet
HEY EDDY!!!!!!!!
I loved the post. I bet you must be finished now!!! I finish on Tuesday and start flying on Wednesday, first flight to FRA!!! No more bumping into eachother in the canteen line at Cranebank!
My LHR Eurofleet course sounds much the same, but all the conversion courses are only a day long, and we did our technical tests in the first part of CST!
I must say to anybody who is worried, or stressed about S.E.P. DON'T BE!!!!!!!
I don't know about anybody else, but I think they've made it almost impossible to fail, and yes, you do hear stories of people getting kicked off the courses, but I can say from first hand experience (as somebody was kicked off my course) that they only kick you off if there's a good reason to. They are honestly more than fair, and after you get over the shock of being on a plane that sounds and feels like it's crashing, it's really good fun!
My favourite part has definately been customer service training. My trainers are the best people I've ever met! One of them is gonna give me a guided tour around Windsor on our day off cause he thinks it'll be a good place for me to live! And the other two offered me to stay at their houses til I get on my feet They are SOOOO sweet! I can't praise them enough! It's gonna be sad to finish the course, but I'm also excited cause flying is my dream!!!
To all of you out there just starting, all I'll say is ENJOY!!! It's the best experience ever, and you make some really great friends!
I loved the post. I bet you must be finished now!!! I finish on Tuesday and start flying on Wednesday, first flight to FRA!!! No more bumping into eachother in the canteen line at Cranebank!
My LHR Eurofleet course sounds much the same, but all the conversion courses are only a day long, and we did our technical tests in the first part of CST!
I must say to anybody who is worried, or stressed about S.E.P. DON'T BE!!!!!!!
I don't know about anybody else, but I think they've made it almost impossible to fail, and yes, you do hear stories of people getting kicked off the courses, but I can say from first hand experience (as somebody was kicked off my course) that they only kick you off if there's a good reason to. They are honestly more than fair, and after you get over the shock of being on a plane that sounds and feels like it's crashing, it's really good fun!
My favourite part has definately been customer service training. My trainers are the best people I've ever met! One of them is gonna give me a guided tour around Windsor on our day off cause he thinks it'll be a good place for me to live! And the other two offered me to stay at their houses til I get on my feet
They are SOOOO sweet! I can't praise them enough! It's gonna be sad to finish the course, but I'm also excited cause flying is my dream!!!To all of you out there just starting, all I'll say is ENJOY!!! It's the best experience ever, and you make some really great friends!
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Urgh! Long time away from this website...
I must admit your post gives a lot of details abt training which is a good thing 'coz nobody so far really went into so much. (usually most of us disappear after getting the job!
)
Thanks for all that! I'm sure many people were wondering what cabin crew training is all about... and no, we do not learn how to apply make-up!!! 
Regarding your closing sentence (long-haul / short-haul : doesn't matter if you like flying...) I must disagree with that. I work for First Choice Airways
(ex air2000) and I had to go through 10 months of short-haul before receiving my 767 training. Honestly? It was a f
g nightmare!!!... Thankfully I am now receiving nice trips (1 week Orlando, 1 week Cancun, 2 nights Goa in the last 2 months) and it seems to me like a completely new job. So now I do a mix of long and short-haul which gives me a bit of variety.
I hated summer! I hated being regularly called out of standby at 4am! I hated minimum rest! Nevertheless I don't feel I am doing the wrong job. The point is that short-haul is totally hectic and you never get to see anything unless you're lucky enough to have an 11 hour night stop at some dodgy Crowne Plaza near Manchester runway!!!!!
I was just thinking about all the BA cabin crew who have been waiting for a transfer to the long-haul fleet and are still stuck after 4 years...
Obviously if you received long-haul you're fluent in a foreign language or you are simply very lucky!
I personally got rejected by BA because despite my 2 foreign languages I only have 1 year exp as cabin crew, therefore "I wasn't qualified enough"... ahem... fine, fair enough!
We also lost a couple of our colleagues who decided to join BA but what leaves me a little unsure about the whole deal is:
1) why can't BA tell you BEFORE you resign if they intend to give you long-haul or short-haul? If you have a family it is a very important decision and after all the prostrating you had to do to get the job, I wish BA were respectful enough to put that on your job offer!
2) why do they pay you less than Air2000 when they charge more money to pax for a ticket?
