Monarch Airlines
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Monarch Airlines
Hi guys,
Might just be being dense but can't find anything on here about Monarch!
So after my first unsuccessful application to Virgin Atlantic I think I'm gonna apply for Monarch - any ideas on what routes you get to do? Which base has vacancies.. Anyone know what the interview is like? Sending off my application soon.. fingers crossed!
Any info would be a great help,
Thanks,
Matt
Might just be being dense but can't find anything on here about Monarch!
So after my first unsuccessful application to Virgin Atlantic I think I'm gonna apply for Monarch - any ideas on what routes you get to do? Which base has vacancies.. Anyone know what the interview is like? Sending off my application soon.. fingers crossed!
Any info would be a great help,
Thanks,
Matt
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Hi Matt,
I used to work for Monarch - you'll do a mixture of longhaul and shorthaul (if you're based in Gatwick or Manchester.)
Expect a longhaul trip every other month, and if you're lucky you might get trips on consecutive months. Most trips last a week too!
When you join the shorthaul fleets are split. You'll either operate the A320/321 or the Boeing 757. If you're on the 757 you may also be trained on the Boeing 767 which does longhaul. However 757 or A320 - everyone is trained on the A330 which will guarantee you trips. Also most crew are trained on the A300 which is a short/medium haul widebody aircraft
The A320 fleet tend to do more scheduled services to Malaga, Alicante, Lisbon, Grenada etc, while the Boeing fleet don't seem to have as much shorthaul to operate. This does cause some friction within the company. Also a lot of the Boeing fleet are trained on two longhaul aircraft (767 and A330) so inevitably get more trips! I must stress that not all the 757 fleet are on the 767, as there is only one 767.
So to summarise -
Good points: Great trips which bring good money (on a week away you'll get about £500 traveller's cheques. What you don't spend you take home.), Friendly crew, some interesting "adhoc" charters (often football flights), permanent tan, smart uniform, generally good pay comapred to other airlines.
Bad points: Friction between Boeing and Airbus fleets, being charter the seats are crammed in therefore continuous complaints about legroom, A300 and B757 are getting quite old now but great aircraft all the same. Monarch Scheduled is becoming more "low cost", some flights operate a "meal option" service where passengers order a meal prior to the flight, or decline it for a cheaper ticket. There is always a discrepancy and a lack of meals on these flights.
Hope this helps, I had a great time in the company. The reason I left was due to slow promotion.
Good luck!
I used to work for Monarch - you'll do a mixture of longhaul and shorthaul (if you're based in Gatwick or Manchester.)
Expect a longhaul trip every other month, and if you're lucky you might get trips on consecutive months. Most trips last a week too!
When you join the shorthaul fleets are split. You'll either operate the A320/321 or the Boeing 757. If you're on the 757 you may also be trained on the Boeing 767 which does longhaul. However 757 or A320 - everyone is trained on the A330 which will guarantee you trips. Also most crew are trained on the A300 which is a short/medium haul widebody aircraft
The A320 fleet tend to do more scheduled services to Malaga, Alicante, Lisbon, Grenada etc, while the Boeing fleet don't seem to have as much shorthaul to operate. This does cause some friction within the company. Also a lot of the Boeing fleet are trained on two longhaul aircraft (767 and A330) so inevitably get more trips! I must stress that not all the 757 fleet are on the 767, as there is only one 767.
So to summarise -
Good points: Great trips which bring good money (on a week away you'll get about £500 traveller's cheques. What you don't spend you take home.), Friendly crew, some interesting "adhoc" charters (often football flights), permanent tan, smart uniform, generally good pay comapred to other airlines.
Bad points: Friction between Boeing and Airbus fleets, being charter the seats are crammed in therefore continuous complaints about legroom, A300 and B757 are getting quite old now but great aircraft all the same. Monarch Scheduled is becoming more "low cost", some flights operate a "meal option" service where passengers order a meal prior to the flight, or decline it for a cheaper ticket. There is always a discrepancy and a lack of meals on these flights.
Hope this helps, I had a great time in the company. The reason I left was due to slow promotion.
Good luck!
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Originally Posted by Gatwick07
Hi Matt,
I used to work for Monarch - you'll do a mixture of longhaul and shorthaul (if you're based in Gatwick or Manchester.)
Expect a longhaul trip every other month, and if you're lucky you might get trips on consecutive months. Most trips last a week too!
