The Definitive easyJet T's & C's Thread
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The Definitive easyJet T's & C's Thread
Hi to all you easy guys and gals,
I'm looking for a little more information on easyJet's lifestyle as it is today than I can find from the search facility. Please don't just jump on this thread and flame me as much of what I can find is of questionable accuracy as circumstances at the big orange seem to have changed considerably over the last year or so. I would be most pleased if just one easyJet pilot could answer this post with up to date information.
I'll list the points separately:
1. Does the 5/3/5/4 roster apply to all UK bases?
2. Does the 5/3/5/4 roster run continuously - ie is it thrown out by reserve/standby periods, ground training, sick leave etc?
3. Are there Standby/reserve periods (week/months etc)
4. Aside from the 20 days leave, are the 5 GDO's really treated equally to leave?
5. What is the leave year? (rolling from DOJ or calendar)
6. When do bids have to be placed and how is it allocated?
I have seen from another thread that it can be used flexibily as long as there is not just a single working day left - nice!
As background, the easyJet site gives the following information (no mention of 5/3/5/4 roster pattern):
"The pilot’s contractual entitlement is for 132 days off per year. The entitlement consists of 104 days off, 20 annual leave days and 8 public holidays. A pilot is entitled to 20 days annual leave which is allocated via an online bidding system. In addition, pilots may also elect to take an additional 5 GDOs (Guaranteed days off) throughout the year although this is not classified as leave, it is treated on an equal footing to other leave days and it is not reclaimed by the company."
That says to me 137 days off including leave. My calculation of a fixed 5/3/5/4 pattern with 20 leave days and 5 GDO's taken from working days ("5's) would lead me to think that if 365 is divided by 17 (total for one working pattern) then 21.5 such patterns would fit into a calendar year. 21.5 times 7 equals the number of days off rostered before leave is taken into account. This equals 150 days. If leave/GDO's are then added we reach a total of 175 days off duty. That leaves 190 days for duty. If we assume 5 days for sims, crm, sec etc then we have 185 days in which to fly 900 hours. This equates to an average 4.9 hours/duty day. That would seem to work for me.
Am I correct in my assumptions? 137 vs 175 is a little confusing.
Could I project the 5/3/5/4 pattern a year ahead and know my days off, or is that just too optimistic?
If my question irritates you please feel free to press the "back button". If you are willing to spend a moment to explain then I would be extremely grateful, as would many others I'm sure.
Many thanks,
EW
I'm looking for a little more information on easyJet's lifestyle as it is today than I can find from the search facility. Please don't just jump on this thread and flame me as much of what I can find is of questionable accuracy as circumstances at the big orange seem to have changed considerably over the last year or so. I would be most pleased if just one easyJet pilot could answer this post with up to date information.
I'll list the points separately:
1. Does the 5/3/5/4 roster apply to all UK bases?
2. Does the 5/3/5/4 roster run continuously - ie is it thrown out by reserve/standby periods, ground training, sick leave etc?
3. Are there Standby/reserve periods (week/months etc)
4. Aside from the 20 days leave, are the 5 GDO's really treated equally to leave?
5. What is the leave year? (rolling from DOJ or calendar)
6. When do bids have to be placed and how is it allocated?
I have seen from another thread that it can be used flexibily as long as there is not just a single working day left - nice!
As background, the easyJet site gives the following information (no mention of 5/3/5/4 roster pattern):
"The pilot’s contractual entitlement is for 132 days off per year. The entitlement consists of 104 days off, 20 annual leave days and 8 public holidays. A pilot is entitled to 20 days annual leave which is allocated via an online bidding system. In addition, pilots may also elect to take an additional 5 GDOs (Guaranteed days off) throughout the year although this is not classified as leave, it is treated on an equal footing to other leave days and it is not reclaimed by the company."
That says to me 137 days off including leave. My calculation of a fixed 5/3/5/4 pattern with 20 leave days and 5 GDO's taken from working days ("5's) would lead me to think that if 365 is divided by 17 (total for one working pattern) then 21.5 such patterns would fit into a calendar year. 21.5 times 7 equals the number of days off rostered before leave is taken into account. This equals 150 days. If leave/GDO's are then added we reach a total of 175 days off duty. That leaves 190 days for duty. If we assume 5 days for sims, crm, sec etc then we have 185 days in which to fly 900 hours. This equates to an average 4.9 hours/duty day. That would seem to work for me.
Am I correct in my assumptions? 137 vs 175 is a little confusing.
Could I project the 5/3/5/4 pattern a year ahead and know my days off, or is that just too optimistic?
If my question irritates you please feel free to press the "back button". If you are willing to spend a moment to explain then I would be extremely grateful, as would many others I'm sure.
Many thanks,
EW
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1.Yes
2. Fixed 5/3/5/4 pattern runs for 16 weeks then you have a 4 week "reserve" month. This reserve month has been abused in the past but as we get up to correct manning levels it "should" be mainly SBYs - watch this space.
