BA or VA or stay at bmi???
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Manchester
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BA or VA or stay at bmi???
just been offered interviews for both.
at the moment im a cabin service manager on bmi lh based in MAN. will have to take a drop in money which im not arsed about. please help me with the pros and cons for the two.
at the moment im a cabin service manager on bmi lh based in MAN. will have to take a drop in money which im not arsed about. please help me with the pros and cons for the two.
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whats wrong with bmi long haul
i have loved the time i have spent with bmi. the crew that i have worked with over the last 9 years have been great. however over the past couple of years bmi has been changing. i can not see where bmi is going. it seems to have no business plan and no direction. on sh the pax have left in droves to other operators due to the introduction of the low cost service. lh man pax now pay for their drinks. the overall service that bmi provides has diminished dramatically in man at the moment we have the 767. this is operating las,bgi,anu. we have main screen ife on this. in C class we should have dvd players (24) one for each pax. the flights i have done we have had 5 loaded and some of these are u/s.not enough water to give to pax, under catering the meals, pax are kicking off left right and centre.
i don't want to operate to saudi no matter what the airline told us before we started the route we cannot leave the compound and there is little to do.
example a crew operated to bom the other week and then paxed back as the aircraft was going onto manila for maintenance check.
i also find it strange that an airline that looks after the pennies can't seem to keep hold of the pound. for example the crewing department in january spent thousand on buying back days off from crew so that each a/c had enough crew to operate. im a full time member of crew and since 01/01/2006 i have flown a grand total of 3 trips (man-bgi-anu-man, man-bgi-man, manbgi-anu-man) the rest of the time i sit on my arse on standby. after looking at the flight sups/crew members pay i have worked out that with the amount of trips they are doing at the end of the year they are earning more then me as a csm.
that why i want to leave.
i don't want to operate to saudi no matter what the airline told us before we started the route we cannot leave the compound and there is little to do.
example a crew operated to bom the other week and then paxed back as the aircraft was going onto manila for maintenance check.
i also find it strange that an airline that looks after the pennies can't seem to keep hold of the pound. for example the crewing department in january spent thousand on buying back days off from crew so that each a/c had enough crew to operate. im a full time member of crew and since 01/01/2006 i have flown a grand total of 3 trips (man-bgi-anu-man, man-bgi-man, manbgi-anu-man) the rest of the time i sit on my arse on standby. after looking at the flight sups/crew members pay i have worked out that with the amount of trips they are doing at the end of the year they are earning more then me as a csm.
that why i want to leave.
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After 10yrs at midland I jumped ship and have never looked back. I work 50% less earn 25% more and have a much better quality of life. As one of lhr's most senior crew i love being bottom of the list and earning a lot more. I agree I don't know where bmi is going , low cost , long haul , charter you tell me ? any questions pm me
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I really think it depends how old you are and what you are wanting from the job. I have been working for Virgin for the last 2 years, and I am still really enjoying it. There are aspects of the company which frustrate the hell out of me, and the money is definitely one of them. But since you said that taking a pay drop isn't a problem...
I have friends that work for BA too, and 2 of them love it and 2 of them think it's ok. They love the money that they get, but the sometimes get a bit lonely as they are often working with a lot older people who don't always have the same interests.
I am not saying that Virgin is the best by a long shot, but I have had a lot of fun, and met some great people. I think it also depends if you want to fly long haul straight away! Hope this has helped! X
I have friends that work for BA too, and 2 of them love it and 2 of them think it's ok. They love the money that they get, but the sometimes get a bit lonely as they are often working with a lot older people who don't always have the same interests.
I am not saying that Virgin is the best by a long shot, but I have had a lot of fun, and met some great people. I think it also depends if you want to fly long haul straight away! Hope this has helped! X
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Go to both interviews, that will help you make your mind up. You might get a job with both - or maybe just with one so the problem will be solved.
I was in a similar position in 2003 when I got offered a job at BA and VS at the same time. The interview at BA was more challenging, people were so professional and the atmosphere was so good (as opposed to feeling we were treated a bit like kids during the VS one) that I had no doubt and accepted the job with BA without any doubts after that.
All I can say few years down the line is that I do not regret my choice at all.