When you join the shorthaul fleets are split. You'll either operate the A320/321 or the Boeing 757. If you're on the 757 you may also be trained on the Boeing 767 which does longhaul. However 757 or A320 - everyone is trained on the A330 which will guarantee you trips. Also most crew are trained on the A300 which is a short/medium haul widebody aircraft
The A320 fleet tend to do more scheduled services to Malaga, Alicante, Lisbon, Grenada etc, while the Boeing fleet don't seem to have as much shorthaul to operate. This does cause some friction within the company. Also a lot of the Boeing fleet are trained on two longhaul aircraft (767 and A330) so inevitably get more trips! I must stress that not all the 757 fleet are on the 767, as there is only one 767.
So to summarise -
Good points: Great trips which bring good money (on a week away you'll get about £500 traveller's cheques. What you don't spend you take home.), Friendly crew, some interesting "adhoc" charters (often football flights), permanent tan, smart uniform, generally good pay comapred to other airlines.
Bad points: Friction between Boeing and Airbus fleets, being charter the seats are crammed in therefore continuous complaints about legroom, A300 and B757 are getting quite old now but great aircraft all the same. Monarch Scheduled is becoming more "low cost", some flights operate a "meal option" service where passengers order a meal prior to the flight, or decline it for a cheaper ticket. There is always a discrepancy and a lack of meals on these flights.
Hope this helps, I had a great time in the company. The reason I left was due to slow promotion.
Good luck!
I used to work for Monarch - you'll do a mixture of longhaul and shorthaul (if you're based in Gatwick or Manchester.)
Expect a longhaul trip every other month, and if you're lucky you might get trips on consecutive months. Most trips last a week too!
When you join the shorthaul fleets are split. You'll either operate the A320/321 or the Boeing 757. If you're on the 757 you may also be trained on the Boeing 767 which does longhaul. However 757 or A320 - everyone is trained on the A330 which will guarantee you trips. Also most crew are trained on the A300 which is a short/medium haul widebody aircraft
The A320 fleet tend to do more scheduled services to Malaga, Alicante, Lisbon, Grenada etc, while the Boeing fleet don't seem to have as much shorthaul to operate. This does cause some friction within the company. Also a lot of the Boeing fleet are trained on two longhaul aircraft (767 and A330) so inevitably get more trips! I must stress that not all the 757 fleet are on the 767, as there is only one 767.
So to summarise -
Good points: Great trips which bring good money (on a week away you'll get about £500 traveller's cheques. What you don't spend you take home.), Friendly crew, some interesting "adhoc" charters (often football flights), permanent tan, smart uniform, generally good pay comapred to other airlines.
Bad points: Friction between Boeing and Airbus fleets, being charter the seats are crammed in therefore continuous complaints about legroom, A300 and B757 are getting quite old now but great aircraft all the same. Monarch Scheduled is becoming more "low cost", some flights operate a "meal option" service where passengers order a meal prior to the flight, or decline it for a cheaper ticket. There is always a discrepancy and a lack of meals on these flights.
Hope this helps, I had a great time in the company. The reason I left was due to slow promotion.
Good luck!
You give good and bad points about the airline having learned from first hand experience AND you offer a reason why you left instead of just slagging the company off or suggesting an alternative airline.
We need more posts like this!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks so much Gatwick07..
Thats a great piece of information! Very concise and great to hear some useful details about an airline..
Sending my application off this week so fingers crossed!
Thanks again!
Matt
Thats a great piece of information! Very concise and great to hear some useful details about an airline..
Sending my application off this week so fingers crossed!
Thanks again!
Matt
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Originally Posted by 2bcrew
I think I'm gonna apply for Monarch - any ideas on what routes you get to do? Which base has vacancies.. Anyone know what the interview is like? Sending off my application soon.. fingers crossed!
Any info would be a great help,
Thanks,
Matt
I'm an ex-Monarch boy too, so thought I'd throw my tuppence worth in as well.
Gatwick07 has given a fantastic answer and all his points are accurate so I wont bother repeating them all, but just wanted to say a little more about the company so you can take as informed a decision as poss.
When you start at Monarch - like almost all other charter airlines - you will be put onto a Temporary contract that normally lasts until 31st Oct. At the end of this Temp season they may lay you off, offer you a further temp contract or take you on permanently. The number of people they keep on depends entirely on operational demand. There is no way of predicting! During your temporary season with them you will have to ask your senior crew to complete appraisals on you, these appraisals are completed and returned to your base trainers, who will meet with you every now and them to discuss them. It is in you best interests to get as many appraisals as you can, and obviously make sure you keep your nose clean and work hard so that they are good appraisals. These, along with lateness and sickness records, are the basis on which the decision will be made to keep you on (if there are jobs available) or let you go at the end of your contract.
