harrypic
 

see my previous.....There can be a tax advantage in commuting from overseas.

A summation usually has the advantage of an argument or a proof that has gone before it. I thank you harrypic, for providing the latter to my former before that itself were writ.
Both the threads running here in Pprune on the problems British Airways are encountering with certain of it's more intransigent employees reflect an apparent prediliction with tortious and sometimes even illogical argument. It seems obvious enough that certain of those who correspond here are perhaps, just a trifle, out of touch with certain aspects of corporate and financial reality. International tax mitigation is an extremely complex subject and its numerous booby traps have proved disastrous for many in the past, (q.v. my previous case histories as quoted and in particular Gaines-Cooper.)
Those who wish to ensure that they do not fall foul of some regulatory tax authority in the future or in retrospect would do well to heed my words and, as I have said before, ensure that they seek professional advice specific to their own particular case rather than relying on random pieces of information or conjecture addressed to the world at large and presumably read by many whose economic experience and knowledge ill befits them for a cogent analysis of the facts of their matters.

Source: - A UK Tax Service For Non-Resident Landlords,Pilots,Aircrew,Seafarers,Non-Doms - Pilots Aircrew & Tax

My partner and I looked into this a few years back as I have a home in Spain from where we could have been resident. The downside, for me, was that I quite like the UK and the restrictions on the amount of time my partner would have been able to spend in the Uk put us off.

It's not all about money after all.. For us anyway :)

There are advantages to tax reduction and if you are really interested in the details, which are complex, I'm sure you could call the number at link and they would be happy to explain all.

More reading:-

http://www.taxationweb.co.uk/tax-articles/general/residence-pilot-error.html
http://www.adviserbreakthrough.co.uk/ifanews/article/82.php

Po-Faced CSD's
 

As a frequent long-haul passenger (LHR-Houston), I am constantly amazed at the terrible attitude of some CSD's.

They barely manage to crack a smile and I always wonder why they are doing a job they appear to detest.

The 'good' ones stand out a mile but are few and far between. They are the ones that stick in my mind, however.

Time to get rid of these sour-faced members of staff.

Couple of points.
1. The poster on the other thread is the Champagne Charlies' current nominated poster. They seem to rotate them

2. As customers, maybe we need PCCC to form a pax union for us, (and the folk on flyertalk) so we can put our demands to WW?? Like - no "Heritage" crew on my flights, thank you very much!!

Perks of the Job
 

We now find that the Jo’burg Jetsetter owns a farm.
One wonders whether her farm workers and domestic staff enjoy:

Subsidised travel to and from their workplace
Free meals and drinks whilst at work
Free medical care
Paid sick leave
Maternity leave
90% discount on their employers’ products
Wages that are above the local average
Automatic annual pay increments
Free or subsidised pension plan
Generous rest periods during their shifts
Comfortable bunks for rest
And, last but not least – Union representation

I think we should be told.

Who is Ava Hannah ?
 

First post by 'her' that I can find is 26th June. Odd the silence before that. Not sure if the release of all the personal details is the result of a disarming openess or a desire to brag. Sits oddly with the previous silence and is hardly calculated to gain sympathy for financial plight.

Incidentally, how do the moderators know that someone really is cabin crew ?

I see the pprune poster investigation team is swinging into action again. I am sure the insult committee is getting ready too.

Litebulb:

A tad on the rude side.

I agree that the moderators seem to do a pretty good job of finding out who is truly personnel and who are not so much conjecture is rather pointless but your statement regarding an "insult committee" is a bit overwrought.

Debating the statements of an individual poster is hardly an "insult" unless you are of the same mind that being told "No" is being "bullied".

Not at all. I note that you did not comment about AO's post and the Champagne Charlie reference. Or is it OK to be rude, as long as it agrees with your position?

It is not my obligation to comment or correct any and all posts when I don't concur 100% with the content. In fact it would be very inappropriate of me to do so.

...and the fact that I have no idea who or what a "Champagne Charlie" is would have made it even more inappropriate in this instance.

So we agree then.

Litebulb:

I make it a rule that I don't engage in passive-agressive circular debates.

At the moment the only thing I'm aware of that we agree upon in our previous exchange is that I need to google the definition for "Champagne Charlie".:ok:

It's lucky this is not one of those debates then. You not seeing the agreement answers my point.

No need to blow a filament Litebulbs
 

Insult to whom exactly ? Given the heat the new poster is generating elsewhere, I thought it relevant - and curious. There has been speculation about 'Miss M' being one and the same person. Anyway, how do you join this insult committee - is there a fee - looks like I have been nominated.

