British Airways - LGW
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Training Course Offer
Hey Guys,
Just got a call from ba offering me a course on Nov 13. Unfortunately timimg all wrong but they have very kindly put me in the holding pool. I have been so very impressed by the professionalism of ba so would actually like to join the World's Fave. What I wanted to know was how are you guys getting on inthe Single Fleet? What are rosters like? How many trips a month? Is there much shorthaul? What's the money like? (I know that's always a sticking point for crew but a frank and honest response to this one would be greatly appreciated)
Also anyone any idea as to when there might be new courses.
Thanks a million Guys,
Happy Flying,
Airbusbellboy
Just got a call from ba offering me a course on Nov 13. Unfortunately timimg all wrong but they have very kindly put me in the holding pool. I have been so very impressed by the professionalism of ba so would actually like to join the World's Fave. What I wanted to know was how are you guys getting on inthe Single Fleet? What are rosters like? How many trips a month? Is there much shorthaul? What's the money like? (I know that's always a sticking point for crew but a frank and honest response to this one would be greatly appreciated)
Also anyone any idea as to when there might be new courses.
Thanks a million Guys,
Happy Flying,
Airbusbellboy
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Hi buddy. Well done.
The LGW onefleet has not actually started yet and will not be in full swing until FEB. The LGW EF crew start to take over 777 routes on a route by route basis from october with a fill transfer of routes being undertaken in FEB. So you will have to wait until around march or april before you get a proper response!!!
All the best.
The LGW onefleet has not actually started yet and will not be in full swing until FEB. The LGW EF crew start to take over 777 routes on a route by route basis from october with a fill transfer of routes being undertaken in FEB. So you will have to wait until around march or april before you get a proper response!!!
All the best.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Hi,
Have just started flying with BA and I am getting a bit worried about the money to be honest. The basic after tax is about £600 a month, and my flying allowances for Sept are a predicted £390. I have been quite busy this month so far with some lots of 3 sector days, and even a 4 sector one and if all this work is for peanuts then I'm gonna be out of here pretty soon.
I used to work for EK and the money was better there (with free accommodation and transport. We also had allowances of about £70 for 24 hours in the UK for example, something we don't get with BA). The flight pay at BA id a ridiculous £2.30 an hour, and at LGW that's all you get. Oh, and a free breakfast (at the moment but this might change soon) on stopovers.
Does anyone else feel the same? I haven't even joined a union yet as they don't seem to be doing anything apart from taking £12 a month from us (come on guys, are you kidding??).
My morale is going downwards pretty quickly. Pity as I love my job.
Have just started flying with BA and I am getting a bit worried about the money to be honest. The basic after tax is about £600 a month, and my flying allowances for Sept are a predicted £390. I have been quite busy this month so far with some lots of 3 sector days, and even a 4 sector one and if all this work is for peanuts then I'm gonna be out of here pretty soon.
I used to work for EK and the money was better there (with free accommodation and transport. We also had allowances of about £70 for 24 hours in the UK for example, something we don't get with BA). The flight pay at BA id a ridiculous £2.30 an hour, and at LGW that's all you get. Oh, and a free breakfast (at the moment but this might change soon) on stopovers.
Does anyone else feel the same? I haven't even joined a union yet as they don't seem to be doing anything apart from taking £12 a month from us (come on guys, are you kidding??).
My morale is going downwards pretty quickly. Pity as I love my job.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Hi Volant I'm training for the SF at Gatwick.I'm applying for Bmed. though.Don't worry if you work for the right airline you can earn money in this job.That's what I think anyway.Think of ANA,Jal and Bmed.They have the lifestyle and a good salary.I don't think I'm gonna stay in LGW for long!
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Guys can I just say......if you know how to bid you can get the right trips and then the money you want. To be honest you've only just started and there are many people joining after you so you're quite lucky in a way as you'll get up the seniority list quicker than I did for sure!
-Flying hours are not taxable, so what you see is what you get.
-The "alternative" union charges 9.20 by direct debit.
I am sure that Long Haul is going to bring us more money, however when I was a new entrant crew I remember getting up to £700 one month (February even!) just in flying allowances, so once again, good bidding is the key answer. There's a book of swaps available on the 3rd floor, many crew (I used to do it a lot) put in their trips that they want to exchange for there&back's. So have a look at it, you might end up getting another trip thanks to a swap.
Superairhostess good luck with your application for BMED. If 6 day trips are what you're looking for then it will definitely be the airline for you. I know quite a lot of people who moved from BMED to EF/SFLGW and they all did it because they were fed up with being away all of the time. They are happier with the lifestyle with us now, however we do have our problems which we are fighting to resolve.