One draw back I found with Monarch is the divide between the Temporary Juniors (as they are called) and the perm crew. Obviously all the perm crew have also been through that temp season (some of them a long long time ago! hehe) and a small number of them will happily let you work your socks off on a flight knowing that you are having an appraisal done and need to impress the seniors!
However, get through that temp season, work HARD, keep your nose clean and head down, and as soon as you are permenant you'll notice a world of difference and will be able to enjoy a fantastic job, with an airline that is quite famous in the industry for paying it's staff very well (thanks to the very union strong crew). The variety of routes (especially those ad-hoc flights mentioned earlier) is excellent. Another major benefit with Monarch is that the company seems remarkably stable, even just after Sept 11th when other companies were drastically cutting crew and the on-board service, Monarch remained strong.
You also asked for some info on the interview, so here's what I remember (it may have changed). Allow pretty much the whole day for the interview, unlike your interview with Virgin, where the number of people is whittled down during the day, with Mon you will be take part in everything.
The day includes a presentation on the company, a group exercise, a general knowledge and a maths test then a 2 to 1 interview. Try to remain calm, happy and yourself throught the entire day. You'll find lots of info on pprune about what to expect in interviews, so have a look around to prepare yourself (all airlines a quite similar) the tests weren't too hard so don't fret about those - try to learn a little bit of Airline Gen Knowledge, for example what does ABP stand for? (Able Bodied Person) Plus some basic geography.
I really enjoyed my time with Mon, I also left due to the slow promotion prospects.
As we are now a little way into the summer season charter airlines will soon slow down on their recruiting, so maybe apply to some others now too, eggs and baskets and all that! MyTravel, TUI, First Choice...? Or why not join me at BA?!
Wishing you the best of luck Matt - get in touch if you want any more info and let me know how it goes!
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Markie - Strong Union! Are you having a laugh?
Monarch Airlines care about one thing and one thing only and that's themselves. My wife has just left them to go to another another Airline. She was a senior and has started again as a junior and already her money is about the same, give or take £100. She was there eleven years and whilst she thoroughly enjoyed working with some great people the processes and atiitude of managers and some wannabe managers, otherwise known as trainers, was appalling! She was promoted to a 2 and made to come off the DC10 for this purpose but they left others on and promoted them. The junior crew on the 757/767 fleet clear £100s more per month than the seniors on the A320/1. At a recent sales day a moan about this was met with a comment by PB that you are all replaceable. If you don't like it leave! The strong union must have been all over him for that one - NOT! When my wife sent in her letter of resignation after all her years of service she got a photocopied letter of ackowledgement pp'd for the base manageress. She went to a leaving do for an office staff member leaving about the same time and stood next to the base manageress at the bar who completely ignored her! The management style at Monarch is archaic and repressive. Expect to go to work with some great people, work impossibly long hours and sit on a bar box in the galley next to urine soaked leaking toilets trying not to fall asleep. Don't get hurt in turbulence and end up with a broken foot and covered in curry and need your husband to collect you from Casualty because you'll get no support from Monarch. They refused to supply the company insurance policy number and I had to drive to Luton to read it off the wall in the foyer. The Company offered loss of earnings of a single payment of £150 before tax for that one. There is no career structure or career progression insentivisation for the Cabin Crew. The sooner they can replace the long serving crew with cheap East European labour the better they will like it. Then they will be the no frills LoCo they yearn to be. Monarch used to be a happy company but where this reputation for huge cabin crew salaries comes from I have no idea. You must be referring to senior management bonuses. Well PB, she got your message and left. Enjoy counting your money! Bye.
