BMI or BA EF commuting?????

[LOTflyer]

Hi there,

I recently applied both for BA EF and BMI. My problem is that I really do not want to move from Warsaw, where I live and have family. I am thinking about commuting WAW/LHR and would like to ask you guys if it is really possible for longer time...
If any of you manage doing that on short haul I would like to ask:

1) How many times a month do you happen to get home after duties?
2) Is there any chance for a new entrant to "bid" to make it like 3 day trip+ 2 or more days off+3 day trips etc.
3) If you happen to know what would be the price of ID RT WAW/LHR on BA?
4) Any chance to bid for a couple particular (WAW night stop) flights?

I am not affraid to spend hours and days on commuting. I know it would be hard, but my family is too important for me.....so is "THE FLYING". I used to do that in Poland , but it was just 40 min trip. I think that BA would also be one of my dreams to come truth and I need some place on earth wher Cabin Crew are proud of their airline and working environment.Believe me LOT is not the place... to stay for longer period...maybe years.

Cheers,

LOTflyer(ex)

[keeperboy]

Hi LOTflyer.

I used to work for bmi and now work for BA.

Definitely go for BA.

Money is better, you get more days off than bmi and ALL crew can 'bid' for their roster. There are LOADS of nightstops at BA shorthaul (including WAW!) which helps with commuting. At bmi there are hardly any nightstops left. Also, they have no system for bidding.

[LOTflyer]

Thanx a lot keeperboy,

That helps a lot in making decision(if it comes to that point!). BA sounds much much better for me.
Can anyone describe some EF roster example?

I can show one of mine:

1.OFF
2.OFF
3.STANDBY
4.WAW/FRA
5.WAW/BRU
6.OFF
7.OFF
8.OFF
9.WAW/VIE
10.WAW/ORD
11.ORD
12.ORD/KRK
13.DH KRK TO WAW
14.REST
15.REST
16.OFF
17.WAW/BRU
18.WAW/FRA
19.TRAINING
20.OFF
21.OFF
22.WAW/CPH-NIGHT STOP
23.CPH/WAW
24.WAW/CDG
25.WAW/CDG
26.OFF
27.STANDBY
28.WAW/MSQ+WAW/MUC
29.WAW/MAN-NIGHT STOP
30.MAN/WAW
31.WAW/LHR

This is typical LOT senior cabin crew roster. As you can see nothing special, just 8 hour night stops and 22 hrs.... in ORD long haul.

LOT flyer

[max magic]

Lotflyer

I cannot emphasise keeperboys response enough, forget bmi, believe me anywhere else would be better !!!

I work for bmi, not as cc, but I see daily how they get treated, Crew get treated like crap, no good nightstops, no good shorthaul routes, plus continued roster disruption so commuting from waw would be practically impossible !

People at bmi are great but the future of the company is uncertain.

Go for BA for the reasons keeperboy has mentioned.

[LOTflyer]

Hi,

Finally four days after applying I got invited for the BA interview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . So I am going London next week. So exited about, you can not even imagine. Even if not succeed I feel proud they even invited me. I know it may sound silly for some but this is how I feel.

Cheers,

LOTflyer

[pacific.heights]

Ba

I agree with all of the above. I work with BMI and working them would make it impossible for you to commute unless you work part-time,but then it will take a while before they even consider you for part-time as the waiting list is long.

Even BA short haul seem difficult, i live with BA short haul LHR and they work a lot as well, but nothing like BMI of course.

I dream of long haul, and even though i know you dont seem to enjoy LOT, at least your roster would make anyone dream at BMI.

Think again!!

[LOTflyer]

Thanx Pacific.heights,

The thing is that LOT recently reduced Cabin crew number and I was among them. I do not have a choice I have to look for another flying job. This dream roster of LOT means less flying than any other national airline I know=small earnings. I used to take about 500-550 GBP after tax, even in Poland living is expensive, maybe not as much as in UK, but still.

