BA Strike - Your Thoughts & Questions
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Just got the BA WW email.
Travelled BA all the time for business most weeks until last 2 years where I mixed with other operators from time to time due to cost.
Last 12 years service seems worse, aircraft IFE poor and plane tickets often expensive when comparing to others. So I have had to change to other airlines when BA's fares have been a lot higher.
Next week and the following switching airlines from BA as I have to be with my customers. I doubt this strike helps the cabin crew cause or passenger relations. I have to travel and my business like others will be lost.
In one of the new papers some months ago, Cabin Crew or perhaps the unions were comparing themselve's to other professions such as lawyers profession.
It takes a few weeks to complete the courses and cannot be compared to training for flight deck and going through years of hard work between jobs etc with large debts or a lawyer.
It will get to a point that WW will have to do redundancies / layoffs, leading to remployment and perhaps worse terms if that were legal.
I dont understand all the issues but I cannot imagine BA being cost effective when in general airlines like EZY or Ryan are low cost operations or long haul operators pay less and try to offer more attractive staff travel.
Sadly its a dynamic environment and things have changed with T&C's. e.g. Pilots paying to fly or for type ratings as one other example.
Travelled BA all the time for business most weeks until last 2 years where I mixed with other operators from time to time due to cost.
Last 12 years service seems worse, aircraft IFE poor and plane tickets often expensive when comparing to others. So I have had to change to other airlines when BA's fares have been a lot higher.
Next week and the following switching airlines from BA as I have to be with my customers. I doubt this strike helps the cabin crew cause or passenger relations. I have to travel and my business like others will be lost.
In one of the new papers some months ago, Cabin Crew or perhaps the unions were comparing themselve's to other professions such as lawyers profession.
It takes a few weeks to complete the courses and cannot be compared to training for flight deck and going through years of hard work between jobs etc with large debts or a lawyer.
It will get to a point that WW will have to do redundancies / layoffs, leading to remployment and perhaps worse terms if that were legal.
I dont understand all the issues but I cannot imagine BA being cost effective when in general airlines like EZY or Ryan are low cost operations or long haul operators pay less and try to offer more attractive staff travel.
Sadly its a dynamic environment and things have changed with T&C's. e.g. Pilots paying to fly or for type ratings as one other example.
Last edited by turbine100; 12th May 2010 at 17:48.
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another fine example of the health and safety Taliban at work - and the last time CC manning the doors actually made any difference in an emergency?
The vast majority of Pax would quickly work out how to open the door in an emergency.
I for one would have no issue flying with no CC on board if given the choice of flying/not flying - just show me where to sign the disclaimer!
The vast majority of Pax would quickly work out how to open the door in an emergency.
I for one would have no issue flying with no CC on board if given the choice of flying/not flying - just show me where to sign the disclaimer!
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You don't really understand the aviation business, do you, pencisely?
I thought TS was remarkably restrained in that earlier comment.
I thought TS was remarkably restrained in that earlier comment.
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Ooops ... 
Ohh, you are so harsh!
Ohh, you are so harsh!
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Concur completely with cym ... despite some 30 years in avn, the complexities of civ 'people moving' have been a revelation over the last 6 months or so following this dispute.
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The revelation on the CC Thread that volunteer CC are being rostered from tomorrow also conveys a message.
BA will not be broken. Battered, yes. But NOT broken by militants who simply seem to refuse to face facts.
BA will not be broken. Battered, yes. But NOT broken by militants who simply seem to refuse to face facts.
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MPN11
Thanks - It winds me up totally when people think that all CC are there for is to feed and water them.
Every crew member knows the location and function of every piece of emergency equipment on board, when and how to use it, how to procted the aircraft keep people safe
Have CC saved lives in the evac's? Hell yes and some have paid with their lives or put themselves in mortal danger.
Rant over
That said I hope BA (my ex employer) finally sort out this mess, the BASSA cancer needs to be removed once and for all for the sake of non striking CC and the rest of the staff that are dependant of BA for their wages
Every crew member knows the location and function of every piece of emergency equipment on board, when and how to use it, how to procted the aircraft keep people safe
Have CC saved lives in the evac's? Hell yes and some have paid with their lives or put themselves in mortal danger.
Rant over
That said I hope BA (my ex employer) finally sort out this mess, the BASSA cancer needs to be removed once and for all for the sake of non striking CC and the rest of the staff that are dependant of BA for their wages
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Its fairly clear from the statement from WW and the rostering of volunteers from tomorrow that sackings are coming, have to hand it to Mr Walsh in giving a fairly big hint to Bassa of where this is going. Pity they won't take notice. If CC think it won't happen then they, in my opinion, are deluded, whilst not down playing their role lets be honest here its not the most skilled job in the world, it won't be difficult or take long to replace them.