MissM/Ava Hannah
 

A suggestion on the other thread by SQC7791 that posts from MissM and Ava Hannah are the work of a committee could have some credibility, therefore I'll risk the wrath of Mods with this offering.
MissM is accredited with 294 posts on PPRuNe, her last being No.161 on the 21June when she denied being Lizanne Malone. 294 posts since Dec 09 is a considerable output particularly when taking flying duties into consideration.
Ava Hannah pops up on 26June all guns blazing because despite repeated warnings she struck and lost her ST. Living in JNB from choice as she does is no doubt an inconvenience but as she would not accept an offer of all the money in the world unless ST was given back one wonders what her priorities really are. Seemingly it's ST.
After post 462, Ava's third in which she mentions the loss of her son to leukaemia there is a change of font. Easily explained of course, a new PC perhaps or a new author. Thereafter her output on the other thread gains pace and currently stands at 34 posts in 4 days.
It's safe to assume that most, if not all contributors here follow the other thread and draw their own conclusions. There are inconsistencies, she works 50% and goes to the UK every 28 days or she goes to work 4 -5 times per month. One seems to contradict the other and if money is not the issue why is she bleating about paying £500 for a ticket to LHR when through her own decision forfeited her right to ST.
I may be completely wrong and if so apologise, but the similarities in syntax and style suggests to me that MissM and Ava Hanna and posts attributed to them is the work of one person.......or a committee!

Mr Optimistic
 

It is a constant theme on pprune, that whenever a poster comments against the majority, they are examined for who they are, rather than the content of their post. If you feel insults serve a purpose, then insult away.

But interrogation bordering on the vituperative can be just one of the more entertaining facets of Pprune hazing. In this particular case though, the question becomes rather more one of collectivity rather than individualism. It seems to me that certain people are trying to establish whether they as individuals are corresponding with individuals or whether they are merrily scribbling away with representatives of the Bassa wrecking commitee. Under the present circumstances of intellectual argument, it's a neat distinction of no great significance.

Ava herself defined strikers as "Heritage" crew, I believe.
Champagne Charlies are those with a champagne lifestyle. I am unwaged, so do not have a champagne lifestyle. (Not as often as I would like).
I would love to afford to drive to BFC in a drophead BMW and drink lots of pimms with the strikers, and give a customer point of view. However, the price appears to be to join either the cult, or Socialist Worker. By the look of it, and a drop head BMW would be handy aswell. I can't afford one of them.
I have no desire to either join the cult, or to join Socialist Worker. The millionaires that run Socialist Worker strike me as the worst sort of two-faced so and sos.
Is calling the cult "Champagne Charlies" an insult? If it is, it is far less insulting than the insults which bassa et al give out to customers, - and as to what they say about BA management, I need say nothing, as they say it all.

Ancient Observer
 

Where has this cult term come from?

'Champagne Charlie' is a music hall song for those fortunate enough to have experienced that fantastic medium of mirthful and talented diversion, guided by the talents of that priceless manipulator of both audience and performers, the compere!
Any comparison of music hall with the present attendant goings on in certain union circles only serves to remind one of the excellence of entertainment of the former with the quite incomprehensible mirthless moronity of the latter.

In cultish terms, if we exclude Aleister Crowley, the usual definition would seem to imply manipulation, control and exploitation of a group of individuals by the leaders. That seems a reasonably justified, if slightly derogatory, definition to apply collectively to certain members of one or two distinct British unions.
In cinematographic history it is interesting to see that Zombies have also often been considered as members of a cult in various horror movies. Happily, there usually appears to be a permanent solution to that particular affliction.

'

Do cultish people get the chance to vote in secret postal ballots?

Ancient Observer:

I did indulge in a bit of learning curve regarding "Champagne Charlie" this afternoon and believe that it was hardly an "insult" to sear the hide of anything but the most soft of creatures.

As to the indentity of "Ava" I have no interest. If in reality "she" is a singular individual she truly is between a rock and a hard place but one that she squeezed herself into. There are far too many BA employees truly examining the issues and seriously considering their options to be nothing more than confused and a bit amused by those who are wearing blinders.

