Rod's Words of Wisdom
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Strangely enough, I've just seen a clip from Sky News about people in Goma, Congo trying desparately to stop the threatning flow of lava by throwing fruit at it.
How long have BA management had consultants in Goma? I think we should be told.
How long have BA management had consultants in Goma? I think we should be told.
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A and C
I`ve only been at BA for a short time but when issues regarding T&C salaries come up the cabin crew are always out to be hammered.. .I know there are the "Old" contract crews which do earn high salaries, and if you or anyone else feel the need to comment on cabin crew`s why not use the term Old contract cabin crew, because the new contract crew do not earn huge amounts.. .My basic salary is just over £9000 pa. Yes the allowances are good, but need to be, and only there when we are at work. . .Now, leading on from this crew have to live no more than 1hr 30 mins from their base. Based in the Southeast-LHR/LGW, I`d love to know where I could live/buy a place to live for £27,000. (£9K @ 3X salary).. .If T&C are erroded away, I have seen the results.. .Short staffed, crews don`t give a dam, higher training costs, staff turn over greater, which makes a company very unattractive to work for, in what ever industry. In the end all departments are effected, by inexperience at all levels. . .The UK 2nd airlines suffers all these problems, and after well over 10 years there, could give examples of not how to treat staff/crews.. .I am NOT getting at anyone in particular. It just others reading this think BA cabin crew earn wonderful amounts-on new contract its livable (for me), but there again I brought over 15 years ago, and live in the South Midlands.. .BA is/was the airline which crew inspired too, because the way the work force is treated.
[ 25 January 2002: Message edited by: euroboy ]</p>
I`ve only been at BA for a short time but when issues regarding T&C salaries come up the cabin crew are always out to be hammered.. .I know there are the "Old" contract crews which do earn high salaries, and if you or anyone else feel the need to comment on cabin crew`s why not use the term Old contract cabin crew, because the new contract crew do not earn huge amounts.. .My basic salary is just over £9000 pa. Yes the allowances are good, but need to be, and only there when we are at work. . .Now, leading on from this crew have to live no more than 1hr 30 mins from their base. Based in the Southeast-LHR/LGW, I`d love to know where I could live/buy a place to live for £27,000. (£9K @ 3X salary).. .If T&C are erroded away, I have seen the results.. .Short staffed, crews don`t give a dam, higher training costs, staff turn over greater, which makes a company very unattractive to work for, in what ever industry. In the end all departments are effected, by inexperience at all levels. . .The UK 2nd airlines suffers all these problems, and after well over 10 years there, could give examples of not how to treat staff/crews.. .I am NOT getting at anyone in particular. It just others reading this think BA cabin crew earn wonderful amounts-on new contract its livable (for me), but there again I brought over 15 years ago, and live in the South Midlands.. .BA is/was the airline which crew inspired too, because the way the work force is treated.
[ 25 January 2002: Message edited by: euroboy ]</p>
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I don't think that all the blame can be placed on poor old Rod's shoulders, after all it was the board that appointed him and his predecessor. The senior management has been below par for years - the head of strategy who left the other month (I'm sure he was a very bright boy) was about 35 - methinks he was still at school last time the industry had a downturn so what exeperience did he have? The last change in strategy to focus on premium traffic because BA cannot make any money on the economy customer came in because BA's costs are so high, there was never any discussion about lowering costs to compete - just back out of that market. Rod 'talks the talk' but does he 'walk the walk' - judging by the remarks on this forum from people who knew him before I have my doubts.
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How come flight crew costs seem to be the only expense that is ever examined by BA?
Why don't they start by clearing out their flash offices of highly paid HR consultants, feng shui masters and titles like "Manager- Bread rolls, Europe".
Why don't they start by clearing out their flash offices of highly paid HR consultants, feng shui masters and titles like "Manager- Bread rolls, Europe".
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A quick note to ShotOne. You obviously don't understand the airline industry. Pilots are like fleas, there are loads of them and you can always get another to jump in.
Now good HR consultants..... they're a different thing altogether. Feng Shui Masters are very hard to come by and attract top dollar. As for bread roll managers. Could you, as a pilot, pushback without your catering? Honestly now?
No you've got it all wrong. <img src="redface.gif" border="0">
Now good HR consultants..... they're a different thing altogether. Feng Shui Masters are very hard to come by and attract top dollar. As for bread roll managers. Could you, as a pilot, pushback without your catering? Honestly now?
No you've got it all wrong. <img src="redface.gif" border="0">
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"Pappa Doc" Rodderick has crashed and burned at 2 airlines already. I am amazed that he can still get a job in this industry. Words of wisdom from Rod include:
"Pilots are million dollar morons" said at CX.
