BA have in the past given re-deployed people permanent places at WW LHR. An example that comes to mind is when the BFS base was closed. They were offered WW LHR as there was nowhere else for them to go at the time. As far as I know, those who took it are still there. This was around 2002/3 and they were already cabin crew, so that may have made a difference.

So have the rules changed or is this just a sneaky way of getting rid of staff without having to pay redundancy?

Hi Jarvis!
 

Good to hear from u again. :)

Hmm .... :hmm: interesting, because we coincided with some re-deployed staff from MAN at the assessment and we were all clearly told at the presentation that LHRWW was temporary and no guarantee of further employment.

Personally I hope that all BA re-deployed staff who chose the temporary contract will be offered a permanent contract after the 11 months.... after all thats happened its the least BA could do for its loyal staff.

Jarvis keep in touch......

All the best for your course.

DAWN :)

Twrecks,

The 154 I refer too is the external candidates that were recruited into LHR EF. Not the redployment of staff ,11 months WW Temps. That figure would be 220 internal candidates plus the sixty external temp candidates.

You do not need to question these figures as they are freely available on the BA crew forum. Just search for posts by STS.

Hotline tickets, how much reduced are they?

They're not too bad. Sometimes you can find internet fares that are actually cheaper. The good thing about hotline is that they are available reasonably close to departure, unlike the cheap internet fares. It is however difficult to get them during peak periods on popular routes. For example, hotline tickets to SYD are rarely available. They are also non-refundable and dates are fixed, just like LCC.

I have heard that BA are very short of WW crew at the moment and are having to operate some flights out empty with no passengers just carrying freight!

Shortage of crew
 

This is a temporary problem which has occurred because of a cross -over in the large number of part-time crew being off at the same time.

Help neeed!
 

My wife Chrissie is due to retire this month thanks to early severance and her last operating flight is the BA069 (PHL) on the 21st Oct back on the 24th. She is then due out to CPT that evening (BA059) on a full fare to join me!

I wondered if any of you knows someone on there who who might just give her a bit of a mention as a surprise as sadly I can't be there??

Much appreciated

Mr Dudley1

i hope the rosters will come out tonight

Is it possible to get a language flag on your name badge? I was told by someone it's no longer possible to get it!

You can get the flag you just no longer get paid for it.

Transfer LGW to LHR
 

Hello,

I'm a new recruit to BA, but unfortunately I will be based at LGW. And as I will commute to and from Paris, this is not that convenient. Any ideas on how long I can be transferred to LHR? Any opinion/experience appreciated.

Thanks!

I assure you there is nothing unfortunate about Gatwick - nobody can give you a definitive answer on transfer time to LHR from LGW.
The plan was to have a formal system of transfer in place by now but that time has come and gone due to poor TU relations at the moment with BASSA. If what we hope for is put in place soon then transfers were estimated at 2 - 3 years however the old system which is still in place can take up to 7 years.
Either way I would suggest making yourself comfortable for the forseable future. I promise you'll enjoy it and as you're new you'll probably end up with the best rosters!
As long as you don't waste money the wage is very livable despite what people say - I get by fine on a Main Crew Salary - you just have to work for it and sometimes that means doing harder destinations and not bidding for BGI all the time!

Why don't you move to the UK, and out of interest did you apply for
LGWSF ?

As I did and I find your post rude and for one I'm excited about working for British Airways!! LGWSF

You should of said that at your interview, I'm sure they would of liked that :=

This is not a question of being rude! Only that I did not know very well the complexity of transfers between LGW and LHR at the time of my application (it is unusual for me that crews are positioned according to a sole airport).

I called the HR recently about this but they only replied that would be able to have me transferred to LHR once they have vacancy. I would have thought that with Asian languages proficiency, you would have been positioned on flights requesting such skills.

For members based in LGW: how often are you rostered with a LH? Once every month? What is a typical LGW roster?

