Bored at BA, time to move on...

[frank foxworth]

Ageism is a growing problem in the work force generally.
Display these tendancies in a job interview and for reason of political correctness you’ll get a “don't call us we'll call you" notice.


Chewy , in your interviews with BA you told your prospective employer you loved meeting people
You did not reveal yourself as an ageist by saying you only wanted to work with exciting and beautiful 20 somethings.


You have not kept your end of the bargain.
You are an imposter and a fraud and you have only two options .

Tackle your prejudices head on . Maybe check out your local club or Pub for an upcoming "grab a Granny ,or Grab a Grandpa , (depending on your inclination) Seniors Night".
Only joking.


I also hate to tell you this but running off to charter won’t solve your problems.
Which leads me to your second option which is to go back to the sound and lighting industry before gerontophobia sets in.
Get out of aviation Peter Pan.
Not joking this time.

[KTPops]

FF, why are you so hostile?

I don't think this is a case of "ageism" (another buzzword from the great age of PC nonsense) or any other form of discrimination. If this thread had been called BA is full of old codgers or I'm far too young and hip to work for BA then maybe I could understand where all your anger came from!

BA is, so I have been led to believe, a vastly different airline from the likes of Virgin, Easy, BMed and the majority of charter airlines out there. What is one person's dream job could be another's nightmare. There seems to be an attittude of "you should be damn grateful you work for BA" on this thread and I really can't get my head around it. Why is it that someone who is unhappy at The World's Favourite Airline gets so much abuse from everyone?

Chewy I hope you don't rise to these insults from people who are old enough to know better. And FF, that wasn't another example of ageism before you get your knickers in a twist again....

[ChewyTheWookie]

I am absolutely astounded by some peoples reactions and general manner here. Some of you sound jealous and some of you just sound like total prats.

Who said anything about ageism? I, like most crew my age, enjoy spending time with people who I have something in common with. It just happens that I have more in common with younger crew. I'm sure that given the choice a 40 year old married mother would prefer working with another mother of a similar age than someone who is half their age and has a passion for cars and music. There is nothing wrong with that, it certainly isn't prejudice.

Think of it this way. When I go out for a night I tend to go to a trendy bar with music and then on to a nightclub, as do a lot of other younger people. I don't tend to go to traditional pubs, not because I have anything against the people in them, but it's just not my scene. BA does not seem to be my scene.

If ageism exists within BA it is certainly the other way round. There are more older crew who dislike working with younger, newer and more enthusiastic people.

[tart1]

Chewy it does seem a shame that you have found so many people like that in BA.

I am a forty-something mother and I love going out with younger people to trendy bars and nightclubs. I have found it interesting that if they are prepared to accept a more mature member of their group (ie ME!) that they really seem to enjoy my company and I am very popular with the 'young crowd'.

I also like to go out with my friends who are my own age and I don't shun traditional pubs - I like a variety of different things really.

I see where you are coming from but I just want to tell you that there are lots of mature people (ME again!) who know how to have the same sort of fun that you do. Sadly, it would appear from your posts that the ones you have come across who work for BA do not have this type of mentality.

I stand by my earlier advice to you though - be careful you are not going from the frying pan into the fire, changing jobs at this stage.

[ChewyTheWookie]

Tart1, great that you enjoy a good night out in a bar or club, there are a few of you more mature ladies and gents about who are into that sort of thing. As I said before I've no problem with anyone's age, but unfortunatly people like yourself seem to be in the minority here.

[tart1]

Definitely a bit of a shame that!!

(I sometimes feel like the oldest swinger in town!!)

[SydGirl]

Chewy I feel for you.
When I started flying I was only 20 and went through exactly what you are going through. Most of the crew I flew with were older and had different interests to me. I wanted to go out when I was away and see the city I was staying in, but none of my colleagues would go with me, preferring to stay in their rooms as they had already "been there, done that".
Every now and then I'd fly with a like-minded crew and would have an absolute ball! They were by far the highlights for me
Anyway the decision I made was to stay at the airline I was with. I never let the fact that other crew didn't want to do the things I did stop me from doing what I wanted. As a result, I met some amazing people and made great friends in the cities I went to.
Everyone will tell you how lucky you are to be with BA. You are! Make some effort and have a good time, regardless of your colleagues.
Best Wishes
SG

[apaddyinuk]

Well Chewy, Im 25 and I also am 2 years in the company and I have never encountered the same problems as you! Yes there are many who have families and are settled, but whos to say you have nothing in common with them? Have you tried talking to these people? I find them very accomodating and fun to go out with! Yes their life experiences may be different and indeed more wise then mine but its all about finding a common ground, it may not be immediately obvious!!! Plus I have always found EF to be full of young crew, certainly a lot younger than WW. I find it hard to believe that you are flying with crew out of your age range on a very regular basis, indeed perhaps the purser and csd's are a tad older but I cant imagine the rest of the main crew being all that older!

