Work for BA, live abroad
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Work for BA, live abroad
Hi all,
Question, is it possible to work for BA as FO short haul, while living abroad?
How do the rosters look like, do you have nightstops in a row, how are duty and off days allocated, eg 10 days on 4 days off, or 5 days on 2 days off?
One last question about the salary; what is the taxation rate in the UK, to have an idea what net salary you get from your gross salary?
Thanks.
Question, is it possible to work for BA as FO short haul, while living abroad?
How do the rosters look like, do you have nightstops in a row, how are duty and off days allocated, eg 10 days on 4 days off, or 5 days on 2 days off?
One last question about the salary; what is the taxation rate in the UK, to have an idea what net salary you get from your gross salary?
Thanks.
Join Date: Apr 1999
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You could live anywhere you like as a short haul FO, you'll just need to have a room somewhere near LHR you can stay in. As a junior FO your roster will be at the mercy of the company. You might have lots of nightstops in row, you might just have day trips for a whole month. Or you could get a Reserve month when you spend 21 out of 28 days on 2hrs notice. The one thing that is consistent is that there is no consistency (apart from working every weekend). But there are plenty of people living further away than Belgium; Scotland for example. Not entirely sure about taxation but if you assume 25% tax on your first £22K and 40% tax on everything else plus 2% National Insurance you won't be too far off.
Join Date: Apr 1999
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I'd presume so but there are far fewer nightstops at LGW and more long daytrips. I've known LGW FOs commute from Scotland but you really will need a room somewhere near the airport.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Gatwick
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Bae,
I work out of LGW with BA and yes, there are plenty of commuters. You will find it a lot easier in the winter, as there seems to be more tours than in summer. Additionally, you will work VERY hard in summer as the aircraft utilisation is much higher through these months. You will probably need a room near the airport, but I know guys who commute and only spend 3-5 nights a month in Costa del Crawley.
Hope this helps. Maybe see you at the UK's finest soon...
Mary
I work out of LGW with BA and yes, there are plenty of commuters. You will find it a lot easier in the winter, as there seems to be more tours than in summer. Additionally, you will work VERY hard in summer as the aircraft utilisation is much higher through these months. You will probably need a room near the airport, but I know guys who commute and only spend 3-5 nights a month in Costa del Crawley.
Hope this helps. Maybe see you at the UK's finest soon...
Mary
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Mrs Mary
Thanks for the info... I am joining you at LGW, course date early January.
I had heard that there are not many nightstops now... I'd be grateful for a heads-up on the lifestyle/rostering situation. Does LGW have a bidline system or fixed rosters?
Can one state a preference for doing tours/nightstops or not?
cheers
JD
Thanks for the info... I am joining you at LGW, course date early January.
I had heard that there are not many nightstops now... I'd be grateful for a heads-up on the lifestyle/rostering situation. Does LGW have a bidline system or fixed rosters?
Can one state a preference for doing tours/nightstops or not?
cheers
JD
Join Date: Sep 2002
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JD, Congrats on getting in! You'll really like enjoy it at LGW. We work hard, but its a great base with some great people.
There are a lot of untruths written about LGW being the poor relation of LHR. Recent pay deals have equalised all pay and allowances, and we are now paid the same as our LHR cousins. The only difference now is we have a different bidding system to them. CARMEN is a preferencing system, and if you are junior it is great. You are in with a shot of 2 weekends off a month, and still get one or two of your preferred trips. From talking to mates on the Airbus and 757, this is much better than you can expect at LHR. The flip side to this is BIDLINE (the LHR system) rewards seniority much more, so as you become senior you will get a much better lifestyle on a BIDLINE fleet.
There are still many tours ranging from 2-6 days. Only last month I worked an entire month of tours, with no day trips, so they are out there! I prefer 2-3 day trips, and most months I get 4-6 of these with a scattering of day trips. Current nightstops are EDI, GLA, ABZ, JER, MAN, NCL, BLQ, GVA, AMS, MUC, HAJ, TLS, MRS.
We work very hard in summer, and as Carnage Matey rightly said, there are some long day trips. Pick of the bunch last summer was LGW-ALG-LGW-CDG-LGW! That said, you are still guaranteed 11 days off a month. Roster stability is superb - once you have it, they cannot change it! I've been here for 4 years and will probably be leaving next year to fly the 400 (hopefully!), but will happily return to LGW for a command in a few years.
Good luck, and see you around Jubilee sometime!
There are a lot of untruths written about LGW being the poor relation of LHR. Recent pay deals have equalised all pay and allowances, and we are now paid the same as our LHR cousins. The only difference now is we have a different bidding system to them. CARMEN is a preferencing system, and if you are junior it is great. You are in with a shot of 2 weekends off a month, and still get one or two of your preferred trips. From talking to mates on the Airbus and 757, this is much better than you can expect at LHR. The flip side to this is BIDLINE (the LHR system) rewards seniority much more, so as you become senior you will get a much better lifestyle on a BIDLINE fleet.
There are still many tours ranging from 2-6 days. Only last month I worked an entire month of tours, with no day trips, so they are out there! I prefer 2-3 day trips, and most months I get 4-6 of these with a scattering of day trips. Current nightstops are EDI, GLA, ABZ, JER, MAN, NCL, BLQ, GVA, AMS, MUC, HAJ, TLS, MRS.
We work very hard in summer, and as Carnage Matey rightly said, there are some long day trips. Pick of the bunch last summer was LGW-ALG-LGW-CDG-LGW! That said, you are still guaranteed 11 days off a month. Roster stability is superb - once you have it, they cannot change it! I've been here for 4 years and will probably be leaving next year to fly the 400 (hopefully!), but will happily return to LGW for a command in a few years.
Good luck, and see you around Jubilee sometime!