Many many thanks for your assistance!

If BA need language skills they hire international crew from the region in question and base them abroad.

Alright. Thanks for your posts.

Could anyone post a LGW typical roster for information? Thanks.

Hi Jitensha - Re LGW Roster
 

Here is an example of a BA LGW Roster which I have copy pasted from another Forum.

Hope it helps.

WE 25 JUL REPORT AT 0630 LOCAL TIME LON
0630 BA2650 LGW KEF 0945 73D
1045 BA2651 KEF LGW 1350 73D 850
CLEAR TIME 1520 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 850
TH 26 JUL REPORT AT 0540 LOCAL TIME LON
0540 BA2902 LGW MAN 0640 73D
0715 BA2903 MAN LGW 0820 73D 410
CLEAR TIME 0950 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 410
FR 27 JUL REPORT AT 0945 LOCAL TIME LON
1005 BA2037 LGW MCO 1920 77D 1105
SA 28 JUL 2125 BA2036 MCO LGW 0530 77D 935
CLEAR TIME (SU 29 JUL) 0700 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 2040

MO 30 JUL OFF DUTY
TU 31 JUL OFF DUTY
WE 01 AUG STANDBY 1800 2200 LOCAL TIME LGW
TH 02 AUG STANDBY AT HOME 1530 2130 LOCAL TIME LGW
FR 03 AUG STANDBY 2100 2300 LOCAL TIME LGW
SA 04 AUG STANDBY AT HOME 1100 1600 LOCAL TIME LGW
SU 05 AUG OFF DUTY
MO 06 AUG OFF DUTY
TU 07 AUG REPORT AT 2130 LOCAL TIME LON
2130 BA2646 LGW TIA 0030 73D
WE 08 AUG 0225 BA2647 TIA LGW 0530 73D 930
CLEAR TIME 0700 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 930
REPORT AT 2055 LOCAL TIME LON
2055 BA2670 LGW ADB 0050 73D
TH 09 AUG 0140 BA2671 ADB LGW 0550 73D 1025
CLEAR TIME 0720 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 1025
FR 10 AUG OFF DUTY
SA 11 AUG REPORT AT 0945 LOCAL TIME LON
1005 BA2037 LGW MCO 1920 77D 1105
SU 12 AUG 2120 BA2036 MCO LGW 0525 77D 935
CLEAR TIME (MO 13 AUG) 0655 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 2040

TU 14 AUG OFF DUTY
WE 15 AUG OFF DUTY
TH 16 AUG REPORT AT 0945 LOCAL TIME LON
1005 BA2037 LGW MCO 1920 77D 1105
FR 17 AUG 2120 BA2036 MCO LGW 0525 77D 935
CLEAR TIME (SA 18 AUG) 0655 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 2040


SU 19 AUG OFF DUTY
MO 20 AUG OFF DUTY
TU 21 AUG REPORT AT 0700 LOCAL TIME LON
0700 BA2542 LGW FCO 0935 73G
1020 BA2543 FCO LGW 1255 73G
1410 BA2738 LGW GVA 1545 735 1015
WE 22 AUG 0520 BA2735 GVA LGW 0700 735
0825 BA8113 LGW AMS 0940 735 550
TH 23 AUG 0500 BA8110 AMS LGW 0610 735
0800 BA2464 LGW MAD 1025 73D
1110 BA2465 MAD LGW 1335 73D 1005
CLEAR TIME 1505 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 2610
FR 24 AUG REPORT AT 0945 LOCAL TIME LON
1005 BA2037 LGW MCO 1920 77D 1105
SA 25 AUG 2125 BA2036 MCO LGW 0530 77D 935
CLEAR TIME (SU 26 AUG) 0700 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 2040

