Commuting to LHR - BA short-haul.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Sweden
Commuting to LHR - BA short-haul.
As a possible new FO in BA, I'd like some comments on commuting to a short-haul schedule on the Airbus. Essential of course is the possibility of setting up a commuter-friendly schedule, ie check-in allowing to arrive the same day as the tour starts and check-out as the tour ends. Preferable tours being 5 days on and 3(+) days off.
Thanks,
Mr Cavok
Thanks,
Mr Cavok
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: SE UK
as a junior bod on the airbus you'll start off with blind lines.
These could be anything, but usually 6 day blocks of work (i.e 2 x 3 day trips) followed by 2/3 days off, and they'll be EARLIES over a weekend!
As they are early you'll have to commute in the day before, but should be feasable to commute home after the trips are finished.
It will become easier once you get senior, which at the rate of knots we are recruiting won't be long, and then you can bid for ideal commuter type stuff.
I am just beginning to sort out my own commuter type lines which is great.....................because I commute from Wandsworth, SW London.
D2k.
These could be anything, but usually 6 day blocks of work (i.e 2 x 3 day trips) followed by 2/3 days off, and they'll be EARLIES over a weekend!
As they are early you'll have to commute in the day before, but should be feasable to commute home after the trips are finished.
It will become easier once you get senior, which at the rate of knots we are recruiting won't be long, and then you can bid for ideal commuter type stuff.
I am just beginning to sort out my own commuter type lines which is great.....................because I commute from Wandsworth, SW London.
D2k.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 5
From: UK
All correct. Commuting, I would suggest, is not really feasible until you've been in the company a few months and begin to have some control over your roster. Also, I can't remember when staff travel kicks in - 6 months after joining?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 264
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From: UK
How far are you commuting?
Had some mates from North England who managed (but said it felt a bit like they were visiting home as opposed to living there). And as mentioned seniority is king of rosters. (After a year you should be well placed to commute from all but the most far flung of places).
Wouldn't recommed a Europe commute initially as flights to connect to earlies would be a problem. Nothing more depressing than 2on, 1off 1on 1off if you are stuck in LHR! (Not a typical roster - but on a blind line you can get anything - it is simply all the trips no-one else wanted formed into a months work - so may not flow quite so well as a trip line).
(Also - forget weekend on blindlines !)
But - it does get better
Had some mates from North England who managed (but said it felt a bit like they were visiting home as opposed to living there). And as mentioned seniority is king of rosters. (After a year you should be well placed to commute from all but the most far flung of places).
Wouldn't recommed a Europe commute initially as flights to connect to earlies would be a problem. Nothing more depressing than 2on, 1off 1on 1off if you are stuck in LHR! (Not a typical roster - but on a blind line you can get anything - it is simply all the trips no-one else wanted formed into a months work - so may not flow quite so well as a trip line).
(Also - forget weekend on blindlines !)
But - it does get better
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 258
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From: depends on the mood
man, i think u should settle in where you are based..commuting is just not possible..it s really tiring and you end up being a stranger in both UK and your home country.If you chose BA than you chose England as well..
just my point of view.
ciao
just my point of view.
ciao
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 259
Likes: 5
From: Melbourne, Australia
G'day Mr Cavok,
I joined BA in Dec 06 and am a commuter. (Sounds like an AA intro
) Initially you will get blind lines, which means the rostering department gives you a roster, but you can express preferences, such as blocks of 3+ days off. For my training I rented a room close to Heathrow which I still have, it's definitely handy to have a little home away from home, especially on shorthaul, where you do spend around 6-9 nights per month in London. These nights are mainly due to the early starts the next day. Anyway, for me as a commuter the most important thing is blocks of days off, so that is what I ask for. As a result I generally get trips of anywhere from 3-6 days, earlies is the norm. My roster has been fairly commutable so far but as mentioned, you are a resident neither in the UK, nor where you live, since you spend so much time at work, or travelling. I don't have staff travel yet, but getting your roster well in advance means you can usually book fairly cheap tickets. That said, I don't bother going home if I have two days off due to the cost of travel, and the time it takes me to get home (min 5 hours) Once staff travel kicks in I aim to travel to an airport which is only 15 min from home (Eindhoven), and has cheaper (staff travel) fares than Amsterdam. I currently spend about 8 days at home per month. Hopefully this will change when staff travel kicks in, or when I transfer to longhaul.
Unfortunately it's not as easy as having a job where you're home every night but the job is very satisfying and that makes up for it for me anyway.
Keep in mind I have only been flying for a few months and my experiences may vary from other newbies.
I joined BA in Dec 06 and am a commuter. (Sounds like an AA intro
) Initially you will get blind lines, which means the rostering department gives you a roster, but you can express preferences, such as blocks of 3+ days off. For my training I rented a room close to Heathrow which I still have, it's definitely handy to have a little home away from home, especially on shorthaul, where you do spend around 6-9 nights per month in London. These nights are mainly due to the early starts the next day. Anyway, for me as a commuter the most important thing is blocks of days off, so that is what I ask for. As a result I generally get trips of anywhere from 3-6 days, earlies is the norm. My roster has been fairly commutable so far but as mentioned, you are a resident neither in the UK, nor where you live, since you spend so much time at work, or travelling. I don't have staff travel yet, but getting your roster well in advance means you can usually book fairly cheap tickets. That said, I don't bother going home if I have two days off due to the cost of travel, and the time it takes me to get home (min 5 hours) Once staff travel kicks in I aim to travel to an airport which is only 15 min from home (Eindhoven), and has cheaper (staff travel) fares than Amsterdam. I currently spend about 8 days at home per month. Hopefully this will change when staff travel kicks in, or when I transfer to longhaul.Unfortunately it's not as easy as having a job where you're home every night but the job is very satisfying and that makes up for it for me anyway.
Keep in mind I have only been flying for a few months and my experiences may vary from other newbies.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Svarte granskauen
Mr Cavok.
Commuting does become easier with time (I commute to Scandinavia). Also, you have the opportunity do bid across to the longhaul fleets after 5 years. I am a DEP on the B777 (joined early 2006) and spend minumum half a month at home. I am fairly new to the company, but already able to build my roster so that I can fly in the day I report and fly home the day I get back. Most months I spend only 1 night/month in the UK due to an early report the following day if even that. Also, don't forget the possibility of swapping flights, which on longhaul is quite simple.
Good luck,
DB
Commuting does become easier with time (I commute to Scandinavia). Also, you have the opportunity do bid across to the longhaul fleets after 5 years. I am a DEP on the B777 (joined early 2006) and spend minumum half a month at home. I am fairly new to the company, but already able to build my roster so that I can fly in the day I report and fly home the day I get back. Most months I spend only 1 night/month in the UK due to an early report the following day if even that. Also, don't forget the possibility of swapping flights, which on longhaul is quite simple.
Good luck,
DB