Believe me, people who have been in the company for a long time have been doing a hard work to try and get the best deal for us and you all, so I would ask you or anybody else not to be too "open" in showing your disappointment/disapproval, especially during the training course or first months online, as people are becoming more and more sensitive about it. After all, even if we might get frustrated at times with BA etc, we do take pride in what we do and do not like other people to make obvious comments which diminsh the good, hard work that we do day in day out.
Happy flying, I wish you both to find the right airline for you very soon.
FBW
-Flying hours are not taxable, so what you see is what you get.
-The "alternative" union charges 9.20 by direct debit.
I am sure that Long Haul is going to bring us more money, however when I was a new entrant crew I remember getting up to £700 one month (February even!) just in flying allowances, so once again, good bidding is the key answer. There's a book of swaps available on the 3rd floor, many crew (I used to do it a lot) put in their trips that they want to exchange for there&back's. So have a look at it, you might end up getting another trip thanks to a swap.
Superairhostess good luck with your application for BMED. If 6 day trips are what you're looking for then it will definitely be the airline for you.
I know quite a lot of people who moved from BMED to EF/SFLGW and they all did it because they were fed up with being away all of the time. They are happier with the lifestyle with us now, however we do have our problems which we are fighting to resolve.Believe me, people who have been in the company for a long time have been doing a hard work to try and get the best deal for us and you all, so I would ask you or anybody else not to be too "open" in showing your disappointment/disapproval, especially during the training course or first months online, as people are becoming more and more sensitive about it. After all, even if we might get frustrated at times with BA etc, we do take pride in what we do and do not like other people to make obvious comments which diminsh the good, hard work that we do day in day out.
Happy flying, I wish you both to find the right airline for you very soon.
FBW
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Something else....
Guys with all respect, but if you post comments of this kind you might end up provocating a series of various responses, including not very nice ones.
Please let's try to encourage new people and not discourage them.
My opinion might not be worth much but in my flying career I have worked for far worse airlines. BA has been like a dream. Easy-going cabin crew and flight crew, fair direct management, outstanding safety culture and the airline treats you like an adult (unlike my previous employers!)
Why don't you give it the benefit of the doubt, or at least let other people find out for themselves if it's the right airline for them or not!!
Cheers
FBW
Guys with all respect, but if you post comments of this kind you might end up provocating a series of various responses, including not very nice ones.
Please let's try to encourage new people and not discourage them.
My opinion might not be worth much but in my flying career I have worked for far worse airlines. BA has been like a dream. Easy-going cabin crew and flight crew, fair direct management, outstanding safety culture and the airline treats you like an adult (unlike my previous employers!)
Why don't you give it the benefit of the doubt, or at least let other people find out for themselves if it's the right airline for them or not!!
Cheers
FBW
Join Date: May 2003
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Here here!!!
Well said FBW. I am on the worldwide fleet at LGW and I am staying there until Feb. I am currently in Orlando (my last ever trip here!), you guys will have a ball. The flight crew can't wait for you guys to start the long haul routes!
If anyone on Single Fleet wants to find out places to see (or avoid), what to get up to, etc., just ask us, we'll be more than happy to help you out.
Happy flying all!!!
Well said FBW. I am on the worldwide fleet at LGW and I am staying there until Feb. I am currently in Orlando (my last ever trip here!), you guys will have a ball. The flight crew can't wait for you guys to start the long haul routes!If anyone on Single Fleet wants to find out places to see (or avoid), what to get up to, etc., just ask us, we'll be more than happy to help you out.
Happy flying all!!!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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As I mentioned earlier, I love my job. I finf BA a better company to work for than EK, and the staff very easy going. However the pay doesn't reward the efforts we all put in. I showed my roster to lots of people who all said it was very good and I have 5 trips this month. Therefore I expected to earn a decent wage, not something under £1000.
Thanks God the flight pay is tax-free! We wouldn't be left with anything otherwise.
Thanks God the flight pay is tax-free! We wouldn't be left with anything otherwise.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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one thing to think about is that most main crew have a hell of a lot of days off at the mo with there being so many main crew once we start getting the long haul routes you will get more work.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I too have been offered a job with BA single fleet but the more I read about it, the less inclined I am to accept it. £1000 a month and away from home for long periods or long days does not seem worth it to me, compared to my present job that gives me more time at home and more money. I was so excited but now......???
