A Very British Airline?
 

just recovering from watching this on BBC 2. Like nothing has changed since the last century....women as painted dolls, punctuality and appearance required of newbies, but not of the supervisors, who all seem podgy and overbearing...

And are the rich really that picky and overbearing? when they are really cash cows for the airline, they need all that pampering? Can't help thinking Ryan and Easyjet have the more up to date ideas than BA.

Please tell me they don't do it this way any more?

"Please tell me they don't do it this way any more?"

Considering it was filmed over the winter which has just passed, I think you can suffice to say, yes, they do.

And, it was exactly the same when I joined 7 years ago. Snapshots. Appearance. Time keeping.

Yes, customers in First do expect what has been depicted, and that is why, in regards to EasyJet and Ryanair, we serve very different customer bases when it comes to certain markets. i.e. Long Haul and Premium cabins, which, as I am sure you are aware, both of those airlines offer neither.

I slept through half it, that may have been more of a reflection on me at the end of a tiring day than the programme, but I found the sycophantic fawning of the wannabee FAs and the pompous attitude of the trainers/assessors rather sickening.

I was also shocked at how standards have declined. The speech of some of the girls was appalling.

Was lovely to see Roz Hanby though, and a reminder of how things once were.

Back in BOAC days the training was pretty strict in particular for the girls regards makeup and deportment.

The boys were chased constantly on shoes and hair styles.

However in the classroom it was much more relaxed than today.

My two trainers, Snowy Philpott and Johnny Lythe were old hands who had seen it all and injected humour and gentle discipline in to us.

If 'snapshots' had existed then no one would have passed!

One memorable answer to a question from a fellow trainee when asked what Beth Din meant (it's the term used in Kosher food preparation) was 'Bethlehem Dinner'. First snapshot there then!:ok:

"The speech of some of the girls was appalling."

Capetonian - couldn`t agree more. I`m afraid that is part of a general malaise affecting society - the dumbing down of good grammer in preference to a patois that comes from God knows where.

Spelling
 

A snapshot for incorrect spelling of 'grammar'.

Hedfanwyr:
Touche!!

'Touché' if we're being pedantic!

(I'm off for lunch).

You mean luncheon.

;)

Or a Bethlehem Dinner maybe:}

1. Er, let's not make a meal of it. (Ho-ho)

2. The prog sent me to sleep aswell. I had not drunk any of the '96 Lynch Bages.

3. If you've spent that amount of money on a First Class flight, then I imagine that you expect utterly superb food and wine. If the excellence is not there from the chosen suppliers, the poor old CC can't wave magic wands to improve it!

Snowy was my trainer along wit John Jenner. Back in those days the courses were segregated and the only time you met the girls was in the canteen. Back then girls were taught more about deportment, make up and hairdos. The boys learnt how to tie a dicky bow and shoe laces!

Cranebank in the early 70's was probably reognised as the best training school in the world. The RAF used it for their cabin service training along with SEP.

Was amazed by the comment of the male trainee after his mate on the course had been sacked for his 4th snapshot. Apparantly his 4th snapshot was for being 2 minutes late to the classroom, this guy moans to the camera, it's not fair he was sacked for 2 minutes, isn't that what airlines have airport standby for?!!
Priceless, suspect next weeks episode there may be a second sacking!

Does Jody get the job?

She's looking forward to seeing the animals in Nairobi? FFS:ugh:

If that's the best BA can come up with out of thousands of applications, I'll stick with easyjet!:ok:

My thoughts exactly.

I want a new job
 

So here I am at almost 49 years of age, still employed but looking for a new direction.

I reckon I could do at least as well as any of them on the programme last night. Do you think BA would give me a chance?

The bird sorry lady that could identify aircraft was a plane spotters dream i'd marry her tomos (and for her concessions lol):\

Cabin crew of all ages have joined Mixed Fleet, so there's nothing stopping you applying if you think it's for you.

Is it me...?
 

or did anyone else think the reaction of the trainers and wannabes on learning that the chap had been 'terminated' was way over the top?

The hushed tones, the trainees leaving the room in tears.....

not as if he was literally terminated, just off the course.

By contrast, the old engineering fossil was a treat; filthy overalls, laid-back, been there for years. Made me happy that I'm an engineer too :ok:

Quote:
Does Jody get the job?
She's looking forward to seeing the animals in Nairobi? FFS
If that's the best BA can come up with out of thousands of applications, I'll stick with easyjet!


Most of the animals in Nairobi were in the bar:}