Monarch Airlines care about one thing and one thing only and that's themselves. My wife has just left them to go to another another Airline. She was a senior and has started again as a junior and already her money is about the same, give or take £100. She was there eleven years and whilst she thoroughly enjoyed working with some great people the processes and atiitude of managers and some wannabe managers, otherwise known as trainers, was appalling! She was promoted to a 2 and made to come off the DC10 for this purpose but they left others on and promoted them. The junior crew on the 757/767 fleet clear £100s more per month than the seniors on the A320/1. At a recent sales day a moan about this was met with a comment by PB that you are all replaceable. If you don't like it leave! The strong union must have been all over him for that one - NOT! When my wife sent in her letter of resignation after all her years of service she got a photocopied letter of ackowledgement pp'd for the base manageress. She went to a leaving do for an office staff member leaving about the same time and stood next to the base manageress at the bar who completely ignored her! The management style at Monarch is archaic and repressive. Expect to go to work with some great people, work impossibly long hours and sit on a bar box in the galley next to urine soaked leaking toilets trying not to fall asleep. Don't get hurt in turbulence and end up with a broken foot and covered in curry and need your husband to collect you from Casualty because you'll get no support from Monarch. They refused to supply the company insurance policy number and I had to drive to Luton to read it off the wall in the foyer. The Company offered loss of earnings of a single payment of £150 before tax for that one. There is no career structure or career progression insentivisation for the Cabin Crew. The sooner they can replace the long serving crew with cheap East European labour the better they will like it. Then they will be the no frills LoCo they yearn to be. Monarch used to be a happy company but where this reputation for huge cabin crew salaries comes from I have no idea. You must be referring to senior management bonuses. Well PB, she got your message and left. Enjoy counting your money! Bye.
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pinkaroo has his points
Originally Posted by pinkaroo
Markie - Strong Union! Are you having a laugh?
Monarch Airlines care about one thing and one thing only and that's themselves. My wife has just left them to go to another another Airline. She was a senior and has started again as a junior and already her money is about the same, give or take £100. She was there eleven years and whilst she thoroughly enjoyed working with some great people the processes and atiitude of managers and some wannabe managers, otherwise known as trainers, was appalling! She was promoted to a 2 and made to come off the DC10 for this purpose but they left others on and promoted them. The junior crew on the 757/767 fleet clear £100s more per month than the seniors on the A320/1. At a recent sales day a moan about this was met with a comment by PB that you are all replaceable. If you don't like it leave! The strong union must have been all over him for that one - NOT! When my wife sent in her letter of resignation after all her years of service she got a photocopied letter of ackowledgement pp'd for the base manageress. She went to a leaving do for an office staff member leaving about the same time and stood next to the base manageress at the bar who completely ignored her! The management style at Monarch is archaic and repressive. Expect to go to work with some great people, work impossibly long hours and sit on a bar box in the galley next to urine soaked leaking toilets trying not to fall asleep. Don't get hurt in turbulence and end up with a broken foot and covered in curry and need your husband to collect you from Casualty because you'll get no support from Monarch. They refused to supply the company insurance policy number and I had to drive to Luton to read it off the wall in the foyer. The Company offered loss of earnings of a single payment of £150 before tax for that one. There is no career structure or career progression insentivisation for the Cabin Crew. The sooner they can replace the long serving crew with cheap East European labour the better they will like it. Then they will be the no frills LoCo they yearn to be. Monarch used to be a happy company but where this reputation for huge cabin crew salaries comes from I have no idea. You must be referring to senior management bonuses. Well PB, she got your message and left. Enjoy counting your money! Bye.
Monarch Airlines care about one thing and one thing only and that's themselves. My wife has just left them to go to another another Airline. She was a senior and has started again as a junior and already her money is about the same, give or take £100. She was there eleven years and whilst she thoroughly enjoyed working with some great people the processes and atiitude of managers and some wannabe managers, otherwise known as trainers, was appalling! She was promoted to a 2 and made to come off the DC10 for this purpose but they left others on and promoted them. The junior crew on the 757/767 fleet clear £100s more per month than the seniors on the A320/1. At a recent sales day a moan about this was met with a comment by PB that you are all replaceable. If you don't like it leave! The strong union must have been all over him for that one - NOT! When my wife sent in her letter of resignation after all her years of service she got a photocopied letter of ackowledgement pp'd for the base manageress. She went to a leaving do for an office staff member leaving about the same time and stood next to the base manageress at the bar who completely ignored her! The management style at Monarch is archaic and repressive. Expect to go to work with some great people, work impossibly long hours and sit on a bar box in the galley next to urine soaked leaking toilets trying not to fall asleep. Don't get hurt in turbulence and end up with a broken foot and covered in curry and need your husband to collect you from Casualty because you'll get no support from Monarch. They refused to supply the company insurance policy number and I had to drive to Luton to read it off the wall in the foyer. The Company offered loss of earnings of a single payment of £150 before tax for that one. There is no career structure or career progression insentivisation for the Cabin Crew. The sooner they can replace the long serving crew with cheap East European labour the better they will like it. Then they will be the no frills LoCo they yearn to be. Monarch used to be a happy company but where this reputation for huge cabin crew salaries comes from I have no idea. You must be referring to senior management bonuses. Well PB, she got your message and left. Enjoy counting your money! Bye.