MO 27 AUG OFF DUTY
TU 28 AUG OFF DUTY
WE 29 AUG REPORT AT 1740 LOCAL TIME LON
1740 BA2586 LGW VCE 1945 73D
2030 BA2587 VCE LGW 2235 73D 625
CLEAR TIME (TH 30 AUG) 0005 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 625
TH 30 AUG NON-OP 1400 LOCAL TIME LGW
FR 31 AUG REPORT AT 0505 LOCAL TIME LON
0505 BA2362 LGW MRS 0655 73D
0730 BA2363 MRS LGW 0920 73D 545
CLEAR TIME 1050 LOCAL TIME LON
------------------- TOTAL DUTY HOURS 545

Just looked at the roster above and thought oh my god how vile then realised it is mine :) - thought it seemed familiar !

That was my first couple of rosters and although it looks like a nightmare it wasn't that bad. I hadn't bidded as I was new and I do love Orlando which helps!

My last two rosters have been much better probably as I had a good teacher to show me how to bid properly. In October I had two 4 day Barbados trips, 2 Bermudas and a couple of Manchester nightstops. November I have one double, one there and back, standby for 5 days, 2 Bermudas and a Glasgow nightstop.

So in fairness the example shown wasn't one of the best although I have seen far worse!

Yeah was about to add this - what a horrible looking roster! - I tend to get 4 Long Haul's at least a month then a couple of euro tours a there and back or a double and some standby.

This month I have 5 Longhauls and 3 there and backs that's it. Next month 4 long hauls and 1 there and back.
It's swings and roundabouts.

The reason we don't dual base and you will only fly form Gatwick is because of a difference in terms and conditions we could not fly in and ou of the other base as it would dilute their lucrative terms - terms we wish to see preserved for a time when we do eventually transfer to LHR!

But I commute from further than paris (travel time wise) it's pretty easy.

As mentioned before our International crew are hired and based abroad. Your more likely to get a transfer to LHR by offering your body than your skills :} That was a joke please don't actualy try that.... seriously.

Thanks for all for information provided.

How come you can fly so many LH whereas the majority of flights from LGW is SH? I suppose you can be granted with such flights thanks to your seniority, right?

Seniority comes into it however there are more main crew "gaps" on longhaul than shorthaul generally. Most 737 flights have minimum crew so have one purser and two main crew. 777's have one cabin manager, one Purser (soon to be two) and 8 or 9 main crew. So even if you don't bid you should get 3 or 4 longhaul trips a month especially at the moment as so many crew are on high hours.

Thanks for information! I have only flown LH in my previous experience and I feel a little worried about SH. By the way, what about the OFF period? I was told during assessment that we would have 9 days every month (it's not a lot...). Can I expect more than that or they really stick to it? What about the STANDBYs? Are you often called?

Shorthaul is so easy service wise - doesn't take long to do :) 9 days off is the norm although this month I had 10 rostered. So think 9 and any extra will be a nice surprise.

I have been called on all but one airport standby and have yet to do a home standby as those days have been filled with a trip beforehand.

what is the given notice for standby? A few days in advance or only a couple of hours? In my previous experience it was 18 hours before flight.

Thank you!

Hi Jitensha

If you are on home standby you are given a minimum of 90 minutes notice. I have yet to do a standby at home though as they have been filling home standbys a couple of days before. They tend to keep airport standbys as they are and then you wait at Jubilee house until they call you. You can get longhaul or shorthaul from either standby.

Staff travel to MCO
 

hi everyone :}

how much does it cost on staff travel to fly to Orlando?

many thanx! :ok:

It works out at around £140 give or take. However, you would be STRONGLY advised to check the loads, especially coming back. It may even be worth your while going to or from TPA instead, or at least having back up tickets. ATL is a good way to get there. DL have plenty of flights on both LGW-ATL and ATL-MCO.

I've just finished my fourth week of training at LGW and have just got my first roster. An Edinburgh, 4 Houstons and a Dallas. I'm quite surprised as I was expecting a few more domestics and europeans.

LGW cabin crew ?
 