3) why do they want 2 years experience when they give you a junior position anyway (especially if you end up on a 737 when you've been working on a 767 before???)
4) How is it Air2000 re-employ you even if you get made redundant by BA (after leaving Air2000), whilst BA is unable to offer you the same?
I'm no genious but I'm not sure BA is such a big deal after all... unless you plan to remain for a looooooong time... then maybe... with years and years of seniority... might as well be worth it...
Afterall I love serving beef stew and chili beans dressed in pink!!
Tarty Floaty
p.s. something they forget to tell the ladies during training: on your SNY you will probabily be seated in the cockpit for take-off and landing. On most aircraft the jumpseat is HIGHER than the pilots' seats. When the drivers turn and ask you all sorts of questions about your personal life ... remember to cross your legs!!
Just thought I could have added this to complete my previous question regarding salaries:
Air2000 cabin crew junior salary
----------------------------------------
basic year 1 : 9500 Pound p.a.
commissions : up to 11 pct of all bar/duty free sales
f.d.a. : usual (but you stay min 1 max 7 nights o/s)
To give a number, this summer I was bringing home about 1100-1250 pound net just by doing short-haul (17 flights).
During winter I got almost no short-haul flights but a week long-haul is worth about 500 pound on top of basic because of F.D.A.
In January I flew 4 sectors (2 long-haul trips for a total of 8 nights overseas) and my pay check was 1200 Pound net.
So... short-haul or long-haul? Personally I like a bit of both... You still have a private life and you enjoy the beach as well... done deal! Who cares what's written outside the can... you can't read it from inside anyway!
I must admit your post gives a lot of details abt training which is a good thing 'coz nobody so far really went into so much. (usually most of us disappear after getting the job!
)Thanks for all that! I'm sure many people were wondering what cabin crew training is all about...
and no, we do not learn how to apply make-up!!! Regarding your closing sentence (long-haul / short-haul : doesn't matter if you like flying...) I must disagree with that. I work for First Choice Airways
(ex air2000) and I had to go through 10 months of short-haul before receiving my 767 training. Honestly? It was a fg nightmare!!!... Thankfully I am now receiving nice trips (1 week Orlando, 1 week Cancun, 2 nights Goa in the last 2 months) and it seems to me like a completely new job. So now I do a mix of long and short-haul which gives me a bit of variety.I hated summer! I hated being regularly called out of standby at 4am! I hated minimum rest! Nevertheless I don't feel I am doing the wrong job. The point is that short-haul is totally hectic and you never get to see anything unless you're lucky enough to have an 11 hour night stop at some dodgy Crowne Plaza near Manchester runway!!!!!
I was just thinking about all the BA cabin crew who have been waiting for a transfer to the long-haul fleet and are still stuck after 4 years...
Obviously if you received long-haul you're fluent in a foreign language or you are simply very lucky!I personally got rejected by BA because despite my 2 foreign languages I only have 1 year exp as cabin crew, therefore "I wasn't qualified enough"... ahem... fine, fair enough!
We also lost a couple of our colleagues who decided to join BA but what leaves me a little unsure about the whole deal is:
1) why can't BA tell you BEFORE you resign if they intend to give you long-haul or short-haul? If you have a family it is a very important decision and after all the prostrating you had to do to get the job, I wish BA were respectful enough to put that on your job offer!
2) why do they pay you less than Air2000 when they charge more money to pax for a ticket?
3) why do they want 2 years experience when they give you a junior position anyway (especially if you end up on a 737 when you've been working on a 767 before???)
4) How is it Air2000 re-employ you even if you get made redundant by BA (after leaving Air2000), whilst BA is unable to offer you the same?
I'm no genious but I'm not sure BA is such a big deal after all... unless you plan to remain for a looooooong time... then maybe... with years and years of seniority... might as well be worth it...
Afterall I love serving beef stew and chili beans dressed in pink!!
Tarty Floaty
p.s. something they forget to tell the ladies during training: on your SNY you will probabily be seated in the cockpit for take-off and landing. On most aircraft the jumpseat is HIGHER than the pilots' seats. When the drivers turn and ask you all sorts of questions about your personal life ... remember to cross your legs!!
Just thought I could have added this to complete my previous question regarding salaries:
Air2000 cabin crew junior salary
----------------------------------------
basic year 1 : 9500 Pound p.a.
commissions : up to 11 pct of all bar/duty free sales
f.d.a. : usual (but you stay min 1 max 7 nights o/s)
To give a number, this summer I was bringing home about 1100-1250 pound net just by doing short-haul (17 flights).