Good luck
FBW
I was in a similar position in 2003 when I got offered a job at BA and VS at the same time. The interview at BA was more challenging, people were so professional and the atmosphere was so good (as opposed to feeling we were treated a bit like kids during the VS one) that I had no doubt and accepted the job with BA without any doubts after that.
All I can say few years down the line is that I do not regret my choice at all.
Good luck
FBW
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GO FOR IT!
Hey there if you have no probs about money and are unhappy about the way bmi is going then get out!I did and i have never looked back... just one thing weigh up the pros and cons, look at what you have now, then make a desicion and remember the world is your oyster!
GOOD LUCK!
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Was an FSM (Black blouser/grey shirter) at Virgin Atlantic. I am now a Main Crew on BA LHR Shorthaul and love the work and the more money!!!!! If you are worried about not being in charge, dont be. BA is very relaxed and senior crew do not (mostly anyway) lord it up or even supervise at all!
All in all BA is the better option for you, good money, relaxed and short flights with plenty of nights away if you want them.
If I earn more money now as a JNR at BA than I was as an FSM at VS......you really dont wanna join VS as a JNR!!!!
BA
If you wanna PM me for more info feel free and good luck.
All in all BA is the better option for you, good money, relaxed and short flights with plenty of nights away if you want them.
If I earn more money now as a JNR at BA than I was as an FSM at VS......you really dont wanna join VS as a JNR!!!!
BA
If you wanna PM me for more info feel free and good luck.
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WOW!!!
Bloody hell AMTBA... you talk about people sleeping with their pursers to get promoted at Virgin! Who the hell are you sleeping with to be earning on average £2400 at WW LGW??? If you were doing HKG/SYD trips at VS you are obviously quite new at BA and your allowances at LGW definately do not quite add up to the wages you are boasting about.
Virgin obviously wasn't for you (or vica versa) - don't knock them... Other than better money, BA is not all that either!
Virgin obviously wasn't for you (or vica versa) - don't knock them... Other than better money, BA is not all that either!
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BASSA today confirmed that most of the temps recruited @ BA will go straight onto LHR WW.
HOWEVER.....to alleviate some of the angst from the EF crew waiting to transfer, BASSA has secured a deal where as the temps will not be rostered ANY long range flying. I really feel sorry for these guys, without the long range flying their money will be dire.
They'd be better off on EF!
HOWEVER.....to alleviate some of the angst from the EF crew waiting to transfer, BASSA has secured a deal where as the temps will not be rostered ANY long range flying. I really feel sorry for these guys, without the long range flying their money will be dire.
They'd be better off on EF!
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BA all the way
I would have to aggree with AMTBA, I worked for Virgin Atlantic for over 4 years, and as it was my first airline I did'nt have anything to compare it to so thought all airlines were the same, I flogged my guts out for Virgin, the Virgin crew work so hard. I was taken in by all the clever marketing that virgin has, I was very proud of working for them as they are seen as trendy, Glamourous and a good company to work for but now I have gone to BA i can see how much better I am looked after and how many more rights as an employee I have. All companies are after making money and BA is no different but at least they are a lot more fairer to their employee's and now Iam bringing so much more money home. I am at WW LGW and have so much more of a better time with the BA crews they are so much more sociable than all the trips I had a virgin, only because they have money to spend downroute. But then when the Mainline world wide base at Gatwick closes and we are all transfered to Heathrow we will see what the heathrow crew are like as I've heard they are not as sociable as the Gatwick crews. But I would advise anyone who is thinking about BA to go for it, over Virgin but only apply to a Mainline base either Worldwide Gatwick, Eurofleet Heathrow, to transfer to Worldwide Heathrow because if you apply to Eurofleet Gatwick you are not on the same aggreement and will basically get stuck there with no chance of getting to Worldwide Heathrow as they have no transfer rights.
I am at WW LGW and have so much more of a better time with the BA crews they are so much more sociable than all the trips I had a virgin, only because they have money to spend downroute. But then when the Mainline world wide base at Gatwick closes and we are all transfered to Heathrow we will see what the heathrow crew are like as I've heard they are not as sociable as the Gatwick crews. But I would advise anyone who is thinking about BA to go for it, over Virgin but only apply to a Mainline base either Worldwide Gatwick, Eurofleet Heathrow, to transfer to Worldwide Heathrow because if you apply to Eurofleet Gatwick you are not on the same aggreement and will basically get stuck there with no chance of getting to Worldwide Heathrow as they have no transfer rights.
