BA Cabin Crew shortages...again!
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BA Cabin Crew shortages...again!
Can someone enlighten me, but for several weeks BA has been operating sectors with mail and cargo only but no passengers because of Cabin Crew shortfalls. A mate of mine turned up to find his flight had been cancelled for 'operational reasons' then the A/c departed in front of the passengers!! The snow on the Eastern Seaboard was the initial reason but that was weeks ago! Rumours abound that non-existant crew were rostered for trips and of course they 'no-showed'. I've heard that BA have chartered in all sorts of A/c including to cover including Air Luxor L1011's to TPA. What's REALLY going on?????
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I sense a nosey reporter here!!!
But for the record....TPA and MCO back to BA crews again! Take into consideration that LGW are minus aircraft at the mo due to the final Dusking of the last of our 777s!
But for the record....TPA and MCO back to BA crews again! Take into consideration that LGW are minus aircraft at the mo due to the final Dusking of the last of our 777s!
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Nosey reporter...hardly!
It's frustrating to have that gibe chucked in. I know the BA operation pretty well, but the Crew shortage issue...which seems to occur every few months never seems to be resolved and the reasons are always vague. However, you cannot expect passengers to accept the fact that their A/c takes off to LHR without them!!!
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Maybe so but the airline havent actually said anything official regarding the matter and anything on this would be simple hear say and something which could be taking totally out of context by any reporters who happen to be hunting for a story against the airline!!!
So until something official is said, then we can criticise (is that spelt right!!! duhh!!!) all we want!
So until something official is said, then we can criticise (is that spelt right!!! duhh!!!) all we want!
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I've just noticed that there is a long thread on 'Rumours' regarding BA Crew and U.S Visas which has a lot of comment upon my original question....
Whatever the cause, its poor PR for BA ...yet again.
Whatever the cause, its poor PR for BA ...yet again.
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Tristar A/C
Sorry to dissapoint chaps but the a/c has had a major breakdown at LHR and has been removed to the base and placed during the day in TBJ. There has also been a problem with the Sex and Vice A330.
I have seen Darkstar make cutting remarks before but do not credit him with reporting skills even for the 'Sun'. Sadly some of his observations are correct and finds BA all to often in a shambolic state pleading one excuse or another. It is time the management of BA did just that and broke the stranglehold that is Bassa, Balpa& the TGWU.
I have seen Darkstar make cutting remarks before but do not credit him with reporting skills even for the 'Sun'. Sadly some of his observations are correct and finds BA all to often in a shambolic state pleading one excuse or another. It is time the management of BA did just that and broke the stranglehold that is Bassa, Balpa& the TGWU.
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Spoke to a WW CSD last night who'd just flown in from NRT, apparently loads of sectors have been flown 'empty' including NRT/LHR's and BA are trying to find routes to sub charter where the 'competition' is 'poor' ...e.g NBO. Her view was that BA was too frightened to admit that they cannot take on crew issues for fear of a summer of unrest and by flying empty sectors they won't be recorded as cancellations! Try telling that to the 300 plus pax left behind!
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BA back up their operations very well with standby, available, ring-in and QRS shifts.
In addition theres always crew queuing for overtime.
BA have had a 747 available on standby for the tsunami releif runs.
BA are also in ongong recruitment for eurofleet and as a result are transferring existing eurofleet crew over to worlwide at a pretty fast rate to cover retirements and future operations.
Some airlines have a policy of only following the minimum JAR-OPS crewing levels. BA follow the JAR-OPS minimum also, but also crew their aircraft depending on passenger loads, so will call out more crew for an operation if there is a heavier load. I've never been on a flight yet which has had problems with crewing.
In addition theres always crew queuing for overtime.
BA have had a 747 available on standby for the tsunami releif runs.
BA are also in ongong recruitment for eurofleet and as a result are transferring existing eurofleet crew over to worlwide at a pretty fast rate to cover retirements and future operations.
Some airlines have a policy of only following the minimum JAR-OPS crewing levels. BA follow the JAR-OPS minimum also, but also crew their aircraft depending on passenger loads, so will call out more crew for an operation if there is a heavier load. I've never been on a flight yet which has had problems with crewing.
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BA back up their operations very well with standby, available, ring-in and QRS shifts.
BA have had a 747 available on standby for the tsunami releif runs.
I've never been on a flight yet which has had problems with crewing
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Six Mile High - Loads of First class cabins have been closed due Cabin Crew shortage and the Unions refused moving the crew to cover the premium cabin from other cabins and then the remaining crew get an extra payment for working one down!
Thousands of other areas are working below profile but they have to get on with it, without any extra payment. Only in BA!
Rod Eddington are you listening?
Thousands of other areas are working below profile but they have to get on with it, without any extra payment. Only in BA!
Rod Eddington are you listening?
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DarkStar et al:
You don't have ANY idea what you are talking about. The vast majority of these cancellations were probably due to the fact that the flights that were cancelled probably didn't have the onboard passenger loads to justify it. They would have been re-booked onto another flight at little or no cost to us, thus saving us a considerable amount of money. This is definitely not an un-heard of practise - ALL airlines do it.
Crew shortages? You've got to be joking! I'm currently on a transfer list to LHR WorldWide - that hasn't moved for over a month. Now, if there was this supposed crew shortage problem they would be moving us cabin crew on EuroFleet over to WW at a rate of knots as all the new entrant cabin crew in EF (and there are LOADS of them) would balance out our transfer. So there is obviously no problem with crew imbalances. Also, from what I hear the amount of crew on 24 hour availability is unbelieveable - again, if the problem was crew-related all these crew on standby would be called to duty.
