OK, who's going to do it??
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: sydney
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the c*nts drafted me yesterday (24th) after my trip to do an airport reserve today and totally f*cked my day off as i had no time to rearrange anything for today.
Oh well....didnt want to have lunch with my loved ones....much rather sit at work all day.
Oh well....didnt want to have lunch with my loved ones....much rather sit at work all day.
Pilots' Pal
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: USA
Age: 63
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I sympathise with all working over Christmas (I'm on station but not at work) but that's aviation. Not only are cabin and flight crew working but maintenance engineers and other ground support staff (not forgetting ATC) are also at work.
Throughout my shift-working career, most guys would, where possible, re-arrange their shifts to allow those with small children or long-standing family commitments to take XMAS off, even if rostered on. The compromise would allow those working XMAS to enjoy the New Year celebrations.
Virgin99, get a life and an evening course in English.
Throughout my shift-working career, most guys would, where possible, re-arrange their shifts to allow those with small children or long-standing family commitments to take XMAS off, even if rostered on. The compromise would allow those working XMAS to enjoy the New Year celebrations.
Virgin99, get a life and an evening course in English.
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Bronx of Heathrow
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you!
This is a special message to thank all my fantastic colleagues in BA Eurofleet LHR working over Christmas!
Because of YOU GUYS, I could fly (in Club Class) yesterday to Switzerland and celebrate xmas with my 93 y.o. grandmother, (which is something I may not be able to do next year or any other year for that matter). You made both of us very very happy and without you being on duty, I wouldn't be off and wouldn't be home either!!!...
Have a cracking chrimbo boys and girls!!!!! Your 'sacrifice' made someone really happy!
fj xxx
p.s. I worked last year, took my partner on a nightstop, nothing wrong with that!! The year before we had cod and chips at home after a Lapland flight coz' I was too tired to cook anything!
THAT was charter life...
Because of YOU GUYS, I could fly (in Club Class) yesterday to Switzerland and celebrate xmas with my 93 y.o. grandmother, (which is something I may not be able to do next year or any other year for that matter). You made both of us very very happy and without you being on duty, I wouldn't be off and wouldn't be home either!!!...
Have a cracking chrimbo boys and girls!!!!! Your 'sacrifice' made someone really happy!
fj xxx
p.s. I worked last year, took my partner on a nightstop, nothing wrong with that!! The year before we had cod and chips at home after a Lapland flight coz' I was too tired to cook anything!
THAT was charter life...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: king-size bed, goose feather duvet, deepest Sussex
Age: 65
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just flew in from Taba (Egypt) with Astreus (AEU 296). We landed at about 10.15 so the crew must have not had much of a Christmas Day.
They were extremely good ........... cheerful, efficient, lovely people. It was a very smooth flight and arrived 20 minutes early.
Thank you to Mark and his crew - they were great!!
They were extremely good ........... cheerful, efficient, lovely people. It was a very smooth flight and arrived 20 minutes early.
Thank you to Mark and his crew - they were great!!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: London, UK
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a poorly baby at home. I was called from standby on Christmas Day for a five day trip and now my roster has changed so I am on standby on New Years Day too for another five day trip. I work in a small base and have a pretty good idea that the reason I had to work and will have to work on my new standby is due to social sickness.
Standby is a part of our duty, and if I am called, the moment I receive the call I feel utterly miserable, but then when I come to work I am cheerful and enjoy the atmosphere with my colleagues. I am pretty sure I will get called again on the first. I feel pretty miserable about it. But again when I get to work I will make the best to enjoy the camaraderie.
I think it is odd that anyone would think that chucking a sicky on Christmas Day/ Eve, New Years Day/Eve etc is justified, because of bitterness toward their airline managment. I have been trying to work out how the airline managment suffers if you go sick. Isn't it our colleagues and friends who's plans ( not that I make any when on standby) are buggered?
Even though I am not a single parent and there is care for my baby at home I feel particularly uncomfortable with the thought that I can't be with her when she is legitimately ill, but the social sickers can enjoy their self rewarded day off.