Cheers, LOTflyer

[pollypocket36]

Hi there, I'm BA crew and it will be possible to commute. Loads of crew do it, even on short haul. I can imagine it will be hard at first but once you get used to it you'll be fine.

Bidding is fantastic. It gives you the opportunity to request days off , night stops and trip lenghts. I've been there for 8 months now and compared to bmi (who I used to work for) I now have controll of my life. I also don't have to give BA 12 weeks notice for a weekend off!!!!!! Yes it's true, 12 weeks at bmi!!

Good luck with the interview and when is it?? Let us all know how you get on.

Polly

[keeperboy]

I'm on longhaul LOTflyer, but here is a copy of my partners roster to give you an idea:

1. LHR/ARN - NIGHTSTOP
2. ARN/LHR/MAD - NIGHT-STOP
3. MAD/LHR/HAM/LHR
4. LHR/BCN/LHR
5. OFF
6. OFF
7. OFF
8. OFF (ANNUAL LEAVE DAY)
9. LHR/MAN/LHR
10. LHR-ATH - NIGHT-STOP
11. ATH REST NIGHT-STOP
12. ATH/LHR
13. STANDBY
14. OFF
15. OFF
16. OFF
17. LHR/LIN NIGHT-STOP
18. LIN/LHR/AMS/LHR
19. LHR/LCA - NIGHT-STOP
20. LCA REST - NIGHT-STOP
21. LCA/LHR
22. OFF
23. OFF
24. OFF
25. OFF
26. OFF (ANNUAL LEAVE DAY)
27. STANDBY
28. AVAILABLE
29. AVAILABLE
30. AVAILABLE

Hope that helps to give you an idea and good luck for your interview. :-))

[yachtno1]

Try to find out if you will be L/H or S/H. That will make a big difference. Good luck with the interview !

[LOTflyer]

Thanx Guys,

Keeperboy this roster really gave me an idea and it looks quite good for commuting.Pollypocket, yachno1 my interview is on Thursday and your support really makes me feel better.

Cheers,

LOTflyer

[acbus1]

No brainer question LOTflyer.

BA in every respect, not just commuting, but also as an employer, with regard to the way you're treated, prospects, money, workload etc etc etc etc etc etc etc...........

Good luck!

[Did]

Hi Kepperboy,
Can you tell me what is the difference between 'Stand by' and 'available' ?
Available doesn't exist in my airline.

By the way, this roster is very good. It is only in major airlines that you can get so many days off.

BA is really one of the top to work for.

Good luck for your interview LOT flyer and tell us how it was !

[BrakesOff]

Speaking of commuting could any one recommend accomodation suitable for a LHR commuter. Just looking for somewhere I can use local to LHR if I cant get a flight home or am
on standby?

and LotFlyer for what its worth go for BA

[keeperboy]

Hey Did....

'Stand-by' is at the Compass (crew report) centre and 'Available' is a sort of home stand-by.

Stand-by is for a 6 hour block and they start every 30 mins from 05:00 to 18:00. You can be called for anything from a 'there and back' to a 3 day trip. You cannot be rostered more than one stand-by in a row.

When you have an 'Available' you call 'Voice Response' (one of those freaky computer voices) at 18:00 the day before to find out your duty (a telephone allowence is paid annually). You will either be allocated flying, stood down or rarely a 'ring-in'. If they don't have something for you at 18:00 the day prior to your available day you are not obliged to check again after that.

Hope that makes sense!

[Did]

Hey Keeperboy,

This perfectly makes sence. Thank you

Hope to see you soon at the compass centre, but before all, i have to get through Cranebank

[LOTflyer]

Hi,

So I have been to LHR BA interview. Quite stressing at the beginning but got relaxed during it. So now waiting for the response. I have one more question. Do they pay any basic salary during the training or not?

Cheers,

LOTflyer

[sixmilehighclub]

Hi LotF

Well done for surviving the interview!
Have a look on the other threads on the cc forum as theres lots of advice on new entrant pay, etc.

Good luck! (ps Warsaws a fab place!!)