Waiting..
 

I flew with BA on Tuesday from GVA to LHR and I talked to 2 crew members. They told me that they have been short of staff and they think the LHR should be running again some time soon. When? its anybody's guess! :oh:

Don't forget they may not be taking into account the training courses going on at the mo. Either way we shall see, as stated earlier if we all end up on the same course i'll bring the champagne :)

Also waiting......
 

Floaty many thanks for your frank answer.
Personally I think that if there weren't going to be LHR EF courses in the future, all of us in the hold pool would have been offered LGW as an alternative before BA started recruiting externally, which has'nt been the case. So I think that there is still some hope for us. :hmm:
Hanging by a thread..... hopefull CC
DAWN :)

No alternative..
 

Lets not talk about any alternative..he he..:)
We applied for LHR SH and thats what we will expect to go to. So far we have not been told anything else. So we just have to wait.

Strange, do you mean you have not been offered LGW?? they offered it to me twice.

LGW offer
 

Yes I was offered LGW only once but declined it. What I meant was lets hope we don't get offered LGW again.

LGW offer
 

No I wasn't offered LGW and I know others that are in the hold-pool that weren't either. Even if I was offered LGW I would not accept it because I will be commuting and it's not convenient from that airport. :}
Eternally LHR EF hopeful CC.
DAWN :)

LGW
 

Got intvw for LGW next week - with the routes that are going up t'road (IAH/DFW) is that not going to leave LGW over crewed?

Obviuously I hope not but just wondered what the rationale was behind recruiting for a base that will need less staff?

TVM

LGW
 

Good point there but they were already very short of staff recently. Don't think it will be overcrewed. Instead they might even still be a bit short!

plus what you seem to forget is that BA has officially said that they are looking to replace the IAH and DFW with shorthaul routes which will be coming from LHR EF therefore explains the lack of need for LHR EF crew and unpaid leave! and its not just rumours its official comments from really senior managers on intrernal post and forums.

vicious circle
 

With those 2 new routes, they will need more WW staff and with people transferring from SH to WW, SH will be also be short too. Its just a vicious circle in the end. Whichever way you look at it, BA always needs new staff as things change so quickly. There is a good reason why the job offer is valid for a year.

When was the last time BA recruited straight into LHR WW on permanent contract?

About 9 years ago. Any recruitment will be to EFLHR only or LGW. No more direct entry into WWLHR (unless it's temp), unions won't have it (neither will the crew).
More crew are needed at LGW to acccount for natural wasteage that has occured and impending transfer of maincrew to EFLHR in November.
When the routes go to LHR in March LGW will indeed be overcrewed in all grades.
My guess is either a raft or part-time offers, tranfers to WW and EFLHR , even unpaid leave.
That's just my guess of course.
Will be interesting times. If I had to put money on it, I'd bet on more transfers, probably to EFLHR.
By this time the new transfer agreement within the NSP will be agreed between LGW and LHR.

Nine years ago, thank you.

What about LGW WW and recruitment there straight into? Were they transferred to LHR WW or first to EF?

Sorry to disagree but only very few LHR EF slots may be used to cover those american slots ex LGW. I understand that BA kept some slots ex BMed following its sale to BMI. I don't believe EF LHR recruitment to be directly linked to the IAH and DFW changes, yet I must admit I don't have all the facts.

Regarding the need for more WW crew in LHR, about 30-40 LGW crew are being transfered to LHR WW to balance manpower. The rest may be covered by PSR working down and some LHR EF transfers. BA have also replaced few crew ex LHR with extra International Cabin Crew on Indian routes, freeing more LHR WW main crew.

LondonPhilou, you say it right: things change very quickly and those who did not get 'the call' yet will probabily find out very soon anyway.

For those who can't wait, Qantas Cabin Crew London Ltd (not the real Qantas but close enough) are recruiting all the time. They have a very decent product, nice bunch, fab 74's, although money is not quite comparable to BA (but always worth the experience). Promotions are faster too, especially if you are already experienced crew, since they are based on merit rather than seniority. They would be my next choice if BA or NetJet were to show me the boot. I guess it's a matter of not letting your eggs rot in the same basket... Check the next best (or less worse)!

Ciao.

Floaty:

TOTALLY incorrect about 30/40 LGW crew transferring to WW LHR. they are going to E U R O F L E E T LHR in november.

we've more than enough slots to play around with and re-jigg at LHR to accommodate these IAH and DFW routes that come up in the spring - by getting rid of a couple of shorthaul routes and sending them down to LGW. which is exactly what is happening.

also, BA didn't just "... keep some slots..." (weren't 'ours' to keep, btw) - they BROUGHT 55-odd slots from BMI after they took over BMed. they will come into effect in 2009, with the delivery of the first of the new growth and replacement longhaul aircraft.

I bet none of those posts above are correct. Want BA news? then check their website or phone recruitment. I take everything I read on here with a pinch of salt. I used to use this website for reliable information but hardly anything i've read is accurate.:ugh:

Rumour Network
 

PPruNe - Professional Pilots Rumour Network. Says it all, really! ;-)

Hi AMS-LHR
 

Thanks for your update. Glad to see that u are doing well in the course.
Just one thing though, now that u are there, is there any swimming involved?

Thanks. Keep us posted.

DAWN :)

Well done AMS, sounds like you are getting on just fine. Can't wait to start my training. I check my phone every hour or two!!

Good luck with the rest of the course.