And don't get bashing our unions - the reason why people apply to come to BA hand over fist is because of the terms and conditions that they have secured for us. We are not the community who fingers should be pointing to - rather try our grossly overpaid, underworked, useless management structure. They have alot to answer for.
'Nuff said.
You don't have ANY idea what you are talking about. The vast majority of these cancellations were probably due to the fact that the flights that were cancelled probably didn't have the onboard passenger loads to justify it. They would have been re-booked onto another flight at little or no cost to us, thus saving us a considerable amount of money. This is definitely not an un-heard of practise - ALL airlines do it.
Crew shortages? You've got to be joking! I'm currently on a transfer list to LHR WorldWide - that hasn't moved for over a month. Now, if there was this supposed crew shortage problem they would be moving us cabin crew on EuroFleet over to WW at a rate of knots as all the new entrant cabin crew in EF (and there are LOADS of them) would balance out our transfer. So there is obviously no problem with crew imbalances. Also, from what I hear the amount of crew on 24 hour availability is unbelieveable - again, if the problem was crew-related all these crew on standby would be called to duty.
And don't get bashing our unions - the reason why people apply to come to BA hand over fist is because of the terms and conditions that they have secured for us. We are not the community who fingers should be pointing to - rather try our grossly overpaid, underworked, useless management structure. They have alot to answer for.
'Nuff said.
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Wake up...
BA Boi, so what's your take on the First Class cabins being closed due Crew shortage and the refusal of the unions to allow the cabin to be crewed from other cabins - like any sensible Airline would strive to do? ...and of course the payments for working one down??
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DarkStar:
My answer is: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH IT. The capping of cabins has been happening for YEARS. It is an AGREEMENT between the company and the unions (as is the payment involved) that whenever a certain situation arises, that this is the path to follow. Simple as that. At the end of the day the company agreed to it and they wouldn't have done had they thought that it was un-sustainable either in the days when it was agreed or in years to come.
Don't get on your little soap-box and question our agreements if your departments union/s weren't able to negotiate for you similar terms and conditions etc etc etc that ours have negotiated for us. I'm sick and tired of the other departments in BA demonising the cabin crew just because we have managed to secure a fabulous Indusrial Agreement for ourselves.
SO HONEY, GET OVER IT - BECAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA CHANGE!!!
P.S. The cabin was probably capped because there were only one or two FIRST pax in the cabin - and it was cheaper for the company to give all operational crew a working one down payment than to pay another crew member all allowances for a whole trip.
My answer is: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH IT. The capping of cabins has been happening for YEARS. It is an AGREEMENT between the company and the unions (as is the payment involved) that whenever a certain situation arises, that this is the path to follow. Simple as that. At the end of the day the company agreed to it and they wouldn't have done had they thought that it was un-sustainable either in the days when it was agreed or in years to come.
Don't get on your little soap-box and question our agreements if your departments union/s weren't able to negotiate for you similar terms and conditions etc etc etc that ours have negotiated for us. I'm sick and tired of the other departments in BA demonising the cabin crew just because we have managed to secure a fabulous Indusrial Agreement for ourselves.
SO HONEY, GET OVER IT - BECAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA CHANGE!!!
P.S. The cabin was probably capped because there were only one or two FIRST pax in the cabin - and it was cheaper for the company to give all operational crew a working one down payment than to pay another crew member all allowances for a whole trip.
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Err BAboi, i feel you are a little deluded if you think we have such 'fabulous' contracts and T & C's ....
Morale has been bad at BA since 1997 the original 'BEP' and has steadily got worse ever since ,regularly hitting many all time lows.
BA has taken on the challenges to survive since 2001 agressively and without hesitation.
Perhaps they are now taking comfort from the fact that its in fairly strong position compared to its competitors.
It has launched many new products,cut thousands of jobs and slashed prices while maintaining a modestly young ,simple fleet and new aircraft investement.
However ,many storm clouds have been left in the wake of this situation, and staff have paid many sacrifices too.
We have some ludicrously low levels of crew on some flights ,and gorund staff are unable to fulfil their duties re : lack of manpower.
Many staff are shattered,stressed, disillusioned with very low morale.
We do not have the resources to do our job properly, and have no backup from those above.
Cabin crew are currently being held to ransom over their pay,over another draconian policy they want to bring in.
So where the fabulous comes in, i'll never know......
Morale has been bad at BA since 1997 the original 'BEP' and has steadily got worse ever since ,regularly hitting many all time lows.
BA has taken on the challenges to survive since 2001 agressively and without hesitation.
Perhaps they are now taking comfort from the fact that its in fairly strong position compared to its competitors.
It has launched many new products,cut thousands of jobs and slashed prices while maintaining a modestly young ,simple fleet and new aircraft investement.
However ,many storm clouds have been left in the wake of this situation, and staff have paid many sacrifices too.
We have some ludicrously low levels of crew on some flights ,and gorund staff are unable to fulfil their duties re : lack of manpower.
Many staff are shattered,stressed, disillusioned with very low morale.
We do not have the resources to do our job properly, and have no backup from those above.
Cabin crew are currently being held to ransom over their pay,over another draconian policy they want to bring in.
So where the fabulous comes in, i'll never know......