I currently work on (one of) the airport express in customer services and my pay is £22k per annum. I had hoped I might match that but I work 39 hrs per week for that money. I have to be realistic I think. Well at least I can still buy my £300 ticket to the caribbean and spend a bit longer there than if I was working.
Thanks for some honest information posted here. I have been watching it closely and I think I will wait for BA to start recruiting at Heathrow. I think they still have a different allowance system as I meet a lot of them in my work. They tell me recruitment will start after the 1st October as they must wait due to new laws on age.
I currently work on (one of) the airport express in customer services and my pay is £22k per annum. I had hoped I might match that but I work 39 hrs per week for that money. I have to be realistic I think. Well at least I can still buy my £300 ticket to the caribbean and spend a bit longer there than if I was working.
Thanks for some honest information posted here. I have been watching it closely and I think I will wait for BA to start recruiting at Heathrow. I think they still have a different allowance system as I meet a lot of them in my work. They tell me recruitment will start after the 1st October as they must wait due to new laws on age.
Join Date: May 2006
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Less Tickelss.
Rumours are running around like mad. However I wouldn't hold my breath for recruitment at LHR.
LHR is and will be so over crewed due to various factors like the MAN base closing and all the LGW crew moving to LHR etc. etc. etc. and on top of that (could be completely wrong) but I have heard from various people that there won't be anymore direct entry recruitment into LHR. If you want to work for BA at LHR you will have to get into LGW and then put your name on the transfer list.
At the end of the day until it is in black and white I wouldn't believe it anyway but it is a thought to keep in mind.
Good luck eitherway!!!
Rumours are running around like mad. However I wouldn't hold my breath for recruitment at LHR.
LHR is and will be so over crewed due to various factors like the MAN base closing and all the LGW crew moving to LHR etc. etc. etc. and on top of that (could be completely wrong) but I have heard from various people that there won't be anymore direct entry recruitment into LHR. If you want to work for BA at LHR you will have to get into LGW and then put your name on the transfer list.
At the end of the day until it is in black and white I wouldn't believe it anyway but it is a thought to keep in mind.
Good luck eitherway!!!
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Nobody knows what money is going to look like once we start the longhaul routes. But three facts are true at this point:
- At the moment crew have more days off since we have a LOT of new crew, needed for the new single fleet. Once the single fleet is up and running, we'll start working much more again. For once though I really enjoyed having 15 regular days off rostered in June!!!
- If you're interested in a career in BA LGW is definitely the place to be. I became a purser 18 months after joining. Not bad, I think. They value your previous experience and the money has gone up accordingly. My friend at LHR has just become a purser after 8 years of service.
- our long haul trips will be for a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 5 (at the moment that's what is planned). Means more money anyway.
Last but not least, I would love to earn a bit more, however I chose LGW for other reasons. If money is ALL you're interested in, then please do go to LHR. LGW crew (pilots included) have something unique, there's a sense of complicity that you won't find in any other fleet. I will always remember what one of my friends said to me before I joined LGW: "I had a ball at LGW and if it wasn't that my wife is expecting triplets (!!) I would have stayed. but we need the extra money". He was so right!
By the way, on the latest issue of cabin crew news they are talking about changing the EF service from LHR too, and reduce the cabin crew complement "accordingly". It won't be long till things change at LHR, to be consistent with LGW. It's just the painful truth of trying to compete in a very agressive industry.
LHR is going to be over-crewed in the near future so I do not foresee any recruitment into LHR any time soon (MAN closure and WWLGW crew secondments should last for a while).
Good luck anyway.
FBW
PS: to all of you who are staying, welcome onboard!!!
- At the moment crew have more days off since we have a LOT of new crew, needed for the new single fleet. Once the single fleet is up and running, we'll start working much more again. For once though I really enjoyed having 15 regular days off rostered in June!!!
- If you're interested in a career in BA LGW is definitely the place to be. I became a purser 18 months after joining. Not bad, I think. They value your previous experience and the money has gone up accordingly. My friend at LHR has just become a purser after 8 years of service.
- our long haul trips will be for a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 5 (at the moment that's what is planned). Means more money anyway.
Last but not least, I would love to earn a bit more, however I chose LGW for other reasons. If money is ALL you're interested in, then please do go to LHR. LGW crew (pilots included) have something unique, there's a sense of complicity that you won't find in any other fleet. I will always remember what one of my friends said to me before I joined LGW: "I had a ball at LGW and if it wasn't that my wife is expecting triplets (!!) I would have stayed. but we need the extra money". He was so right!