During winter I got almost no short-haul flights but a week long-haul is worth about 500 pound on top of basic because of F.D.A.
In January I flew 4 sectors (2 long-haul trips for a total of 8 nights overseas) and my pay check was 1200 Pound net.
So... short-haul or long-haul? Personally I like a bit of both... You still have a private life and you enjoy the beach as well... done deal!
Who cares what's written outside the can... you can't read it from inside anyway!
Last edited by Floaty; 1st Feb 2004 at 20:34.
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Good post Eddy, welcome to the club. Interesting to hear what the training is like on the other side of the door. I'm sure you'll fit right in at LGW. The flight deck door is always open (figuratively speaking).
Unlike ETOPS, I'm not senior enough to make it to Antigua very often so see you in Atlanta!
[Edited 'cos I've been up all night and forgotten how to construct a coherent sentence.]
Unlike ETOPS, I'm not senior enough to make it to Antigua very often so see you in Atlanta!
[Edited 'cos I've been up all night and forgotten how to construct a coherent sentence.]
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Hi Floaty,
I know a couple of people who have just got WW LGW and they don't have a second language. As for waiting to go l/h, transferring fleets in BA is all about when positions become available due to things like people leaving, retirement and seniority. I certainly don't believe that you were rejected by BA because you weren't qualified, on my training course, there were 5 crew who were new to the role of cabin crew.
Happy Flying.
I know a couple of people who have just got WW LGW and they don't have a second language. As for waiting to go l/h, transferring fleets in BA is all about when positions become available due to things like people leaving, retirement and seniority. I certainly don't believe that you were rejected by BA because you weren't qualified, on my training course, there were 5 crew who were new to the role of cabin crew.
Happy Flying.
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Hi xmax,
I mentioned the language speakers because when I applied online this summer, the min requirements where:
- at least a foreign language
AND
- two years experience as cabin crew or a gcse in travel/tourism.
Since I do not have 2 years experience yet, neither that type of GCSE, I was expecting to be rejected. Maybe when YOU got recruited the requirements were different!!
As stated 2-3 posts earlier, I wouldn't have left my current job for short-haul but I believe long-haul is a good deal, as long as your contract is PERMANENT.
Another funny thought... Now that BA is recruiting again, why not taking back the people they made redundant after september 11th? Do they cost too much? I guess so...
Then logically it is easier to recruit younger staff - with the excuse of needing staff with foreign languages (paid basic salary of course) - giving promotions to the more senior ones (the ones bitching coz' they have been stuck for years on the same job for example). Well done BA!! Keep promoting the fair opportunity business!!
Cheers!!
Floaty
p.s. Hey! I'm an outsider! I speak based on gossip!
I mentioned the language speakers because when I applied online this summer, the min requirements where:
- at least a foreign language
AND
- two years experience as cabin crew or a gcse in travel/tourism.
Since I do not have 2 years experience yet, neither that type of GCSE, I was expecting to be rejected. Maybe when YOU got recruited the requirements were different!!
As stated 2-3 posts earlier, I wouldn't have left my current job for short-haul but I believe long-haul is a good deal, as long as your contract is PERMANENT.
Another funny thought...
Now that BA is recruiting again, why not taking back the people they made redundant after september 11th? Do they cost too much? I guess so... Then logically it is easier to recruit younger staff - with the excuse of needing staff with foreign languages (paid basic salary of course) - giving promotions to the more senior ones (the ones bitching coz' they have been stuck for years on the same job for example). Well done BA!! Keep promoting the fair opportunity business!!
Cheers!!
Floaty
p.s. Hey! I'm an outsider! I speak based on gossip!
Last edited by Floaty; 3rd Feb 2004 at 01:43.
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floaty
with regard to cabin crew,BA did not make ANY crew redundant after september 11,they did reduce the cabin crew headcount but this was achieved through offering part time contracts and voluntary unpaid leave,and this is fact and not based on gossip.
with regard to cabin crew,BA did not make ANY crew redundant after september 11,they did reduce the cabin crew headcount but this was achieved through offering part time contracts and voluntary unpaid leave,and this is fact and not based on gossip.
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Yeah 'floaty', you certainly are in no position to comment at all.
