AA
 

AA,

My understanding from talking to our Performance Managers is that we BACON crew will fly just the Barbie Jet after the 24th March as our RJ's all go then to BA Cityflyer for the LCY operation, with cabin crew based at LCY & EDI.

The current Flybe ladies & gents will continue to operate their current aircraft, Q400 Turbowhizzy thingys and Embraer 95 for example here at Brum.

Sometime after the 24th March we will start to be trained to Flybe SOP's, as I presume will our Pilots (what's left of them!) and after that on a given date we will then be licenced for the flybe aircraft at our bases. Don't know if Flybe crew will fly Barbie though?

Presumably after that point both sets of crew will then be rostered together and the Sun will Shine and the Birdies will Sing Trala! (At least I think that's what she said!)

Also Plan A is for the Flybe crew based here to move down from T1 to T2 to our crew rooms in the dungeon area around the weekend of the 24th/25th March? This is when all the BA logos, desks etc. will be replaced with Flybe ones and the passengers will check in at T2 from start of the summer operation.

Though what happens to all our wonderful BA ground staff, who have no jobs because of all this, at that time we have no idea!:mad:

Does that answer your questions AA? , and thanks for the good wishes. It won't be easy peasy, but I'm sure we will all settle down together as best we can. ;) Mind you , if Flybe have any dishy flight crew, claws will be sharpening in the crew room as some of our BACON lovelies go hunting! ;)

Oldflyboy

Thank you for your reply. It certainly is a interesting time for you guys and flybe. And when you get to operate on the Whizz Pop Bang Sorry :rolleyes: Dash Q4 i think you will like it it's not all that bad.

And BHX T2 becomes flybe aswell, blimey its going to be one MAD 24 hrs during change over. Do you BACON guys go into flybe uniform ready for the 24th or will there be a gap?
And what about BACON's a/c and there logos? how long they going to be in BA colours?

I am excited for you guys.

See Previous
 

AA,

All BACON crew in measuring process, our 'Mr Humphries' at BHX is rounding up everyone to try the red on, intention he says is for us all to be in it by 24th March, WTHOUT EXCEPTION as the dropfiles letter says.:cool:

Rumour control has it that there is a Barbie already stripped God Bless her in the hanger at Exeter (what quaint places flybe operate from!) and re-painted in the flybe colours. Also hear the plan is to 'white tail' the rest of the fleet until all are painted up.

Thanks for your thoughts, myself 'excited' is not the word I would use. Trepidatious, more fits my mood about all this.

Anyone else from cabin crew from either company out there with thoughts on all this?? I know TeaAnyone21 views this, any more lovelies with views out there??

C'mon, you know you want to!!:O

It Will be strange when flying about seeing Flybe barbie jets :}

Oh just thought, what were your training facilities like at BACON?
I am just wondering (If the training facilities at flybe are the same as 2 years ago) what shock you may get from the training facilities at flybe. If it is still the same its on a 3rd floor of a office building down the road from BHX with a sort of 146/dash type thing stimulator built in one of the class rooms. To be honest not the best for training has it is not easy to play out SEP/SOP's in, but its something.

Its All Down Devon Way!
 

Not been as I'm not important enuff, but my spies in training tell me all cabin services training now located at Exeter? Something to do with cost I think, that's why the Brum training school was shut down.

(Strange, centre of country, easily access from all over, or down in Devon which is 2000 miles from everywhere? Hmmm, nice one someone! Now I've got to be driven down there to do my training!) Do they do all recurrents down there? :ugh:

Wonder if it's true what they say about scrumpy? Anyone from Exeter out there, what's the goss about the training school?:confused:

Gosh, there's such a lot about this company I'm joining I don't know!!:confused:

Oh so training has now moved to EXT you lucky lucky bugger :\

When i was at flybe it was in BHX there was rumour then that it was going to EXT but nothing happened when I was there so I dont know what facilities they have now in EXT.