I am trying not to sound bitter, because all the people writing about how we must grin and bear it and how it is just part of our job are 100% correct.
But I can't help but feel just a little less seasonal cheer this year.
Standby is a part of our duty, and if I am called, the moment I receive the call I feel utterly miserable, but then when I come to work I am cheerful and enjoy the atmosphere with my colleagues. I am pretty sure I will get called again on the first. I feel pretty miserable about it. But again when I get to work I will make the best to enjoy the camaraderie.
I think it is odd that anyone would think that chucking a sicky on Christmas Day/ Eve, New Years Day/Eve etc is justified, because of bitterness toward their airline managment. I have been trying to work out how the airline managment suffers if you go sick. Isn't it our colleagues and friends who's plans ( not that I make any when on standby) are buggered?
Even though I am not a single parent and there is care for my baby at home I feel particularly uncomfortable with the thought that I can't be with her when she is legitimately ill, but the social sickers can enjoy their self rewarded day off.
I am trying not to sound bitter, because all the people writing about how we must grin and bear it and how it is just part of our job are 100% correct.
But I can't help but feel just a little less seasonal cheer this year.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
barty im sorry you have had a rough deal this year and its understandable to feel less seasonable, your right it is part of the job but it still sucks. You are probably the first person i have heard of with a child who doesnt feel that you are owed xmas of and that only people without children should work xmas as they dont deserve to be at home. Its an attitude i come across regularly and have known of many crew to go sick cos they want to be at home with their baby and have no consideration for their collegues being called out. This is not an attack on people with kids, its just an observation i have made. We all have to do our fair share of xmas, new year, standbys etc.. and it sucks but there are good parts to. I feel lucky to have been in vegas for this xmas and LA for new year but hope next year to be off like you probably do barty so fingers crossed!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Keeping The Enema Bandit in line
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just keep a little list of who does the bludging so that next time they ask for a favour from you, like a trip swap, you already have the answer at hand.
Scalextric for Men
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Southern England outside the M25
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The essence of this thread is to
Out / reveal and cause disquiet to those whose personal standards are so low that, they call in to say that they are sick, when workshyness or self induced malady is the true cause.
Without the eighty year olds and the dead; who gave us our freedom in the 1940's. None of these, could not care types, would be here; talking and walking.
My compliments to Enema Bandit's Dad.
Out / reveal and cause disquiet to those whose personal standards are so low that, they call in to say that they are sick, when workshyness or self induced malady is the true cause.
Without the eighty year olds and the dead; who gave us our freedom in the 1940's. None of these, could not care types, would be here; talking and walking.
My compliments to Enema Bandit's Dad.
Last edited by Capn Notarious; 26th Dec 2005 at 23:06.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Age: 40
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I was on 2 hour standby and suprise, suprise, got called out to do a lovely Seattle nightstop on the 24th. Couldn't take anyone cause I only found out 2 hours before that I was working, and nothing was open in Seattle, so thank-you to who ever went sick on that trip!
New Years eve, well, I'll be flying through that too I think, although this is now subject to my standby decision day on the 30th, which I want to be in the country for, cause my boyfriend is over from Oz!!! If all goes to plan though, I'll land up in Accra sometime after the new year has come.
Not to worry though, there's always next year!
Merry Xmas and happy new year everybody!
New Years eve, well, I'll be flying through that too I think, although this is now subject to my standby decision day on the 30th, which I want to be in the country for, cause my boyfriend is over from Oz!!! If all goes to plan though, I'll land up in Accra sometime after the new year has come.
Not to worry though, there's always next year!
Merry Xmas and happy new year everybody!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Runway 21
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, who's going to do it??
Bus429, like you, I too try to swap shifts with colleagues who have kids or lots of family commitments. Being in my early 20's, single (well until recently 
) and not really having a big deal over Xmas, I didn't mind switching so someone's little boy or girl would have mummy or daddy home on Xmas eve. It's all about karma eh - coz said Mum or Dad would be so grateful I'd get New year's or the next cople of Friday nights off!!!! 