You know NOTHING about BA. So i suggest that you don't go around spreading gossip about things you know f**k-all about. You have only made yourself look like an ignoramous.
Anyway, sounds to me that you might be suffering from a case of sour grapes, non?
You know NOTHING about BA. So i suggest that you don't go around spreading gossip about things you know f**k-all about. You have only made yourself look like an ignoramous.
Anyway, sounds to me that you might be suffering from a case of sour grapes, non?
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Floaty... I suggest you quit while you're ahead.. or not as the case maybe right now!
I have been where you are and have done the short / long haul combination thing with a charter airline.. You're right it is fun, but you cant compare either short or long haul charter flying with scheduled flying!
Your facts about BA are completely wrong and you have fallen into the "listening to idle gossip" airline rubbish! Sometimes you have to take what people say with a pinch of salt! Eh!
The requirements for BA cabin crew can be found on the website. It is a minimum of two years exp. OR a second language etc... I do not speak a foreign language.. I am BA crew!!!
The rosters are completely different from what you do, and the service onboard is also worlds away from what you do too! I suggest you enjoy your time in charter and then when you've had enough perhaps begin to think of joining either BA or VA... Flying as cabin crew is a life style.. so you need to find the airline which suits your own life style best.. thats the beauty of being cabin crew!
Good Luck with it all... and Remember.. Be careful which gossip you forward... Cos sometimes you may find you're upsetting people unnecessarily!
I have been where you are and have done the short / long haul combination thing with a charter airline.. You're right it is fun, but you cant compare either short or long haul charter flying with scheduled flying!
Your facts about BA are completely wrong and you have fallen into the "listening to idle gossip" airline rubbish! Sometimes you have to take what people say with a pinch of salt! Eh!
The requirements for BA cabin crew can be found on the website. It is a minimum of two years exp. OR a second language etc... I do not speak a foreign language.. I am BA crew!!!
The rosters are completely different from what you do, and the service onboard is also worlds away from what you do too! I suggest you enjoy your time in charter and then when you've had enough perhaps begin to think of joining either BA or VA... Flying as cabin crew is a life style.. so you need to find the airline which suits your own life style best.. thats the beauty of being cabin crew!
Good Luck with it all... and Remember.. Be careful which gossip you forward... Cos sometimes you may find you're upsetting people unnecessarily!
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Hello all
I am a CSA (Dep Host) at LGW and just wanted to say GOOD LUCK to all the ex LGW Customer Service staff that will be (or already have) taking to the skies. I hope you all have fun and look forward to seeing you soon
Bluejay
I am a CSA (Dep Host) at LGW and just wanted to say GOOD LUCK to all the ex LGW Customer Service staff that will be (or already have) taking to the skies. I hope you all have fun and look forward to seeing you soon
Bluejay
Join Date: Mar 2002
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welcome back i'd say!
Mmmmmmmmhhhhhhhh........ can't even leave this country without getting bashed by fellow PPruNers during my absence! Oh great oh great!
First of all, thanks 121 for your comment. I am a little sceptical about the "no redundancy after 911" fact coz I know abt crew at work who got made redundant by BA at that time and returned to work for us afterwards. I haven't seen any paperwork so I have no proof and the reason for his redundancy could be different from what he stated, although this would surprise me. Never mind, I can't find out what the truth is so no point insisting.
To BABoi and Skybabe75 I wish to say "reconsider your attitude". This is an aviation forum (Rumors Network being part of its name) where people are entitled to different opinions. I also would like to remind you about the comment at the end of EACH webpage you are currently reading: "As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, to elicit certain reactions".
I have asked questions about BA and clearly expressed a serious doubt about the fairness of the company's recruitment and promotion system. Obviously by doing so I was looking for comments, reactions and clarifications.
Much less politically speaking: Skybabe you mention in a previous reply that you are a rather disappointed in the system. You are flying short-haul and do not speak a foreign language, you have previous experience and have been waiting to be promoted to long-haul for a while if I understand well. So... don't you feel frustrated to see that the company -you so proudly defend- offers L-H permanent contracts to newbies??? C'mon! Be honest! When you do the hard work you want something in return! This is as old as the world! You must be upset about all this, spit it out! Stop playing the interview candidate, this is your future, it's YOU, not the group, not the airline... they chose somebody else rather than you despite the fact you've been giving yourself, your energy, your hope, your trust and your heart to the job... and now? Now you get nothing and you sit and watch other people taking what you always wanted... Oh! But yes, BA service is much better than charter service... I hope it makes your day!