[FCOLOVER22]

reality check number 2

I wonder if BA Crew ever think of anything else when they get to their destination other then get drinking until they get absolutely pissed, downroute and do shameful things that i have seen on few flights...it embarasses me and as crew not ambassador like at all...they loose their notion of bahaviour, they forget that though they are off uniform people can still recognise them. I feel sick to death to see that most crew just wanna drink not even get culturally aware, see museums, architecture , see the interesting side of their destination....a destination is only uninteresting if u make it so....drinking until you're pissed makes it uninteresting....bunch of drunkard most crew...

im sorry ti say so but most crew are bunch of sorry asses, they're notion of socialising is drinking and nothing more...

oh, shall we meet for ruby tuesdays or blue martini...its sickening starting with the csd as the example...other day....briefing...1st thing - whos for blue martini....sickening!!!! NO INTEREST IN NOTHING ELSE! How about doing something constructive....
Anyway, amonsgst these i've met a few who are interested in cultivating their intelect with things that are intelectually stimulating...drinking till u get pissed and say things you do in your pvt life and how u shagged this or that and how u blowjob your boyfriend in this ir that matter or other things, disgusting...makes me wanna go to my room!!! We have some grossed out people and sorry asses who dont realise they are drunkards...all they think off is alcohol....spend so much money on booze, if they could they would take all the trolleys on the plane as crew purchase(some of them).

Come on people, not only are the things stated by that bored crew member true u can add my comments...the only difference, i love my job and BA is one of the best in the aviation market for t and c's and pay, but i understand where he's coming from...MIND YOU - advice - older crew can sometimes teach us a thing or two because experience counts a lot...not just theory! give it a go! Sorry to anyone if i offended them but they usually say the truth hurts! thanks

[sosmix]

Chewy don't do it! Just don't, don't, don't don't do it!!!! Don't leave BA! I left LGW Eurofleet 2 years ago and miss it so much.
I worked for charter before BA - I had only 2 nightstops - in Hemel Hempsted! They worked me like a slave, were cruel and bitchy - nearly every flight I did at least one cabin crew went home in tears after a purser had been evil to them. At BA I NEVER EVER experienced this bullying that is common place in other airlines. Please be really careful!!!!
At Gatwick there are loads & loads of young crew and I did loads of GREAT nightstops. You should consider LGW, especially as going midfleet. The older crew were great too, not at all boring - especially exDanair
My boyfriend is WW LHR , he is really sociable and never seems to be short of other crew to go out with on nightstops. I've been on lots of his trips and find the crew always to be great fun! Only a few weeks ago I was in Narita singing Karaoke with them till the early hours! If you stick things out for longhaul am sure you would like it, there only seem to be a few that don't go out and with such a big crew you always find a few you'll have a great time with

[apaddyinuk]

FCO LOVER, for once I am totally disguisted at your very narrow minded views of your colleagues!!! It shows a total contempt for the people you work with and I know as I came from your base that fortunately you are grossly inaccurate by what you are writing! You should have some respect for your colleagues as I am sure they have respect for you! Indeed there are a small number of crew that socialise to the extreme and this is in EVERY airline/company but certainly does not count for the majority. However you have cast them ALL off with the one swipe of your hand and I really expected more from you! It may question your integrity within a team if you hold such contempt for your colleagues.
You may not drink or like people who do but then, I dont like people who are rude to one another, does not mean I class everyone who has been rude as a bad person.
Your idea of socialising may not include going to a pub/bar but perhaps the culture of the people you work with does, you may not like it but it is their culture and you MUST accept that. I dont beleive that the majority of crew make a point of going out and getting rat arsed on a regular basis and I know LGW is no exception having been based there for the bulk of my BA career. Im not much of a drinker so I am usually the only sober one at the end of a night out so I can tell that most crew are well behaved even in a drunken state. They just know how to enjoy themselves.
I suggest you take a second look at what you just wrote and think again. I would hate to think that you would have been happier at QR! Or am I just Niave???
Try going out for a few drinks with your next crew...YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT! Otherwise, maybe your right, you will read this and the truth will hurt!