Well done to all of you who had to work Xmas and NY away from your family but didn't call in sick. As someone said above, you can't pick and choose in this job...!
) and not really having a big deal over Xmas, I didn't mind switching so someone's little boy or girl would have mummy or daddy home on Xmas eve. It's all about karma eh - coz said Mum or Dad would be so grateful I'd get New year's or the next cople of Friday nights off!!!! Well done to all of you who had to work Xmas and NY away from your family but didn't call in sick. As someone said above, you can't pick and choose in this job...!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, who's going to do it??
Originally Posted by DarkStar
Overheard in the singles bar in Compass.....
...'well, I'm partying all night long and I'll just call in sick when I get in on Christmas morning'
...I'm all Jack!
...'well, I'm partying all night long and I'll just call in sick when I get in on Christmas morning'
...I'm all Jack!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, who's going to do it??
As of the 20th December I worked 12 hour shifts solidly until the 2nd January.
Worked Xmas Eve night into Xmas morning (1900 - 0700) and was back in both Xmas Day night shift and Boxing Day (1900 - 0700).
Also had to work 1100hrs - 2300hrs on New Years Eve and 1100hrs - 2300hrs on New Years Day.
Oh well. At least the overtime will pay for to go to Oz next year ('07). Don't know what airline to fly with though.
FE
Worked Xmas Eve night into Xmas morning (1900 - 0700) and was back in both Xmas Day night shift and Boxing Day (1900 - 0700).
Also had to work 1100hrs - 2300hrs on New Years Eve and 1100hrs - 2300hrs on New Years Day.
Oh well. At least the overtime will pay for to go to Oz next year ('07). Don't know what airline to fly with though.
FE
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, who's going to do it??
Good girl SkySista 
My Company every year around October sends us a paper asking if we volunteer to work for XMas/NY. I think it's quite clever, because as you say some people have priorities over those days and some don't. I personally never volunteer, but neither request either XMas or NY off. As a result I almost always get both off, while people who made a request didn't
go figure
I must say that if it wasn't so depressing to be in an empty hotel with minimum staff and the shops closed on Christmas Day, more people would be willing to fly on that day.
My Company every year around October sends us a paper asking if we volunteer to work for XMas/NY. I think it's quite clever, because as you say some people have priorities over those days and some don't. I personally never volunteer, but neither request either XMas or NY off. As a result I almost always get both off, while people who made a request didn't
go figureI must say that if it wasn't so depressing to be in an empty hotel with minimum staff and the shops closed on Christmas Day, more people would be willing to fly on that day.
Join Date: Jan 1998
Location: somewhere in the nth of Oz, where it isn't really cold
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, who's going to do it??
Even though I'm not CC, I work alongside them. I worked the days surrounding chrissy day, but managed to be on call at home with the phone for the day - which duly rang 0610 local. I am pleased to say it was a false start and it was the only time it rang. I also lucked out and scored NYE and NYD ..
Thankfully, none of my crews rosters needed rejigging at either time!
Thankfully, none of my crews rosters needed rejigging at either time!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Runway 21
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: OK, who's going to do it??
flyblue... if the airlines made it a bit more 'worth their while', i.e. bonuses or organising something for them to do while on layover, maybe more people would fly... yes, it is part of the job and people should expect to work it once in a while, but... humans are humans and being recognised/commended for 'playing by the rules' and working the 'undesirable' days would probably convince the majority considering calling in sick not to....
Or perhaps they could wait until after the day and give everyone who turne dup for their allocated roster a big fat bonus
And, in this day and age, not everyone thinks Chrissy is the be-all and end all of the year... so here's my tip... find someone who's not Christian/doesn't celebrate Chrissie, and arrange if they work Chrissie for you, you'll work their important day.... she'll be right then!!!!
Or perhaps they could wait until after the day and give everyone who turne dup for their allocated roster a big fat bonus
And, in this day and age, not everyone thinks Chrissy is the be-all and end all of the year... so here's my tip... find someone who's not Christian/doesn't celebrate Chrissie, and arrange if they work Chrissie for you, you'll work their important day.... she'll be right then!!!!