The union at monarch has no power, if they did we would have been on strike or served notice of an impending strike at least a few times by now. With regards to the injury thing, with no disrespect. I have just come off a flight where one of our girls fell over a cleaners bag and got her ankle caught in the foot rest and twisted it. Monarch had a paramedic waiting at the gate and arranged for a taxi to pick her up from the A&E. This maybe a one off, but it does show that Monarch do have compassion.
Pinky's points are very true. The money side of things is some what of a joke. Juniors can easily earn more than the seniors. BUT, this is because there are at least 7 juniors on a trip compared to 1 pusrer 1 one and 1 two. There are invisible barriers between the fleets but this is not the crews faults. If Monarch made it fair with the rosters everyone would be happy as larry. I am involved with the recruiting myself but I havent helped out in a while. Put in your two pennies worth as mentioned above, but also value what others say and quote them at points. Ask questions about Monarch's future plans!!!!! thats a good one.
As stated above we will be winding the interviews down very soon if not already so get your A INTO G.
Every one has made very good points on this section. I think you can see that working for monarch wont be about the money, but It will be about the friends you will have and new people you will meet. The money can be good but if we were in it for the money I think we would be mad.
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I have heard some horrendous stories from someone very close to me who is Monarch crew, regarding the archaic attitude of Monarch airlines.
For example being told by an old dragon of a number 1 in a raised voice and threatening manner to "stand there by the wall" for a severe dressing down after a genuine mistake which had no impact on anything safety related.
Being scared to phone in sick because of the interrogation received from so called managers (trainers) - who have no legal right to ask some of the demanding questions they ask in the 1st place!
Having to show the contents of your wallet to a senior crew member before boarding an aircraft.
Having to ask the in charge crew member if you are allowed to eat or drink anything when you are at work.
Operating 4 + hour sectors there and back without a single break once (11 + hour duty day!)
Being shouted at and spoke to in a disgusting manner by off hand pursers who regard junior crew members as 'boy' and 'girl'.
Not being allowed to leave the hotel down route without gaining 'permission' from the Captain.
Not being allowed to swap any of your roster for anyone else’s, under any circumstances ever. (Unless you know someone in the office of course!) The person I know was told 'its not a holiday camp, if you don’t like it leave'.
Having to wait up to 7 years for your 1st promotion, and even then to just the rank of 'number two' - where you get to be in charge of the back galley of a 757.
There are many more examples, but as I said, these are just stories that I have heard, however, they are all from one very reliable source.
The only thing I would say in Monarchs favour is, their juniors earn a LOT of money. Its the only thing that keeps most of them there!
For example being told by an old dragon of a number 1 in a raised voice and threatening manner to "stand there by the wall" for a severe dressing down after a genuine mistake which had no impact on anything safety related.
Being scared to phone in sick because of the interrogation received from so called managers (trainers) - who have no legal right to ask some of the demanding questions they ask in the 1st place!
Having to show the contents of your wallet to a senior crew member before boarding an aircraft.
Having to ask the in charge crew member if you are allowed to eat or drink anything when you are at work.
Operating 4 + hour sectors there and back without a single break once (11 + hour duty day!)
Being shouted at and spoke to in a disgusting manner by off hand pursers who regard junior crew members as 'boy' and 'girl'.
Not being allowed to leave the hotel down route without gaining 'permission' from the Captain.
Not being allowed to swap any of your roster for anyone else’s, under any circumstances ever. (Unless you know someone in the office of course!) The person I know was told 'its not a holiday camp, if you don’t like it leave'.
Having to wait up to 7 years for your 1st promotion, and even then to just the rank of 'number two' - where you get to be in charge of the back galley of a 757.
There are many more examples, but as I said, these are just stories that I have heard, however, they are all from one very reliable source.
The only thing I would say in Monarchs favour is, their juniors earn a LOT of money. Its the only thing that keeps most of them there!
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Virgin Boi i think your friend may be making it sound worse than it is, i know it can be bad but not that bad, it could be were they were based. Pinkaroo I totally agree with every single thing you said, i used to work for them to and left for the same reason. The last sales meeting with PB i attended he told us he could go to tesco's and replace us if we were not happy. New people were also on lower wages than us for doing the same job. Don't get me wrong i had a fab time and meet load of brilliant people, even my best friend at Monarch but they way the treat people is not to good.