P.S...On a lighter note, Thanks for thinking about me for your next trip to the ME though...very much appreciated!!!

[Hand Solo]

I wonder if FCO Lover is Italian? We all know they're in top place for unsociable crew, locking themselves in their room for the duration of a trip and not meeting anyone else until pickup. Perhaps Chewys been flying with them?

[flapsforty]

Many sweeping generalizations in this thread.
Some pretty well thought out answers too.
At times, PPRuNe is almost like real life.......

Anyway, Chewie, you ask for advice in your first post, and you have been given plenty. Not all to your liking, and same as you, I am fairly astounded at the tone of some of these posts. But what you said and how you said it obviously engages people on both a rational and an emotional level.
The anonymity of the keyboard doesn't always make for self-restraint.

Now to your first post.
Peering back through the mists of time at when I was your age..... I see a rather unhappy young woman. Trips were loooong, 18 days through the Far East quite common. Crew were mainly older than I was, they drank more than I did, their topics of conversation bored the hell out of me and all they seemed interested in was shopping. I often felt so lonely that I wanted to chuck it all in.

The good trips did happen though, and I also grew up. Learned to live with myself. Learned that I could have a good time all alone, without the crowd with me for safety. Learned about doing things alone, learned about taking initiative, sticking my neck out, planning activities and just get on with it.
It was often scary and not always successful, but little by little, life improved.

Like you, I work for my country's flag carrier and the crews are a mix of ages & races and types. I respectfully suggest you think a bit about the following.

You are sick of flying with colleagues who are older than you, people with whom you have nothing in common, and are considering remedying that situation by changing jobs.

Instead of changing jobs, you could also take a long hard look at yourself, at what makes you incapable of having fun with people who do not fit your ideal profile.
Why do you need other people who are young and who want to go clubbing to make your flying life enjoyable?
Why are you incapable of building up and sustaining a social life with other people than job colleagues?
Are there things you can/should change about yourself, your own perceptions and your own behaviour so as to improve your flying experience?

Reading your posts on this thread, I think perhaps that there are ways in which you could greatly improve your own life. Not only flying wise, but generally.

At the same time, if taking long hard looks at yourself is not your thing (yet), and for sure there is no shame in just wanting to have a few years of fun flying & clubbing, why not try for Virgin? They seem to have a crew mix and philosophy that is more up your street. Generally young FAs who fly hard, party hard and get out after a few years of it. Or so a few Virgin mates tell me. Maybe it's the place for you?

Whatever you decide, good luck with it.


Good thread subject BTW, many of us are at times unhappy and lonely at the start of careers. Discussing that here is useful.

[Stretchwell]

Chewy - if it's always the same and you can't get on and make friends or enjoy yourself then take a long hard look at yourself in a mirror and you just might see where the problem lies.

Get real. If you really hate BA then leave and do us all a favour.

Good luck - you'll need it. I expect you'll be back on here whinging about your new company soon...............................

[ChewyTheWookie]

It's no wonder that on board and downroute I don't want to have anything to do with the likes of certain people who post on here. The complete intolerance of anyone who is slightly different to the norm is a big problem at BA, especially for younger crew who are not afraid to speak their minds.

People seem to have taken my posts completely the wrong way. I did not at any time say that I hate socialising with people older than me, just that I would like some company of my own age sometimes. Be honest, who doesn't?

Some of you who have been very hostile towards me, put yourselves in my situation for one minute and think about it. You are on a crew bus with 5 men and women who have houses and kids. The conversation ALWAYS steers towards their families and homes, you, as the only young single one are left sitting there, completely outcast from everything. The only way you are involved in the conversation is when someone notices that you aren't saying much and tries to get you involved. Would someone who has posted something negative and hostile please tell me what is so wrong with wanting a few people to talk to about things that I am interested in...

[cckat]

I think some people need to take a good hard look at themselves on here.

When I left my job of 5 years a year ago everyone thought I was crazy
"why, you've been there 5 years, you'll never work with these sorts of people again, you'll be bored, who wants to work in the tax office, you'll not have any fun its a pay cut".

I left anyway and LOVE what I currently do.