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"Then also at virgin you are treated like a child, you secure you cabin then the Flight Service Manager will walk the whole cabin and re-check your area and if a passenger has moved something like the seatback or a bag after you have secured it they will come up to you at you jumpseat, get you to follow them down to the offending area and say" tell me whats wrong with this" in front of all the passengers! To show they are in charge! "
A little sweeping and misleading! Firstly it is a company requirement that the FSM walk the cabin, and as they are accountable for the whole a/c by the company they SHOULD DO THIS. On a flight recently (operated by my friend) two doors had not been put into automatic and was only picked up by the FSM!!!! A good reason for the check?! Perhaps if you (ever) become a senior crewmember you will fully understand their responsibilities.
A little sweeping and misleading! Firstly it is a company requirement that the FSM walk the cabin, and as they are accountable for the whole a/c by the company they SHOULD DO THIS. On a flight recently (operated by my friend) two doors had not been put into automatic and was only picked up by the FSM!!!! A good reason for the check?! Perhaps if you (ever) become a senior crewmember you will fully understand their responsibilities.
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I totally agree that the FSM checking the crew's cabin secure check can look very unprofessional. I was recently travelling as a pax on a VS flight and noticed the FSM checking the cabin was secure for take off. On noticing a pax had put a blanket back over their knees she yelled (in the style of Rickaaaay!) Debbie! Poor Debbie came rushing up to have the offending blanket pointed out to her and berated right in front of all the pax. Whilst I accept that this FSM probably isn't represenative of most VS FSM's, it looked so awful and everyone really felt for the crew menmber in question.
I too don't know of any other airline that do not trust their crew to carry out cabin secure correctly. Surely this is what they are trained to do??
I too don't know of any other airline that do not trust their crew to carry out cabin secure correctly. Surely this is what they are trained to do??
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A few years back, my company leased 3 A320`s from Trans Aer, we were trained by Trans Aer in their S.E.P. and so different to ours, we too had juniors carry out cabin secure, then we as N01 & 2, followed and did our cabin secure, when we questioned this, all we were told that it was an I.A.A. requirement, not a C.A.A.
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see which one you are offered
Hi av8rboyz
I left bmi LHR last year to go to virgin and have now been online for a couple of months.
I originally applied to VS and BA, and after the interviews I decided VS was more for me than BA (Pay and T & C's aren't an issue for me as I only intend to fly for a few more years anyway). As it turned out I was offered Vs and not Ba anyway.
I'm much happier at virgin than bmi and am definately not looking back. My impressions of the company so far are that they are MUCH more professional than bmi (LHR SH), the crew are lovely and those I've met so far all seem really happy in their jobs too. Everyone I've flown with so far has been up for a good time, and although some other posters reckon the crew are too skint to do anything downroute, well I've just got back from a trip where the majority of the crew were out doing various different things, and myself and a few others had a full days skiing. I think it really depends on where you go and the mix of people you get on the day.
I know everyone else says go to BA, but I just thought I'd have my say as someone who's gone down the bmi to VS path.
I left bmi LHR last year to go to virgin and have now been online for a couple of months.
I originally applied to VS and BA, and after the interviews I decided VS was more for me than BA (Pay and T & C's aren't an issue for me as I only intend to fly for a few more years anyway). As it turned out I was offered Vs and not Ba anyway.
I'm much happier at virgin than bmi and am definately not looking back. My impressions of the company so far are that they are MUCH more professional than bmi (LHR SH), the crew are lovely and those I've met so far all seem really happy in their jobs too. Everyone I've flown with so far has been up for a good time, and although some other posters reckon the crew are too skint to do anything downroute, well I've just got back from a trip where the majority of the crew were out doing various different things, and myself and a few others had a full days skiing. I think it really depends on where you go and the mix of people you get on the day.
I know everyone else says go to BA, but I just thought I'd have my say as someone who's gone down the bmi to VS path.