I'm looking for three or four short adventures for my hubby and I (his schedule simply will not allow for extended vacations), am specifically flying BA, and must agree with Ancient Observer. As SLF that views her flying time as an opportunity to be indulged the choice between being served by those Cabin Crew who worked through the strike, took the heat not only for their airline but for the co-workers in loading, passengers, etc., and being served by one of the individuals from Bedfont (spelling?) is the difference between booking Helen Mirren and getting Katie Price.

BA will survive this and I'm hopeful that the more fabulous of its Cabin Crew are able to instill their brand on the company again.

A more appropriate term would be 'Champagne Socialists.' It defines the latent hypocrisy of those who purport to be Socialists but are extremely wealthy. Most Union leaders are in this category, having risen well above the wildest aspirations of their own rank and file.

Do cultish people get the chance to vote in secret postal ballots?

Only if they are Zombies.

What, like this democratic and secret BASSA vote????

YouTube - BA staff to vote on strike again

Cult
 

cult, n. system of religious worship; devotion, homage to person or thing

Describes the unquestioning and unthinking followers of DH, LM and the Bassa hierarchy perfectly, I would have thought.

That is strange. I was out with a BA crew member last night and he definitely did not show any of those traits with regard to BASSA. I did not question him on his God however.

Mocamps
 

What an intelligent post. As a retired Bcal/BA pilot I am not allowed to go on the BA/Bassa site, but I would like this to get to the moderator of the site. It is now getting to be a nasty squabble between cc which brings in another, more serious topic, namely positioning to go to work, as described by the JNB lady. CC positioning is bad enough, but BA for years (As regrettably not noticed by the Flight Ops Section of the CAA) have allowed many pilots living abroad to commute. The Company are not allowed to schedule such a duty period, but it seems to be tolerated if opted by the individual crew member. After the recent fatal accident in the US where the crew commuted from Seattle and California to New York before their flight and "rested" in the crewroom, at long last the NTSB have taken an interest.
Perhaps this should now be addressed by both BA and the CAA.
One further shot in the foot by Bassa, cc crew allowances, especially in JFK. Take a look at the hotel "crew room/ party room" with microwaves and coffee machines. Nobody (cc) ever spends their meal allowance, so HMRC will eventually take note. Moderator, pull the plug !

Tightslot:

Do we really sound that abusive? I will admit, as a frequent flyer, that I'm approaching this with must be, as balanced as I try to stay, a biased view.

But are we really that out of line? I view the CC thread as much more contentious, though their issues are different than passengers.

I won't kick my dog (as I don't have one), hubby is at a meeting, so perhaps a walk in the garden with a VT is in order.

robert
 

Here we go again. Being a commuter does not automatically mean being in breach of FTL's - many/most commuters are well aware of their obligations - which is exactly why I'm holed up writing this in a B&B near my base tonight , rather than pushing the limits by commuting and then operating tomorrow..and I'm not the only one with a similar sense of responsibility.

Wiggy
 

You do not say if you are cc or flight deck, but the rules applies to ALL, not most ! Get yourself a copy of Flight Crew Orders, or better still the CAA ANO's, and then see if your colleagues are aware of the requirements. I sat in Club a while ago whilst taxying out on an ATL flight listening to a cc dscribe how they had diverted to Stansted yesterday on a back to back, got transport back to LGW by late pm but still checked in for 9 am check in. By my calculation they were way out of duty hours, but their topic was the extra money involved made it all worth while. With the BA system I doubt the Captain was aware of his cc hours.

Having stayed in the crew hotel in NYC more than 30 times could you tell me where the microwave is please?

There is a flask of coffee at certain times of the day I'll admit.

Now you're just making stuff up.

Let us know the FTL details but I cant see any way that a 2 sector ex USA day would make a following days trip illegal. The max duty time is simply not enough.

Especially as BA don't fly from LGW to ATL

Bill Francis moves to get CC to leave the union?
 

There is some conjecture on the other thread that BF's latest missive is an attempt to get non strikers to leave the union in order that they might individually sign up to the latest offer. It seems that union members will be governed by the union's response. Whether this is true or not, the BASSA membership continues to slide. Now down to 9775 an counting (downwards).

A BA director is trying to coerce and employee to leave a union? Is that allowed?!

Who knows?

No one who has read the ESS mail detailing the new offer could suggest he's doing anything of the sort.

Indeed rather the opposit, if you were a member of the union the offer isnt available to you to decide on individually as you have choosen to let your reps have that power, even if you left the moment you recieved the mail, too late.

No benefit in leaving, therefore no encouragement to do so on the part of BA. To have done so would have indeed have been unlawful - which is why they didnt.