Are BA running out of cabin crew ? See Titan/Monarch/Astraeus working out of LGW today.

Yes!

New Single Fleet contract at LGW, people transferring up to LHR, 900 hours limits, too many people leaving, poor quality of recruits with more failing the course, too long to get airside passes, more than expected leaving early, increased sickness, low pay.

Perm some combination from that lot and you'll be in the ball park.
:rolleyes:

"poor quality of recruits with more failing the course"

Not heard that one before. Where do people get there information from?

I agree with TopBunk. He gets his info from where it should come from!
Having worked in the training centre myself while expecting my first baby, I can confirm that the quality of the recruits has gone down. I just cannot remember the number of various disciplinary notes/failed exams documents (wich generate points) I had to check, copy, send to the right department and then file!!! Unbelievable. This is not to say that everybody is like that, but with some courses like that, working conditions aside,it is only normal to experience such wastage in a short period of time.

Then all the other points mentioned above do the rest!!!

8 "subs" on Saturday to the usual suspects as listed by controlller.

Not sure about trainee quality being an issue, but it wouldn't help. My North Terminal moles tell me it's terms and Conditions e.g. poor roster stability, poor pay, etc leading to BA not retaining the people it managed to train. Then again I'm sure somebody somewhere did a cost/benefit analysis of all this when the "new" contracts were put in place and considered it worthwhile - bet they've already moved on before their mistakes became obvious

Oh, and the increasing incidence of cancelled BA flights has even made the French news...though I thought the French were used to cancelled flights

FBW

Thanks for the support;)

MB2

The information comes from an internal BA source and was given in response to the very same question from someone directly responsible for the crewing situation.

Oh, and btw, it's 'their' and not 'there' in that context:cool:

TB

I too, can confirm that people have been failing the training courses.

I've been at Cranebank for a while now and have seen the LGW crew coming up for SEP training. All I can see it that a lot of them seem to be very young, which is not a crime I know but there does seem to be a lack of maturity. The staff shuttle bus does take me back to my school days with feet on seats, giggling and scowling looks at anyone over 21.

Every lunchtime I am forced to endure the sight of saggy jeans and underwear while eating Cranebank's finest.

There's certainly nothing wrong with starting young, I know I did but there needs to be a degree of maturity in cabin crew. Perhaps if the money was improved BA could attract older applicants to LGW but I know there is nothing in the budget for a pay rise. This is a shame because the on the whole, the SF LGW concept is quite good, especially with the bidding and mixed flying.

My colleagues and I have to try and fight our way through these recruits to get to the canteen counter every day (we are engineers in the hangar that the LGW training school is housed) and we have all remarked of late that there certainly seems a lowering of the recruiting standards. The attitude of some of these newbies is definitely shall we say questionable. That's probably why there seems to be a higher than usual failure rate.

Totally agree, Mr Grumps. It's like you're inferior because you're not in a cabin crew uniform. You get the snarley looks that usually come from teenagers when told to clean their room.

My daughter joined one of the mentioned airlines in July. Of the 15 that attended the interview, 8 were selected for training. One got pregnant in the meantime, so then there were 7.

of those I think 2 have been let go since, and 2 more are looking to leave (according to galley fm), giving only 3 remaining. Those that are leaving are mainly going as they dont like the work/or the time away from their loved ones. (would have thought they could have figured that out before applying!!!)

All through the training on this airline, jeans were most certainly not allowed, smart appearance in accordance with the job was the order of the day - seems the BA's standards have indeed fallen!!!

Regarding the age comments, my daughter is 19 and nearly always the youngest on the flight. she also seems to be amongst the hardest working, and all of her assessments put her well ahead of where they would expect someone with her experience. Its not down to age its down to the individual......................

As an aside this airline is reorganising and its possible my daughter's contract may not get renewed, seems like she wont find it too hard getting in somewhere else!!! (anyone recruiting pm me!!!)

What a slap in the face!!