If I remember right you need a passport for that far out part of the country :} , just kidding thats is not meant to offened any EXT guys.

But i would be also interested in know what flybe training facilities is now like.

Slightly veering off course but when I started at easyjet I was speechless at theirs. Highly impressive.

Yes training is in loveley EXT now. All courses take place there and we hire car down from BHX.

It is definately better than the old centre. Lots more classrooms and although the old mock up is still there we have a loveley new embraer door and slide trainer.

Still not quite cranebank so may surprise some Bacon guys but it does the job quite well.

They all find out on Thursday 1st March what company taken over !

I believe that some (all) of the ground staff (at BHX at least) have been given the option to change jobs and fly on EF at LHR.

I have a couple of friends that work there, I will try and find out.

reply
 

NOT TRUE OFF STAND!

Have just spoken with several in customer services, no-one has had any indication that option to fly is available to them. They will be told tomorrow they expect that the 90 days notice kicks in!

Not True Off Stand!
 

Manchester ground staff are in the same position, no options (as yet) for job change and expecting 90 days notice tomorrow....:confused:

Does anybody know if the deal has been signed ??:ugh:

like hitting a bick wall nothing we will be last to know

That's funny as I was in the back office of the ticket desk at the end of Jan and there was a list of those that would be interested in a move to flying.

Yes, A list was put up in all areas where ground crew who had a desire to fly could list an interest. The list was not offical, neverthess I do know it gained an interest of 150 BAR ground crew. It was passed on to the Unions. I am not sure what happen after that, as the signing was holding alot of things back. So lets keeps thumbs crossed that BA gives the option to fly, even if the path to this is through Career Link. As many of the names listed were a good bunch of people. People are going to loose their jobs, as not all can go to London. So it's going to be a difficult period for all.

What about the INV / IOM Routes to LGW !

Hi!

From what I can gather, the dealings are going on right now and if they do sign tonight, then news will be announced to the LSE and then to us at 0700. There should be a PM or manager in every crewroom at that time to pass on the news, most likely from a text on their company mobile phone.

As to INV/and IOM. Same old for now. We have been told absolutely nothing so far. a size 12 and a size 14 Flybe uniform turned up, not sure if they'd been washed a few times too many, but the sizes were weird and the colur quite a faded red/orange! Given the weather prevalent at both the IOM and INV, I certainly hope a pair of Trousers becomes added soon! Us bald old pilots will dearly miss our hats too!

We are expecting to move our LGW turnarounds to the South Terminal at the end of March too, when we get our old knackered old 146's painted I don't know. The INV ship is not bad, similar in age to the JEBs, though it's front end nav kit is laughably bad! The IOM aircraft is like a museum piece. The interior is pathetic, the whole aircraft is worn out and decrepid and too small to carry the loads that want to travel with us. First thing you notice when you get on board is the back row, because it's right next to you! -100 model don't forget!

The INV/IOM cabin crews are really nice and friendly though, top people and make my work worthwhile.You'll enjoy working with them hopefully sometime. If we get more IOM based Q400s in, you'll probably get a few nightstops too, as recruitment here is a nightmare!

does it really matter when the deal is signed in 12 months time it will be irrelevant after all how long ago was it that BACX became BAConnect. And as for the IOM routes flybe are not interested they just want the slots

I can have ' some belife ' in that. When I was strutting my stuff at flybe many moons ago, flybe had quite an operation in IOM, ground staff increased there to. Then suddenly IOM routes seemed to disappear from many bases.
Flybe did many things when I was there, Open this base but we will close that one, oh now we will close the one we just opened and so on and so.
Not saying that is going to happen with the ' Merger ' as i am sure flybe have matured and learnt from those days.

P.S I do hope something will be sorted for the ground staff, best off luck to them.

Well I can only speak about the BHX situation and from what we know Swissport are continuing to handle Flybe and will move over to T2 when we do. Hopefully they will try and keep the majority of BA ground staff on but I couldn't say for sure what they will do.