3.See above
4. 25 bookable leave days. - No difference
5. April - March
6. Open bidding period ( all done via internet access in crew room or from home ) then closed period - Succesfull bids published in AIMS then open bidding ie you can self book in the system if it is available - Closed period and how they allocate is a mystery to many - is a points based system that few understand and it seems to be down to luck if you get what you ask for and then a severe lack of availability thereafter. If you take a cross section of us you will probably find an uneven mix of " I got everything I bid for ", or " I got some of what I bid for" or " I got none of what I bid for "
During open bidding you can book what u like as long as you dont leave a single duty day, pretty handy if the day you want is available - but more often it isnt.
Bottom line on leave - its a shambolic mystery and the woman in charge of it does not answer the phone or answer emails - most of the time.
As for counting up annual days on / off etc sorry cant help never bothered to do that.
Hope that helps
EZYDRIVER
2. Fixed 5/3/5/4 pattern runs for 16 weeks then you have a 4 week "reserve" month. This reserve month has been abused in the past but as we get up to correct manning levels it "should" be mainly SBYs - watch this space.
3.See above
4. 25 bookable leave days. - No difference
5. April - March
6. Open bidding period ( all done via internet access in crew room or from home ) then closed period - Succesfull bids published in AIMS then open bidding ie you can self book in the system if it is available - Closed period and how they allocate is a mystery to many - is a points based system that few understand and it seems to be down to luck if you get what you ask for and then a severe lack of availability thereafter. If you take a cross section of us you will probably find an uneven mix of " I got everything I bid for ", or " I got some of what I bid for" or " I got none of what I bid for "
During open bidding you can book what u like as long as you dont leave a single duty day, pretty handy if the day you want is available - but more often it isnt.
Bottom line on leave - its a shambolic mystery and the woman in charge of it does not answer the phone or answer emails - most of the time.
As for counting up annual days on / off etc sorry cant help never bothered to do that.
Hope that helps
EZYDRIVER
cheers
Thanks for that, i was wondering if someone could help a little in relation to the rosters:
1. what day of the month are they published
2. is it fair to assume that they are for a month in advance (well, sounds silly but you never know!)
3. are they stable (or does that just depend on your particular base)
cheers
1. what day of the month are they published
2. is it fair to assume that they are for a month in advance (well, sounds silly but you never know!)
3. are they stable (or does that just depend on your particular base)
cheers
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The rosters are published on the 17th of the month & are detailed for the following calender month.
I do find that my roster on the Boeing fleet is quite stable but it depends on numerous factors from which part of the year to crewing levels, although we can claim for a disruption payment if we have a short notice change to our roster, within 48 hours anyway.
I do find that my roster on the Boeing fleet is quite stable but it depends on numerous factors from which part of the year to crewing levels, although we can claim for a disruption payment if we have a short notice change to our roster, within 48 hours anyway.
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Many thanks for the replies, much appreciated.
Any other comments would be appreciated, specifically with regard to numbers of days off per year, whether it really is possible to predict days off a year ahead (!) and a little more info on the reserve periods. Specifically:
do they keep the 5/3/5/4 pattern on track?
how long are they, how do they work - are you issued a blank roster and then allocated time off to meet the requirements of CAP371?
I'm eternally grateful for your input guys,
EW
Any other comments would be appreciated, specifically with regard to numbers of days off per year, whether it really is possible to predict days off a year ahead (!) and a little more info on the reserve periods. Specifically:
do they keep the 5/3/5/4 pattern on track?
how long are they, how do they work - are you issued a blank roster and then allocated time off to meet the requirements of CAP371?
I'm eternally grateful for your input guys,
EW
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As I said above 16 weeks FIXED 5earlies then 3 days off 5 lates then 4 days off. This FIXED pattern runs for 16 weeks there fore it is easy to see your days off over a year in advance this is only changed if you move base or are promoted and have to change the roster group you are in.
The reserve period runs for 4 weeks and complies with the CAP regulations, you cannot predict days off in that untill roster publication on the 17th of the month, but once published the days off DO NOT change. There should be some duties with mainly SBY's but in the past due to chronic crew shortgages this month has been seen full to the brim with duties and all in a random pattern, however as manning levels imrove this month "SHOULD" return to mainly SBY's.