When I told people I was leaving to move to a job as an fa I got it all again - why its such a pay cut, what if you dont like it the people wont be the same

etc etc etc

BUT I need to do what makes me HAPPY.
If chewy LOVES flying, but doesnt really get along with the people she works with or isnt happy then what does the money matter?

All in to be an fa my pay would have dropped by over 10k in 14 months.
With one airline it was a 14K drop in pay.

And I'd still take it to try, and see if I liked it and if it made me happy.

the pay in a job ins't everything - your quality of life is what's important, or else what can Chewy say? Sure, I'm miserable, but GEE I've got good money and great conditions?

[miche2]

If you're not happy, leave. I flew with BA on longhaul for many years and the job does become tedious - regardless of the airline. If you don't act on your instinct you will become stuck, which is true of a lot of crew in that eventually the only job they can do is fly. I met a lot of "stuck" people who hated the job, but knew full well that after a certain point/age they were only fit for pretty dire jobs outside flying.

[Stretchwell]

Chewy - it's your choice and yours only. If you go to another airline then chances are your colleagues will be older, married etc too. Have you tried starting conversations on subjects that you are interested in?

BA isn't perfect by a long way but don't give it up without very serious thought. Money isn't everything but terms and conditions are and you'll not find as good as BA easily.

Perhaps this type of flying isn't for you but I have to ask just what did you expect - a crew of 23 year olds with the same interests as you? Don't just sit there and stay out of conversations - join in and steer them towards something you are interested in.

I may sound very unsympathetic but you have to make an effort.

Good luck.

[Turroncin]

Good for you!

I have to say that it's interesting to read a post from someone who says quite honestly that BA isn't really what s/he's looking for. I know loads of people try to join BA but then just because you get paid the best or wear the nicest uniform or serve the warmest hot towels or whatever, it doesn't mean it's for everyone.

I know some people who have joined airlines and have left as the crew are "too young" - in the end you have to find a place where you feel you fit in. I don't see its a problem that you don't enjoy BA - if you're not happy move, there's no point going to work dreading who you might have to work with!

Best of luck in finding a suitable replacement

[FCOLOVER22]

To APPADYINUK

I suggest you read my thread again my 'friend' and then hit me with an all different message....i didi not put all crew in one bag and i highlight for u the same msg...

AS YOU CAN SEE my colleague and 'friend; i have not included all BA CREW in one bag but used the words MOST and SOME OF THEM, and have compensated on the bottom of the message that show some of the positive things....my message wasnt all negative...and by the way it is personal opinion and likings so as i respect yours and dont say anything i expect to be respected too. If i dont like the crew that drink too much i have often sat with them anyway for a while as to not be said to be unsociable. Even yesterday i was down at the pool with them, no need to drink to have fun, the problem is when they get so drunk they cant remember their name, again this is not all of crew! Make myself clear .....

In regards to the other airline APPADYINUK, yes there were things that pleased me too albeit less than here probably...but i founf the crew to get together more to go out and culture themselves instead of drinking, but then there were also young crews always and people who shared my ideals and didnt drank....NEVERTHELESS this isnt to say that i dont have fun sometimes at BA with BA Crew, i have had some good trips and some not soo good ones where i was a witness to some 'dirty behaviour' associated to drinking, so dont get so worked it because I NEVER SAID IT WAS ALL BA CREW.

As far as me in a TEAM and respecting my colleagues, there isnt one who can complain about me disrespecting them or saying that i am not good in a a TEAM unless they have gone behind my back and said so but then its their problem for not wanting to resolve the problem if not onboard, due to work, then after work in hotel.

APPADYINUK, dont take my comments so to heart because if i had disrespected anyone or your culture or how it is, i would have been talked to by somone upthere, and anyway, THANKS TO FREE SPEECH IN EUROPE, we cab say what we want and work out our differences afterwards....i have put in the end of that message that i apologise for those who may get offended by that msg....so i free my conscience of any disgust you have exressed having for my so called ;narrowminded view'! i have not labelled all crew the same so dont go saying what you said, please, without seeing the all picture of what i wrote...

YOU may have fun with all because its yor culture and your likings however my culture is different and my likings and religious convictions also, so i have expressed something small that bothers me....because as crew downroute we should behave in a sensible manner as sometimes passengers recognise us!!!

IF YOU LIKE IT GO FOR IT, WHO AM I TO SAY ANYTHING TO YOU, but i am allowed to comment if people go out of hand....anyway...await your reply