By the way, on the latest issue of cabin crew news they are talking about changing the EF service from LHR too, and reduce the cabin crew complement "accordingly". It won't be long till things change at LHR, to be consistent with LGW. It's just the painful truth of trying to compete in a very agressive industry.
LHR is going to be over-crewed in the near future so I do not foresee any recruitment into LHR any time soon (MAN closure and WWLGW crew secondments should last for a while).
Good luck anyway.
FBW
PS: to all of you who are staying, welcome onboard!!!
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I was EF LGW then transfered to EF LHR and am now at WW LGW soon moving to WW LHR, any advice I would give to anyone soon to be starting at Single fleet is maybe try and see if you can stay in the hold pool until BA start recruiting again for Heathrow, as I said I have now worked at all the Fleets and all have pro's and cons. But EF LHR and the WW fleets are much better paid, also it is a myth that EF LGW crew like to tell themselves that Mainline BA aren't as Fun Loving as EF LGW, but this is totally untrue, I've made such great friends since being at Mainline and as the money is better people can afford to enjoy themselves Down route. I think many people are joining Single Fleet under the pretence that It is British Airways Mainline contract with the associated pay and conditions that they may have heard about, but it is not, Single fleet LGW is totally different working practices and different rates of pay, with less days off from Longhaul trips. I know this will get a lot of responses from the EF LGW crew as they are very patriotic to LGW and don't like anyone highlighting the bad points of Singlefleet but I am not posting this as a "dig" at EF LGW but only to give future recruits some of the facts.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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well i think ba should expect a lot of people to drop out and i actually think thats quite good as only that way the company can understand that they cant do whatever they want and get away with it! i am sure a lot of new starters including me will be looking for other jobs once they realise how bad the pay is and how tiring it will be... i love working for ba dont get me wrong but there is only so much i would do until i left... and the figures dont add up really...some people ve been talking of £700 in allowances monthly....how would this be possible with the current hourly rate of £2.38? I believe we dont receive any other payments like DOA orNIA or something like that...its just the hourly rate....well i ll be trying it for sure and i am sure the crew will be fab but that aint everything i am afraid:-(
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Are the unions doing anything about the salary? When they came to introduce themselves to our training group, they seemed so bored and uninterested. Didn't make me want to join either of them.
I'll go and try to find them round Jubilee House an ask them what they are planning to do about the low pay issue.
I'll go and try to find them round Jubilee House an ask them what they are planning to do about the low pay issue.
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Well I did get around £700 just in allowances and that was in february 2006. My very best month ever. I did work hard but not too hard, I just managed to bid efficiently and didn't get one there&back.
I am not a fan of slacking the company and indeed the people who work for LGW on a public forum, it's very easy to see only the bad points when you're feeling down. I would be happier to see a thread that gives encouragement to people who are happy to join us, and I believe that the ideal place to talk about EF LHR allowances is the LHR thread. So people who are interested in that kind of information could go and read it there.
I do understand the frustration, but I think that you're being a little bit unfair. Things haven't started yet at SF and you should at least try it yourselves before making your mind up. I am one of the few who voted against the new scheduling agreement for SF and I wish more people had done so. The company would have been under more pressure to give us a better deal. But it's not the end of the world and I am looking forward to seeing how it will all work out for us. Wherever you are you're working for BA, and I promise you there's much much worse out there. I used to earn more in charter but I would NEVER go back to flying for that airline.
Once again guys, if money is all you are looking for in this job then stop moaning: the transfer list opens on the 1st of october.
Good luck with your transfers!!
fbw
I am not a fan of slacking the company and indeed the people who work for LGW on a public forum, it's very easy to see only the bad points when you're feeling down. I would be happier to see a thread that gives encouragement to people who are happy to join us, and I believe that the ideal place to talk about EF LHR allowances is the LHR thread. So people who are interested in that kind of information could go and read it there.
I do understand the frustration, but I think that you're being a little bit unfair. Things haven't started yet at SF and you should at least try it yourselves before making your mind up. I am one of the few who voted against the new scheduling agreement for SF and I wish more people had done so. The company would have been under more pressure to give us a better deal. But it's not the end of the world and I am looking forward to seeing how it will all work out for us. Wherever you are you're working for BA, and I promise you there's much much worse out there. I used to earn more in charter but I would NEVER go back to flying for that airline.
Once again guys, if money is all you are looking for in this job then stop moaning: the transfer list opens on the 1st of october.
