McNulty, at least the BA cabin crew would understand the joke on the way to being offended. Don't try and pretend there is any banter with our lot, please! Sounds like you're seriously clutching at straws.

Ok I'll mention the elephant in the room.

1 in 5 cadets end up in the left seat in CX.

19 out of 20 cadets end up in the left seat at BA.

Every cadet at CX will sadly tell you they're the 1 in 5 when obviously this isn't the case, you can't all be. Can't see this changing.

Nigel / Threethirty

Why don't you open your narrow minded brain and realise that our crew don't get your ****ty jokes? Different cultures bring different humour. Just because they don't laugh at your 'banter' doesn't mean you have to cry. If you want laughs, go and become a stand-up comedian. :ugh:

For the record, BA cabin crew hate their pilots too. :ok:

Some of them go straight to the CAD instead and are now checking our pilots!

Great system eh?

Maybe that's the biggest benefit of hiring cadets, everything CX does is normal since you don't know any differently.
The grading system A, B, C, D1, D2
P files
The other P files
QLs
Star chamber
'Checkers to avoid' lists

All completely normal if you've never worked at BA, QF, Virgin etc.

Er, wouldn't that be also 4 in 20 :=

Nigel / Threethirty

Just a heads up - if nobody laughs at your jokes it means your jokes are ****.

More puerile bickering on a public forum.
It's getting really embarrassing.

Very defensive McNugget. Most people who are convinced of their arguments don't bother getting their knickers in a twist quite so emphatically.

So so true, or find yourself as a sad git returning as a simulator instructor because you haven't planned your retirement.

Excellent post Baggagecart, echoes my sentiments exactly.

True Baggagecart. However, cost of property in SE UK means that a large family property near extended family is probably out of reach unless you have a large inheritance. As above, many BA pilots have moved out of the UK - which gives you the large property, but not the near family bit, and also messes up education.

4 bed house within commuting distance of Heathrow = small fortune.

Lots of talk about long term plans and career decisions on here, but given the outlook in Europe especially, do you guys really think traditional flag carriers will be going strong in 10 years time? Short haul is already 100% low cost and you can see quite clearly where the market is heading..the world is changing, be careful what you wish for.

If I may join in for a minute....that might continue (the 2-3 years to command) , but I think the feeling is we are seeing a very short "dip" in seniority to command for reasons various. If the senior folks who didn't bid this year start bidding across to the LHS in normal numbers it will back to the 6-7 years bracket, if not more.

As for UK and finances..we all know you guys are loaded and can afford it...::E Seriously though, on the subject of housing, as has been correctly mentioned a "4 bed house within commuting distance of Heathrow = small fortune." Getting a suitable house both within short haul roster commuting distance of LHR and inside the catchment area of a good state (i.e. free) school ups the cost even more.

Old article, concentrates on metropolitan London but gives you some idea:

245%: That?s the postcode premium for living in catchment area of top London school | London Life | Lifestyle | London Evening Standard

Whatever your choice, good luck.

True, Portsmouth is still affordable. Parts of Bournemouth too.

BA is more prestigious though, even though CX has its routes from the British Colony, it might as well be part of China Eastern with that sh!t livery. BA uniforms look a lot better with those platinum stripes rather than gaudy gold most airlines use. I think they're the only ones?

Nope, no, nuh-uh, no way. I'm going to stay in HK and suffer. I enjoy the misery and pain. Why would I give that up for a stable and happy life back home? :ugh:

Remember a wee while back when CX hired a dozen or so retIred exBA -400 skippers as DEC on the freighters. They had about 200,000 hrs LHS between them. Memory is hazy but didn't we fired most of them in initial training on our -400s?

Anotherday,
I believe there might have been a few bad "eggs" joining probably trying to treat it as a glorified retirement job but also it was highly political at the time and many competent guys were the victims of a number of STCs with points to prove and axes to grind.
All of the ones that stayed however were highly competent and a real pleasure to fly with.

The Cav

How many of the BA cadets that got sidelined and joined CX as S/O's stayed?