There are huge benefits to the above as few jobs allow prediction of days off so far in advance, but if the exact number of days off is vital to your decision to accept an offer that I am assuming you have on the table from EZY then I think I think you may not like the orange lifestyle as there are bigger fish to fry here than that . EZY is a LOCO and we work damned hard and have some axes to grind but these usually relate to more pressing issues like long duty days with inadequate meals or breaks, Min rest between duties, positioning in taxis for silly duties that see a waste of money and resources, unsuitable HOTAC, lack off and inability to book the leave you want ( But you do have to have all your leave and any attempt to make individuals "loose" untaken days will be thwarted by BALPA ), inadequate pension provision, but I have never heard anyone have a burning issue with the total number of days free of duty ( Days OFF ) that we have in a year. The BALPA CC do pay close attention to these details when they have/will negotaite improvements to our lifestyles and always look at total days off in a year under any proposed patterns and with the progression through random - 6/3 -5/2/5/4 and now 5/3/5/4 with 25 days leave I think I am correct in saying the only way our total days free of duty in a year has gone is UP. All due to strong BALPA representation and increased membership.
But if you really need to work it out for yourself, I dont, but maybe someone else will work it out for you, then take get a calander run 5/3/5/4 for 16 weeks count the days off, consult the CAP for min days off apply that for 4 weeks then repeat until you have filled a year and count total days off, add your 25 days leave to that and thats your answer.
ED
The reserve period runs for 4 weeks and complies with the CAP regulations, you cannot predict days off in that untill roster publication on the 17th of the month, but once published the days off DO NOT change. There should be some duties with mainly SBY's but in the past due to chronic crew shortgages this month has been seen full to the brim with duties and all in a random pattern, however as manning levels imrove this month "SHOULD" return to mainly SBY's.
There are huge benefits to the above as few jobs allow prediction of days off so far in advance, but if the exact number of days off is vital to your decision to accept an offer that I am assuming you have on the table from EZY then I think I think you may not like the orange lifestyle as there are bigger fish to fry here than that . EZY is a LOCO and we work damned hard and have some axes to grind but these usually relate to more pressing issues like long duty days with inadequate meals or breaks, Min rest between duties, positioning in taxis for silly duties that see a waste of money and resources, unsuitable HOTAC, lack off and inability to book the leave you want ( But you do have to have all your leave and any attempt to make individuals "loose" untaken days will be thwarted by BALPA ), inadequate pension provision, but I have never heard anyone have a burning issue with the total number of days free of duty ( Days OFF ) that we have in a year. The BALPA CC do pay close attention to these details when they have/will negotaite improvements to our lifestyles and always look at total days off in a year under any proposed patterns and with the progression through random - 6/3 -5/2/5/4 and now 5/3/5/4 with 25 days leave I think I am correct in saying the only way our total days free of duty in a year has gone is UP. All due to strong BALPA representation and increased membership.
But if you really need to work it out for yourself, I dont, but maybe someone else will work it out for you, then take get a calander run 5/3/5/4 for 16 weeks count the days off, consult the CAP for min days off apply that for 4 weeks then repeat until you have filled a year and count total days off, add your 25 days leave to that and thats your answer.
ED
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Ezydriver,
many thanks again. You have answered all my questions concisely. It's not the overall total that matters to me, it just seemd that the discrepancy between the numbers I worked out and what was advertised was difficult to explain. Your time taken in answering in such detail and with patience is very much appreciated. I hope to join you all soon.
EW
many thanks again. You have answered all my questions concisely. It's not the overall total that matters to me, it just seemd that the discrepancy between the numbers I worked out and what was advertised was difficult to explain. Your time taken in answering in such detail and with patience is very much appreciated. I hope to join you all soon.
EW
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Fred,
Depends whether you are a Captain or F/O, as a current LTN based F/O I can say that I do very little nightstops. In the last 6 months I have been to Newcastle once for a few days & also been to Belfast around 3-4 times usually for a couple of nights at a time.
Generally we do few nightstops as we dont cover any other bases apart from NCL & BFS & I would estimate a couple of nightstops every few months.
Depends whether you are a Captain or F/O, as a current LTN based F/O I can say that I do very little nightstops. In the last 6 months I have been to Newcastle once for a few days & also been to Belfast around 3-4 times usually for a couple of nights at a time.
Generally we do few nightstops as we dont cover any other bases apart from NCL & BFS & I would estimate a couple of nightstops every few months.
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BR,
No I wouldnt say they are & easyJet have recruited loads of pilots recently, I think they have sent a few F/O's over to BFS in the last few months as they have upgraded some BFS based F/O's to Captains & therefore used some LTN based crew to fill the gaps, however I think that recently the crewing levels have increased so as a LTN F/O you should experience very few nightstops.
No I wouldnt say they are & easyJet have recruited loads of pilots recently, I think they have sent a few F/O's over to BFS in the last few months as they have upgraded some BFS based F/O's to Captains & therefore used some LTN based crew to fill the gaps, however I think that recently the crewing levels have increased so as a LTN F/O you should experience very few nightstops.
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I would disagree they are short of FO's and Capts in BFS and NCL. They also seem to be a little short in LTN of Captains. I'm not sure if it's just and end of leave year thing or more permanent. However as far as night stops go I can count on one hand the amount I've had in the last 3 years.