"A great airline but a poor business" said at CX, Ansett and now BA.
"Oh c**p I'm off - it wasn't me!" said at CX, Ansett and, shortly, at BA.
"Pilots are million dollar morons" said at CX.
"A great airline but a poor business" said at CX, Ansett and now BA.
"Oh c**p I'm off - it wasn't me!" said at CX, Ansett and, shortly, at BA.
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I used to work for a BA franchise. Meets with BA used to be myself and about eight BA people, till I got wise and took someone with me.
The amazing thing is that all the people at the meet also had assistants. There was rarely a decision made at the meets as it had to go though various other departments before being agreed.
This needed at least one onboard trial with a nightstop, incl at least 3 BA people to see pax reaction on th flight etc.
Suggest you look at waterworld for cost savings first.. . . . C
The amazing thing is that all the people at the meet also had assistants. There was rarely a decision made at the meets as it had to go though various other departments before being agreed.
This needed at least one onboard trial with a nightstop, incl at least 3 BA people to see pax reaction on th flight etc.
Suggest you look at waterworld for cost savings first.. . . . C
Apache for HEMS - Strafe those Survivors!
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Can someone in BA management please explain how the company expects to make money from "premium" business traffic when most of it seems to be heading for the low cost sector? Really, I am genuinely interested, perhaps I'm missing something.
The full scale retreat when faced with competition in the short haul market is not going to save the company ( are those big Yen loans still hanging over them). They need to get bums on aircraft seats NOT office chairs. I am led to believe that when Dan Dare sadly died several years ago one of its few (only?) profitable routes was LHR-INV. BA took on the route but couldn't make it pay and handed it on to BRAL, who appear to have run it, albeit now to LGW, quite successfully.
BA senior managament need to wake up and smell the coffee, the people who are going to save them are their frontline staff, on the ground and in the air. I get the impression most of them feel insecure and undervalued right now, unsurprisingly. Expensive gin palaces, strategy groups, steering committees etc are part of the problem and definately not the solution. Perhaps a "back to the floor" experience would be educational right now?
Apologies for rambling and best of luck to the frontline staff at BA, I think you might need it.
The full scale retreat when faced with competition in the short haul market is not going to save the company ( are those big Yen loans still hanging over them). They need to get bums on aircraft seats NOT office chairs. I am led to believe that when Dan Dare sadly died several years ago one of its few (only?) profitable routes was LHR-INV. BA took on the route but couldn't make it pay and handed it on to BRAL, who appear to have run it, albeit now to LGW, quite successfully.
BA senior managament need to wake up and smell the coffee, the people who are going to save them are their frontline staff, on the ground and in the air. I get the impression most of them feel insecure and undervalued right now, unsurprisingly. Expensive gin palaces, strategy groups, steering committees etc are part of the problem and definately not the solution. Perhaps a "back to the floor" experience would be educational right now?
Apologies for rambling and best of luck to the frontline staff at BA, I think you might need it.
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[quote] Can someone in BA management please explain how the company expects to make money from "premium" business traffic when most of it seems to be heading for the low cost sector? <hr></blockquote>
The low cost sector is only European as distinct from international and then is still rather limited to relatively few business destinations compared to leisure destinations.
Business by comparison is global and doesn't have a major presence in Malaga.
There is still a very big market for BA's proven business services even if it were to lose a lot of European and UK routes.
The low cost sector is only European as distinct from international and then is still rather limited to relatively few business destinations compared to leisure destinations.
Business by comparison is global and doesn't have a major presence in Malaga.
There is still a very big market for BA's proven business services even if it were to lose a lot of European and UK routes.
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The difference between the low cost carriers and BA is not the cost of flying aeroplanes, filling them with fuel and operating them at big airports. The difference is that RyanAir fly 6000 passengers per employee and BA fly 900.
BA management don’t understand the problem because BA management and their multitude IS the problem.
BA management don’t understand the problem because BA management and their multitude IS the problem.
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ROOBARB-having been on the receiving end of many decisions by the same-I agree whole heartedly-problem is that for every manager that does understand cost control there are dozens who dont and will never.
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Well so far they've screwed up 3 opportunities to get them out of the cr@p as far as short-haul costs are concerned:
1) Integrate CFE (profitable, low-cost) into EOG (non-profitable, high cost).. .2) Sell GO just as it was well and truly established in the low-cost market.. .3) Merge BAR into BRAL/Brymon and saddle a once profit-making BRAL/Brymon operation with more mainline costs. Another master-stroke of genius.