Just a thought...................
With Flybe and BACON merging (if it is signed) will flybe not need to keep the current BA ground staff as well as there current ones due to flybe needing staff for the increase in operations?

Most of the Operation jobs for flybe are in Exter ??

I do not think the ground staff in Bhx want to work for Swiss Port for less than they currently earn with less benefits. It will require a decent incentive.

The deal has not yet been signed. Pensions is the lastest hurdle.

Just want the slots? Somehow I was led to believe that FlyBE actually was interested in making money? The IOM LGW and INV LGW routes were the two most profitable routes BAConnect had. Despite the fact that so many of the passengers were onward travel and thus contributed only a small part of their yield to the route. The courier revenue that the IOM route carries would put many a current FlyBE route to shame too. INV carries a lot of seasonal tourists, as well as many busines folk too. Simply looking at them like that is missing the point.

FlyBE's discontinued LCY route from the Island was dropped because it couldn't dent the Manx/BACX London passenger figures enough. It did hurt a bit, but was survivable at the time. BA have swapped the suitable aircraft for a dog, not bothered to advertise, promote or protect the route at all over the years, and still it makes solid money and holds the company up.

Of course, you could be right. Would be a great pity though.

Apparently the Flybe girls have been asking for trousers for years, but the top brass have said over their dead bodies. So the BACON ladies will just have to get used to chilly legs, like the rest of us :confused:

BHX
 

Dear TeaAnyone21,

Latest rumour is you guys may not come into our crew room until it's been re-modelled and has your check in system installed. One of our PM's took down the club europe boards from the corridor today or so I've been told. On days off so not been in to check, anyone anymore real info?

Everyone getting anxious, according to pilots threads, looks like a lot of unhappy folk out there!

Your Manager has been telling crew on the welcome to flybe courses that he's 'gonna work you girls hard this summer, you won't get many days off'! Sounds a right charmer-NOT! Was this the same guy you said was Ok in a previous post? Or is it someone else? Older guy, says he's a regional manager, is that like our cabin crew base managers???:=

Starting to get concerned this outfit may not be what they say on the packet??

I was there 6 years and the trouser issue was always being brought up, and as you know No Trousers, so EmmaB your spot on there.

I do Cabin Crew recruitment at easyjet as well as fly, I was talking to recruitment today and they were saying the current pilots coming through for recruitment are BACON. BACON, BACON, BACON, BACON, BACON. BACON, BACON, BACON, BACON.

I was with flybe for long enough, all I will say is there was a common habbit of promising one thing and doing another. NOT to say this will happen, and I am not aiming to slag flybe.

Oh on a good note I had a BACON groung staff girl from BRS at the cabin crew recruitment day, she was lovely. She was also saying how no one knows a thing, and how the mood is :sad:

Notice to Crews No. 4
 

May I congratulate all contributors to this thread for their positive and enthusiastic reaction to the merger/takeover. Can any of you explain why the pilots thread is so different, with so much harsh language and criticism wafting between Flybe and BACON personnel?

I am guessing it is because the offers they have had from flybe are to put it politely not to there satisfaction.

I know someone who complained bitterly about it, raised it as a grievance with HR etc, but was told the company had done market research with passengers and apparently they associate trolly dollies in trousers with low cost airlines and skirts with full service companies. And they said because Flybe stands for 'low fare, but not low cost' there will never be a trouser option for the ladies :) .

So BA are considered 'lo cost' then??
 

Emma B,

Bit of a worry is my reaction to your post, as BA have had trousers for a couple of years, since the introduction of the Julian McDonald uniform. The more I find out about the company I am now joining the more anxious I become.