I used to move bases every six months with no financal help at all as i was a junior, yet seniors got petrol money, put in a hotel for 2 weeks to find a place to live and £400 extra a month to pay for rent. They also left it to the last minute last year to tell us we were not getting our transfers so they lost alot of good staff because of it, they also waited until all other airlines had recruited before they told us. I didn't even get a exit interview for my troubles, i got a photocopied questionaire in my file.
But Monarch are not alone in how they treat thier staff.
I used to move bases every six months with no financal help at all as i was a junior, yet seniors got petrol money, put in a hotel for 2 weeks to find a place to live and £400 extra a month to pay for rent. They also left it to the last minute last year to tell us we were not getting our transfers so they lost alot of good staff because of it, they also waited until all other airlines had recruited before they told us. I didn't even get a exit interview for my troubles, i got a photocopied questionaire in my file.
But Monarch are not alone in how they treat thier staff.
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Wow.. lots of information there, it sounds like theres some quite bad points to staying with MON for a substantial amount of time - although I'm guessing that these things happen with any airline. Thanks guys!
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Yes, I'm ex charter and things do happen with any airline.
In about 1994 (!!) when I first started I was fortunate to be initially offered 4 positions with charter carriers but Monarch rejected me 3 times, but I kept trying again as I was so determined to work for them. The interview was HORRIFIC - I'm afraid I was made to feel quite inferior and underserving of being considered for employment. You do indeed stay the full day even if you know you have 'blown' the morning session...It's not nice at all.
ALL the ex MON crew I work with now (quite a few) say I got away lucky 3 times as it was such a bitchy carrier. 'witches' as pursers and yes I am afraid I have heard the same negative remarks as in the above posts!
I was recently a passenger with MON on the dreaded 'flying cinema' of an A300 once and the purser took great delight in ripping strips off a poor (obviously new entrant ) steward in front of the entire cabin. It was so unjustified I did something I would NEVER normally do and asked to speak to her privately, and asked her why she found that necessary. It was good to watch her blush and squirm when I asked for her name and details of the head of customer service.
I worked for a very large charter company (since amalgamated and changed names, etc) with a good reputation and fantastic allowances on the 7 - 10 day trips - a real treat and massive bonus to a new flyer still caught up the the 'glamour' of it all!!
Although I loved it there I can agree with a lot of the negative comments above. It wasn't really an adult working environment as I was often belittled in front of crew and passengers. I soon developed a thick skin and just did everything by the book.
Yes, you had to show your wallet and declare cash carried.
As a 'temporary junior' you are often alienated from the rest of the crew, but once again you will deal with this. The would boast and brag about their leave (juniors didn't get any!) fantastic trips, and ask sarcastically what I was planning to do that winter when (not if!) I was laid off.
I once had a 10 day trip in which no one spoke to me the entire time as I was the only temp junior - but they went off for meals/shopping/sightseeing together and quite deliberately left me on my own. I am sure that would not be acceptable these days.
The main thing is I was always afraid to even respectfully speak my mind as it would have been deeply damaging to my chances of a perm contract and being "kept on" that winter. (I just bit my tongue and waited patiently until I COULD speak my mind - when I worked my last roster before leaving to a scheduled carrier!!)
I always dragged myself into work even if I was dying, as again any sickness would prejudice my chances that winter.
I still loved charter and miss it now still - although I'm sure it's changed a LOT now.
In common with a lot of other crew I left for a permenant contract as I wanted a mortgage!
One thing I am very grateful of is the UNBELIEVABLE strict Safety Training which has stood me in very good stead for the rest of my flying career.
I just got used to it being so regimented and disciplined and I am sure you will do the same.
In about 1994 (!!) when I first started I was fortunate to be initially offered 4 positions with charter carriers but Monarch rejected me 3 times, but I kept trying again as I was so determined to work for them. The interview was HORRIFIC - I'm afraid I was made to feel quite inferior and underserving of being considered for employment. You do indeed stay the full day even if you know you have 'blown' the morning session...It's not nice at all.
ALL the ex MON crew I work with now (quite a few) say I got away lucky 3 times as it was such a bitchy carrier. 'witches' as pursers and yes I am afraid I have heard the same negative remarks as in the above posts!
I was recently a passenger with MON on the dreaded 'flying cinema' of an A300 once and the purser took great delight in ripping strips off a poor (obviously new entrant ) steward in front of the entire cabin. It was so unjustified I did something I would NEVER normally do and asked to speak to her privately, and asked her why she found that necessary. It was good to watch her blush and squirm when I asked for her name and details of the head of customer service.