Good luck with your transfers!!
fbw
Join Date: Feb 2006
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yes you are right flybywire. I am not personally slagging off the hard working crew who work at LGW and i am sure i ll love working there, i just expressed my opinion regarding the huge difference of pay between different bases for doing a the same job ( in fact a lot more and harder work) I showed my roster to LHR WW crew for oct at LGW and told me "poor you , this would never happen here" .Its a question of something standing up and not accepting anything that a company wants to do to the staff.Regarding the transfer options, nothing has been agreed yet and the list wont open for LGW specially for new starters as they will be frozen for at least 2 years before they are able to put their names for a transfer. I am not going to come to LGW and talk about when and if the transfer will come but enjoy it and see the best out of it but this will not stop me to express my opinion when i want to do so.
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I don't think I disagree with ANYTHING that has been said here.
The things that are being said by newbagr have been said at LGW for the last 11-12 years.
BA saw the opportunity to change the crew agreements when they bought Dan Air, and they did so. Saving BA lots of money.
If you think BA doesn't want to do the same thing at LHR, think again.
Come T5 lots of the old agreements will change and be renegotiated. E.g. CAT turnarounds. (There won't be any!) So the money on EFLHR is going to change.
It has already changed as well (which not everyone there will tell you about), in that the allowances at EFLHR are now taxed at 40%. (20% at WWLHR).
Wit relation to the disparity in money, the allowance system which is opperated at LHR is a hangover from years gone by. It's only a matter of time before it changes (and everyone knows it if they are honest with themselves, the pilots have already changed to the hourly rate).
LGW is the template BA will hit the unions over the head with saying "Well they can do it cheaper and with less crew down there, you can do it up here."
The unions had their chance to negotiate up the pay and the agreements at LGW and failed (because they were too busy in-fighting between themselves and the other union).
I know the cost of living in the SE is high, the money has got better at LGW (I know I've been there for nearly 10 years), others have managed to live just fine on it and buy houses etc etc, and with us doing the WWLGW routes the money is only going to get better due to having more longer trips.
If your not sure if it's for you, and would much rather be at LHR for WHATEVER reason, then wait for recruitment to start there again. Simple. No one will think any worse of you at BA, and if it makes you happier, then why not!!?
You could always stay where you are and ask to swim around in the holding pool for a while. However don't forget every course that trundles through LGW your seniority number goes down and down and down until YOU start, and at BA seniority is everything.
What I would say is that don't judge it until you've tried it (you can always leave). If money is what you want, then go to Easyjet or some of the charter ops where you can earn great money every month. You will work for it mind you, a lot harder than you would at SFLGW, but if money is your biggest motivator then that would be the best option.
That's it in a nutshell, the choice...is yours.
The things that are being said by newbagr have been said at LGW for the last 11-12 years.
BA saw the opportunity to change the crew agreements when they bought Dan Air, and they did so. Saving BA lots of money.
If you think BA doesn't want to do the same thing at LHR, think again.
Come T5 lots of the old agreements will change and be renegotiated. E.g. CAT turnarounds. (There won't be any!) So the money on EFLHR is going to change.
It has already changed as well (which not everyone there will tell you about), in that the allowances at EFLHR are now taxed at 40%. (20% at WWLHR).
Wit relation to the disparity in money, the allowance system which is opperated at LHR is a hangover from years gone by. It's only a matter of time before it changes (and everyone knows it if they are honest with themselves, the pilots have already changed to the hourly rate).
LGW is the template BA will hit the unions over the head with saying "Well they can do it cheaper and with less crew down there, you can do it up here."
The unions had their chance to negotiate up the pay and the agreements at LGW and failed (because they were too busy in-fighting between themselves and the other union).
I know the cost of living in the SE is high, the money has got better at LGW (I know I've been there for nearly 10 years), others have managed to live just fine on it and buy houses etc etc, and with us doing the WWLGW routes the money is only going to get better due to having more longer trips.
If your not sure if it's for you, and would much rather be at LHR for WHATEVER reason, then wait for recruitment to start there again. Simple. No one will think any worse of you at BA, and if it makes you happier, then why not!!?
You could always stay where you are and ask to swim around in the holding pool for a while. However don't forget every course that trundles through LGW your seniority number goes down and down and down until YOU start, and at BA seniority is everything.
What I would say is that don't judge it until you've tried it (you can always leave). If money is what you want, then go to Easyjet or some of the charter ops where you can earn great money every month. You will work for it mind you, a lot harder than you would at SFLGW, but if money is your biggest motivator then that would be the best option.
That's it in a nutshell, the choice...is yours.