I don't think it's because our customers associate trousers with lo cost, I believe it's simply an old fashioned view of cabin crew as ,and I REALLY hate this phrase, 'trolley dollies'. Perhaps its a reality when you have male pilots in senior management roles. They like to see the girlies legs!! Another example of the differences between BACON and Flybe, which I really hope we can change.:=

I know this may get some reaction from flybe pilots, but having positioned on several flybe flights over the last year, I have yet to hear a Captain introduce his crew other than "My cabin crew are Jo and Sally", not Jo Brown and Sally White. Yes I know our pilots sometimes fall into the same trap, but the majority at least give the purser recognition and respect by using their surnames.

A clear example of this is the attitude to name badges. BA prefer that the in charge crew members introduce themselves using surnames and to encourage the recognition, they have them on their name badges. eg: 'Purser Jane Bloggs':D

'Senior Crew Member Jane' is all flybe have, Talk about Lo Cost! I was speaking to one of our PM's the other day and was told even they don't have their rank recognised in a badge, so simply have something like the above! :ugh:

Our nice and longest serving PM is leaving us mid march, I really must ask him what he thinks about that.

Still, let's hope we can all learn from each other as the months go by.

And incidentally if you read PPrune IM, we will all miss you, you are a super bloke!:ok:

PS: sorry if this has turned into a minor rant, but believe me folks, it's minor compared to the stuff on the pilots thread, sounds like us cabin crew will all have to go on a charm offensive to ease the transition !! However if all they had to worry about was name badges and trousers, I'm sure they would all be happier!!

PPS: If senior Flybe cabin crew managment read this, perhaps you can sort the trouser situation in the new uniform when it comes??

Deal Done
 

Just heard from a mate in Ops, deal was signed yesterday!:D

I think you'll find the desire to wear trousers is nothnig to do with style, appearance in front of customers, etc. But most definitely due to the inclement weather suffered by one and all in the Northwest. You'll find the majority of Pilots really unhappy if they can't wear a hat for exactly the same reason too.

Practicality is the issue, that and retaining some body heat in 50mph rain squalls! I have the deepest respect for my colleagues who work behind me in the cabin, and their wellbeing and health are very important to me, as is the way I would describe them in PA's. That respect will continue no matter what the colour and style of the uniform though. The old BA uniform had trousers too didn't it? Manx winter kit had long black skirt like trousers too I seem to remember. I apologise if the memory is missing, but I've been on the 146 for too long and the organophosphates are getting to me.....:(

Regarding the trousers for female crew couldnt the BACX crew stick together and force flybe to bring them into the uniform ?

The pilots are being offered inferior terms and conditions, payfreezes till the respect flybe payscale catches up, which is equal to a paycut in real terms.
The prospect of eventially being forced back onto the dash which is again a career bashing move. There are many more but I won't bore you.
Have a look at what you guys are worrie about on this thread , not being able to wear trousers - oh, the hardship, eh !!! Whats that other major point, oh yes , surnames on name badges - the other mark of a good airline !!!!!
Geezz, you guys need to smell the coffee and realise this is not going to be a walk in the park !!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe i'm mad??
 

I have just spent a good while reading what people have to say about the possibly impending Flybe/BA Connect merger........a lot of you out there will probably think i'm nuts but I have seen that Flybe are recruiting for Southampton base for Cabin Crew - just wondering about how it is to work for Flybe as considering applying.........rosters, average take home pay etc - I flew for 6 years then gave it up 3 yrs ago, just can't settle to the 9-5 so thats why i'm considering it - I know this is prob not the best time to join with all the changes going on but hey, you only live once. Any info greatly appreciated, thanks!

dunno,most of us are BACON posting on here and we havent worked for them yet!

Is it really worth kicking up a fuss? IMHO the Flybe uniform is smart and good quality. OK, trousers might be warmer and more practical but believe me you do get used to the skirts, who cares about chilly legs anyway? As long as your trunk and head are warm you'll be fine.

does anyone have a picture of the flybe uniform? it sounds really swanky!!

Emma B - are you suggesting she's a Heffalump????

so the deal is done. anyone rudely awoken by the text this morning?