But hey! Be reassured, there is worse than your case: GB airways! They dress like you, fly your same colours, play the BA bunch but basically they gotta resign before they can apply with BA... Sounds great innit?
Finally... Why is it you guys use this website to defend your employer as if it was the greatest in the world? BA is not much better than my employer or whoever's employer! We all bitch and whinge about our job, our salary, our colleagues and pax... it's HUMAN and there must be a reason! We all do that at the pub, in the crew room, in the galley... So why do you adopt that soccer's fan club type of attitude once on PpruNe? Be yourself, quit saying "we, the bunch at BA"... We're not at college anymore! You guys have been absorbed by the role and have lost your ability to think as individuals... I just think it is sad... Remember that behind your promotion system, your pay scale and even your choice of crew food there are INDIVIDUALS who fought and still fight for your rights because they believe things are not quite right as they are!
Good luck to you all, new and "old" staff.
Floaty
First of all, thanks 121 for your comment. I am a little sceptical about the "no redundancy after 911" fact coz I know abt crew at work who got made redundant by BA at that time and returned to work for us afterwards. I haven't seen any paperwork so I have no proof and the reason for his redundancy could be different from what he stated, although this would surprise me. Never mind, I can't find out what the truth is so no point insisting.
To BABoi and Skybabe75 I wish to say "reconsider your attitude". This is an aviation forum (Rumors Network being part of its name) where people are entitled to different opinions. I also would like to remind you about the comment at the end of EACH webpage you are currently reading: "As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, to elicit certain reactions".
I have asked questions about BA and clearly expressed a serious doubt about the fairness of the company's recruitment and promotion system. Obviously by doing so I was looking for comments, reactions and clarifications.
Much less politically speaking: Skybabe you mention in a previous reply that you are a rather disappointed in the system. You are flying short-haul and do not speak a foreign language, you have previous experience and have been waiting to be promoted to long-haul for a while if I understand well. So... don't you feel frustrated to see that the company -you so proudly defend- offers L-H permanent contracts to newbies??? C'mon! Be honest! When you do the hard work you want something in return! This is as old as the world! You must be upset about all this, spit it out! Stop playing the interview candidate, this is your future, it's YOU, not the group, not the airline... they chose somebody else rather than you despite the fact you've been giving yourself, your energy, your hope, your trust and your heart to the job... and now? Now you get nothing and you sit and watch other people taking what you always wanted... Oh! But yes, BA service is much better than charter service... I hope it makes your day!
But hey! Be reassured, there is worse than your case: GB airways! They dress like you, fly your same colours, play the BA bunch but basically they gotta resign before they can apply with BA... Sounds great innit?
Finally... Why is it you guys use this website to defend your employer as if it was the greatest in the world? BA is not much better than my employer or whoever's employer! We all bitch and whinge about our job, our salary, our colleagues and pax... it's HUMAN and there must be a reason! We all do that at the pub, in the crew room, in the galley... So why do you adopt that soccer's fan club type of attitude once on PpruNe? Be yourself, quit saying "we, the bunch at BA"... We're not at college anymore! You guys have been absorbed by the role and have lost your ability to think as individuals... I just think it is sad... Remember that behind your promotion system, your pay scale and even your choice of crew food there are INDIVIDUALS who fought and still fight for your rights because they believe things are not quite right as they are!
Good luck to you all, new and "old" staff.
Floaty
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floaty
b.a didn't make any cabin crew redundant after 9/11,the airline has a policy of non compulsory redundancy i.e when they need to make reductions it is done through natural wastage and voluntary means and this applies to all b.a staff.
Also you are not ''promoted'' to longhaul,whilst it is fare to say that initially on joining b.a ,generally, new recruits, donot have a choice as to which fleet they are posted to , eventually most people apply to the fleet which suits their lifestyle best and as you would expect longhaul is generally the most popular with new people,however it is misleading to call what is basically a transfer a "promotion""
b.a didn't make any cabin crew redundant after 9/11,the airline has a policy of non compulsory redundancy i.e when they need to make reductions it is done through natural wastage and voluntary means and this applies to all b.a staff.