I am eagerly awaiting their next move!
King Kee
p.s. Rhoobarb....you're a star. Your posts are spot-on. Couldn't agree more!
[ 27 January 2002: Message edited by: King Kee ]</p>
1) Integrate CFE (profitable, low-cost) into EOG (non-profitable, high cost).. .2) Sell GO just as it was well and truly established in the low-cost market.. .3) Merge BAR into BRAL/Brymon and saddle a once profit-making BRAL/Brymon operation with more mainline costs. Another master-stroke of genius.
I am eagerly awaiting their next move!
King Kee
p.s. Rhoobarb....you're a star. Your posts are spot-on. Couldn't agree more!
[ 27 January 2002: Message edited by: King Kee ]</p>
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King Kee and others - 'saddling BRAL/Brymon with BAR mainline costs' ??
BAR is not mainline (although pilots are seconded from there) and we (at BHX anyway) make money despite the bests efforts of the accountants at Fortress LHR.
Please don't tar us all with the same brush - our infrastructure at BAR is practically skeletal and the front-line staff work FAR harder than any at LHR (with apologies to those -400 crews unable to bid this month due to the 900hr rolling limit)
. .Aim your guns elsewhere, Roobarb for CEO!
[ 27 January 2002: Message edited by: overstress ]</p>
BAR is not mainline (although pilots are seconded from there) and we (at BHX anyway) make money despite the bests efforts of the accountants at Fortress LHR.
Please don't tar us all with the same brush - our infrastructure at BAR is practically skeletal and the front-line staff work FAR harder than any at LHR (with apologies to those -400 crews unable to bid this month due to the 900hr rolling limit)
. .Aim your guns elsewhere, Roobarb for CEO!
[ 27 January 2002: Message edited by: overstress ]</p>
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When I was at BA I built up a considerable shares holding via the profit share scheme. These were appropriated to me at the 500-600p a share level. They are now worth approx 220p a share...The best thing that can happen now is a takeover bid, and then perhaps some of us who believed in the company will recover just some of our losses!! Bring back John King...all is forgiven!. .I agree with Jamie, I'm sure that the airline will eventually go back to a longhaul, one base operation, using interline agreements with "new" shorthaul airlines to supply feeder traffic.. .(BOAC/overseas division was the only profit making section the airline originally had anyway!) . .We all know about the problems at BA, they have been flogged to death on these forums, top heavy management etc. etc. However I think that the issue of staff (flying or non flying), some on "old, A scale" contracts and others on "new, B scale" contracts is totally unjust. The salaries, T&C's etc. for a particular job should be consistent. However we have BALPA et al to thank for creating a completely UNLEVEL playing field. Pay and conditions do NEED to move with the times, but the unions have looked after those in the top half of the seniority list (after all their 1% is worth a lot more isn't it?) and sold out the new guys. The modern BA, and airline industry in general, strikes me as a land of extremes...senior people raking it in, and the new guys struggling to make ends meet. Yes, the experienced people should earn more money via increments, but the differentials that now exist due to different contracts are quite frankly obscene!
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Listen to this Rod ive had an amazing brain wave, instead of shafting the whole of LGW in one foul swoop, why not reinstate the old CFE.. .We are still paying for old portacabins, stores vehicles etc, etc , the list goes on. why not seperate the cityflyer fleet and utilise the already existing infrastructure and run a low cost airline. Wow was it just me or did anybody else think of that.. .If BA had any sense they would issue a set budget and let CFE govern itself as BA are obviously not able to do the job satisfactorily enough.. .How long will size and shape take before they realise it is to late to turn back and try and recover some of the loss. Just think Rod you used to have a guaranteed 15 million pounds coming in every year, how come now we are EOG we some how manage to make a massive loss, it aint rocket science.
Good luck every one at BA hope size and shape doesnt ruin to many lives, something management should keep in mind. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Good luck every one at BA hope size and shape doesnt ruin to many lives, something management should keep in mind. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
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Maybe Rod should read his own in-flight business mag. On a recent positioning tour of Europe I read an article on the successful management style of Jack Walsh, CEO of GE (I think). Every year he required every manager to rank their staff in order of performance and then the bottom 10% were cut. It didn't matter if the company was already successful - in order to make it even more successful he still cut the bottom 10% every year. . .I was surprised to see this article in th BA Business Highlife. It seems so obvious that cutting poor managers is the way Rod needs to go and yet his advisors are telling him that the most productive staff are the ones who need to be cut, not the least productive ones. I seriously thought about tearing the article out and sending it to him.