I worked for a very large charter company (since amalgamated and changed names, etc) with a good reputation and fantastic allowances on the 7 - 10 day trips - a real treat and massive bonus to a new flyer still caught up the the 'glamour' of it all!!
Although I loved it there I can agree with a lot of the negative comments above. It wasn't really an adult working environment as I was often belittled in front of crew and passengers. I soon developed a thick skin and just did everything by the book.
Yes, you had to show your wallet and declare cash carried.
As a 'temporary junior' you are often alienated from the rest of the crew, but once again you will deal with this. The would boast and brag about their leave (juniors didn't get any!) fantastic trips, and ask sarcastically what I was planning to do that winter when (not if!) I was laid off.
I once had a 10 day trip in which no one spoke to me the entire time as I was the only temp junior - but they went off for meals/shopping/sightseeing together and quite deliberately left me on my own. I am sure that would not be acceptable these days.
The main thing is I was always afraid to even respectfully speak my mind as it would have been deeply damaging to my chances of a perm contract and being "kept on" that winter. (I just bit my tongue and waited patiently until I COULD speak my mind - when I worked my last roster before leaving to a scheduled carrier!!)
I always dragged myself into work even if I was dying, as again any sickness would prejudice my chances that winter.
I still loved charter and miss it now still - although I'm sure it's changed a LOT now.
In common with a lot of other crew I left for a permenant contract as I wanted a mortgage!
One thing I am very grateful of is the UNBELIEVABLE strict Safety Training which has stood me in very good stead for the rest of my flying career.
I just got used to it being so regimented and disciplined and I am sure you will do the same.
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Originally Posted by Virgin Boi
I have heard some horrendous stories from someone very close to me who is Monarch crew, regarding the archaic attitude of Monarch airlines.
For example being told by an old dragon of a number 1 in a raised voice and threatening manner to "stand there by the wall" for a severe dressing down after a genuine mistake which had no impact on anything safety related.
Being scared to phone in sick because of the interrogation received from so called managers (trainers) - who have no legal right to ask some of the demanding questions they ask in the 1st place!
Having to show the contents of your wallet to a senior crew member before boarding an aircraft.
Having to ask the in charge crew member if you are allowed to eat or drink anything when you are at work.
Operating 4 + hour sectors there and back without a single break once (11 + hour duty day!)
Being shouted at and spoke to in a disgusting manner by off hand pursers who regard junior crew members as 'boy' and 'girl'.
Not being allowed to leave the hotel down route without gaining 'permission' from the Captain.
Not being allowed to swap any of your roster for anyone else’s, under any circumstances ever. (Unless you know someone in the office of course!) The person I know was told 'its not a holiday camp, if you don’t like it leave'.
Having to wait up to 7 years for your 1st promotion, and even then to just the rank of 'number two' - where you get to be in charge of the back galley of a 757.
There are many more examples, but as I said, these are just stories that I have heard, however, they are all from one very reliable source.
The only thing I would say in Monarchs favour is, their juniors earn a LOT of money. Its the only thing that keeps most of them there!
For example being told by an old dragon of a number 1 in a raised voice and threatening manner to "stand there by the wall" for a severe dressing down after a genuine mistake which had no impact on anything safety related.
Being scared to phone in sick because of the interrogation received from so called managers (trainers) - who have no legal right to ask some of the demanding questions they ask in the 1st place!
Having to show the contents of your wallet to a senior crew member before boarding an aircraft.
Having to ask the in charge crew member if you are allowed to eat or drink anything when you are at work.
Operating 4 + hour sectors there and back without a single break once (11 + hour duty day!)
Being shouted at and spoke to in a disgusting manner by off hand pursers who regard junior crew members as 'boy' and 'girl'.
Not being allowed to leave the hotel down route without gaining 'permission' from the Captain.
Not being allowed to swap any of your roster for anyone else’s, under any circumstances ever. (Unless you know someone in the office of course!) The person I know was told 'its not a holiday camp, if you don’t like it leave'.
Having to wait up to 7 years for your 1st promotion, and even then to just the rank of 'number two' - where you get to be in charge of the back galley of a 757.
There are many more examples, but as I said, these are just stories that I have heard, however, they are all from one very reliable source.
The only thing I would say in Monarchs favour is, their juniors earn a LOT of money. Its the only thing that keeps most of them there!