Also you are not ''promoted'' to longhaul,whilst it is fare to say that initially on joining b.a ,generally, new recruits, donot have a choice as to which fleet they are posted to , eventually most people apply to the fleet which suits their lifestyle best and as you would expect longhaul is generally the most popular with new people,however it is misleading to call what is basically a transfer a "promotion""
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Sky Babe..Lots of people in Qantas Longhaul understand how you feel. There is something like 850 (maybe more) waiting to transfer to shorthaul along with god knows how many regional crew, and the company still employs externally direct into shorthaul, allbeit at the moment casual positions working for a contractor. It took me almost 5 years to achieve a transfer into the shorthaul division...very slow... 
Things may change though. We are in the middle of a major restructure and some shorthaulers are going longhaul, cause there worried we will lose alot of flying soon. I am quite happy in shorthaul, but did wait almost 5 years for my transfer so hang in there babes, and stay positive yeah
Sounds like you love your job
And back to the topic....Great post, would love to hear Eddy how your flying is going, your experience with the types you fly on and what you fly on, etc. For example..At Qantas Shorthaul we are endorsed on 733/734/738. 762/763/763B-leased from BA. A330-200/A330-300. So when EPs comes around there is lots to remember, especially all the different evacuation commands for different doors...
Anyways...good luck to you Eddy and hi to all
Things may change though. We are in the middle of a major restructure and some shorthaulers are going longhaul, cause there worried we will lose alot of flying soon. I am quite happy in shorthaul, but did wait almost 5 years for my transfer so hang in there babes, and stay positive yeah
Sounds like you love your job And back to the topic....Great post, would love to hear Eddy how your flying is going, your experience with the types you fly on and what you fly on, etc. For example..At Qantas Shorthaul we are endorsed on 733/734/738. 762/763/763B-leased from BA. A330-200/A330-300. So when EPs comes around there is lots to remember, especially all the different evacuation commands for different doors...
Anyways...good luck to you Eddy and hi to all
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Thought I would throw in a quick update on one of my days off!!!
Been flying now for little over a month! Been to Antigua twice, Barbados, Dubai, Dallas, Tampa and I'm off to Barbados again tomorrow morning.
Flying is just such great fun and, while I have no really exciting stories to share yet, this is a career that never really has a dull moment.
I have enormous gratitude to those on Pprune who helped me in the run-up to my training and the start of my flying career and now feel in a position to be able to help others who are looking to start flying.
I'm loving every minute of this - apart from the commuting from Aberdeen which is really getting on top of me.
Still, no regrets!!
Been flying now for little over a month! Been to Antigua twice, Barbados, Dubai, Dallas, Tampa and I'm off to Barbados again tomorrow morning.
Flying is just such great fun and, while I have no really exciting stories to share yet, this is a career that never really has a dull moment.
I have enormous gratitude to those on Pprune who helped me in the run-up to my training and the start of my flying career and now feel in a position to be able to help others who are looking to start flying.
I'm loving every minute of this - apart from the commuting from Aberdeen which is really getting on top of me.
Still, no regrets!!
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Eddy!!!
Your flights sound great!!! Lucky thing getting away from the cold! I get a night stop in Aberdeen next month, but everytime I've been there it's always been snowing, so I bet you're loving the warm destinations!
Just had my first proper night stop the other day, in Prague!!! That's somewhere I've always wanted to go!! It was amazing! the crew were great and made sure I partied by night and saw the sights by day! Thankfully we only had one sector back to London and that was it! Suprisingly the weather was lovey! about 23 degrees!!!! Never thought it got warm in Prague!
I've got my first 3 day trip coming not tomorrow but the next day!! Can't wait for that!!!!!!!!!! And next month is looking great too!!! Hehehe!!
Your flights sound great!!! Lucky thing getting away from the cold!
I get a night stop in Aberdeen next month, but everytime I've been there it's always been snowing, so I bet you're loving the warm destinations! Just had my first proper night stop the other day, in Prague!!! That's somewhere I've always wanted to go!! It was amazing! the crew were great and made sure I partied by night and saw the sights by day! Thankfully we only had one sector back to London and that was it! Suprisingly the weather was lovey! about 23 degrees!!!! Never thought it got warm in Prague!
I've got my first 3 day trip coming not tomorrow but the next day!! Can't wait for that!!!!!!!!!! And next month is looking great too!!! Hehehe!!