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I would guess the biggest constraint would be training throughput ... back of this envelope says at least 6 months, possibly 9.
An adult will undoubtedly advise shortly.
An adult will undoubtedly advise shortly.
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bubblesuk
Take it you watch every safely demo and read the safety card to an extent that you could be self sufficent in the case of an emergency?
Ever done SEP's training and exams? Thought not!
Please do not denigrate CC that one day will save passengers lives
The BA dispute is wrong, BASSA is wrong but CC are there for a very vaid reason
Ever done SEP's training and exams? Thought not!
Please do not denigrate CC that one day will save passengers lives
The BA dispute is wrong, BASSA is wrong but CC are there for a very vaid reason
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agree to disagree
You cant just pull anyone off the street and expect them to be competent at the job.
In my opinon it takes a good 6 months to be fully used to the role, at the start its overwhelming
You cant just pull anyone off the street and expect them to be competent at the job.
In my opinon it takes a good 6 months to be fully used to the role, at the start its overwhelming
The revelation on the CC Thread that volunteer CC are being rostered from tomorrow also conveys a message.
Last edited by wiggy; 12th May 2010 at 20:05.
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@ Cym
It was not my intention to denigrate your roles. I was merely saying that compared to other jobs the training isn't that great, yes you play a vital and neccasery role but the cost and time needed to replace cabin crew compared to other industries is very little.
I havent done SEPS etc but i have done numerous exams during the 4 years of training for my profession, not to mention the numerous safety course, first aid courses, working at heights.....the list goes on.
I havent done SEPS etc but i have done numerous exams during the 4 years of training for my profession, not to mention the numerous safety course, first aid courses, working at heights.....the list goes on.
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HI Baggers,
I was in a similar situation last strike, I am not allowing myself to go back to BA before this debacle is sorted out, I cant put my own business and my customers at risk because of this.
I really admire your loyalty, but depending where in the world you are traveling you might be pleasantly surprised by what other carriers have to offer. I am off to Australia on Saturday and giving Ethiad's business class a spin.
My last flight 2 weeks ago to the USA was with Virgin, they were fabulous, far better than I remembered from the last time.
I have another 2 long haul trips coming during the strike period, both have been booked with other carriers (Virgin again for the USA, and Air France for the South African trip).
Maybe once this is all sorted out i'll come back to BA, I am personally upset, since I have been a gold card holder with BA for 11 years on the trot, I have plenty of time this membership year to retain it, after the strike period, as long as I have a business left of course
Cheers
Jeth
I was in a similar situation last strike, I am not allowing myself to go back to BA before this debacle is sorted out, I cant put my own business and my customers at risk because of this.
I really admire your loyalty, but depending where in the world you are traveling you might be pleasantly surprised by what other carriers have to offer. I am off to Australia on Saturday and giving Ethiad's business class a spin.
My last flight 2 weeks ago to the USA was with Virgin, they were fabulous, far better than I remembered from the last time.
I have another 2 long haul trips coming during the strike period, both have been booked with other carriers (Virgin again for the USA, and Air France for the South African trip).
Maybe once this is all sorted out i'll come back to BA, I am personally upset, since I have been a gold card holder with BA for 11 years on the trot, I have plenty of time this membership year to retain it, after the strike period, as long as I have a business left of course
Cheers
Jeth
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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Re training: If you are just going for 'junior' crew positions, single type, I reckon 3 weeks will be fine if it is well planned. If push comes to shove, you can forget all the 'customer service' bits of the training and just cover safety.
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@bubblesuk
Yes, but the worst case outcomes are very differnt
- Tesco - queue's at checkout
- Starbucks - sub standard latte
- Natwest - higher bank charges
CC -??? where did you say the door was? Soz I was reading a paper and dont know how to put on a lifevest? The guy next to you appears to he having a heat attack what should I do?
Happy to deal with such situations every time you go to work?
Give them a break
- Tesco - queue's at checkout
- Starbucks - sub standard latte
- Natwest - higher bank charges
CC -??? where did you say the door was? Soz I was reading a paper and dont know how to put on a lifevest? The guy next to you appears to he having a heat attack what should I do?
Happy to deal with such situations every time you go to work?
Give them a break
Last edited by cym; 12th May 2010 at 21:41.
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Cym
Yes, but the worst case outcomes are very different
- Tesco - queue's at checkout
- Starbucks - sub standard latte
CC -???
- Tesco - queue's at checkout
- Starbucks - sub standard latte
CC -???
This sentiment goes a long way to exposing some of the mentality that has led to the IA, a much overstated sense of self importance that has long been abused.
As far as I can see the ultimate worst case outcome the CC can bring about is the cancelled flight caused by not turning up for work as a result of misguided IA.