Spot on monarchboi!!! Im also ex MON crew and these are precisely the reasons why i left and also that i am starting my atpl next year too!
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After reading what " crew use only " wrote, i thought i would have to tell of an incident that i witnessed. The airport where i used to be based had a smoking room where all airline personell smoked, that smoked, myself and a collegue after a long night flight, had a quick fag before getting the staff bus to the car park, on entering the room we couldn`t believe, this purser was debriefing 2 crew in there, the 2 crew werent even smoking only the purser, one of the crew was quite clearly very upset, and i`m sorry but we had to say something on the lines, " do you think its appropriate to do this here ", on which the pursers reply was "well they`ve only got a couple more weeks, roll on the winter ", well thank f--- i dont work for Monarch, that memory will always stay with me, thats how i view Monarch crew now, you can always tell the junior crew as they always look **** scarred.
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well i wont say a lot! i did a 6 month contract with monarch and i would never do it again..,.i made some really good friends there but the way that the so called trainers treat you is just outragoues! they make you feel that you are inferior and they are really special plus its like a school atmosphere where the trainers tell you off! my contract came to an end i was not offered a permanent contract...i had no sickness record and my assessemnets were pretty ok..... i was desperate and sad and applied by chance to BA when they happened for WW LHR! so i got in! i wont patronise or try to pretend that i achieved something huge but i now realise how sad i was in monarch and how amazing it is to work with professionals who know how to give you feedback and keep you motivated in your job....well i dont mean to be sarcastic but thanks monarch for not keeping me on asi would still work there and would have not bothered to apply for BA! by the way BA recruits massively for the one fleet in LGW so why dont you try there as well! if you go for monarch the best of luck and enjoy your trips ...xx
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too many bad eggs in one basket
I have been working at monarch for four and a half yrs. In this time I have come across one person that fits the description of whom you all talk about.
Thank god she has now left (good luck bmed). If the people werent kept on and had nothing negative on there record, then you cant blame the airline. If they didnt need the numbers for the winter, thats life. I was recruited into monarch 2 months after 9/11, I had no sickness, no lates and no complaints and I got kept on as other airlines were still laying people off.
It all goes on forecasts of pax figures, if they dont need you they are not going to pay for you to be in the maldives if your not required. In the time I have been working for monarch, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The people at BA say we have it hard, thats wrong, you just have it easy.
I couldnt work for an airline that does 4-6 services on a 10 hr flight - how boring. Charter is all the same, you get out of it from what you put into it.
I will never big up any airline,they all have there bad points. But to bad points there has to be good points.
Thank god she has now left (good luck bmed). If the people werent kept on and had nothing negative on there record, then you cant blame the airline. If they didnt need the numbers for the winter, thats life. I was recruited into monarch 2 months after 9/11, I had no sickness, no lates and no complaints and I got kept on as other airlines were still laying people off.
It all goes on forecasts of pax figures, if they dont need you they are not going to pay for you to be in the maldives if your not required. In the time I have been working for monarch, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The people at BA say we have it hard, thats wrong, you just have it easy.
I couldnt work for an airline that does 4-6 services on a 10 hr flight - how boring. Charter is all the same, you get out of it from what you put into it.
I will never big up any airline,they all have there bad points. But to bad points there has to be good points.
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i am really sory crib.... but i will disagree on thhat with you!!!! having worked with both airlines i can now say how easy is to work longhaul with ba.... you do your first service....drinks and no small change 1 and 2 p's you do your hot bits and for a long range flight the csd allocates your break which can be up to 3 hours and when you come back the rest of the crew go for theirs while you are at the galley or do water rounds... and when they all return you do your second service...in monarch you d do drinks followed by hot meals....followed by duty free ...followed by scratchcards followed by more drinks cos you have to sell sell sell!! and when you had a chance to sit down then the drystores would be yourseat! thanks but i dont call this as a lot easier:-)good luck to everyone
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Whilst Monarch have a reputation for being incredibly strict with their crews, I have to say that this resulted in incredible professionalism on my recent return trip to Barcelona. I was very impressed by how smartly turned out the Manchester-based crew were, and simply how friendly & attentive they were throughout both flights. Have to say it puts my airline to shame a bit, and a big well done must go out to all the staff I enountered.
Every airline has declining benefits & the odd nasty pursers, but overall Monarch looked like a very good place to work - well it looked the part!
Every airline has declining benefits & the odd nasty pursers, but overall Monarch looked like a very good place to work - well it looked the part!