the time for easycoffee is over!
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Qatar
the time for easycoffee is over!
PILOTS with budget airline easyJet flew into a rage last night over plans to scrap their free tea and coffee.
Crews have been told that in future they must bring their own milk, teabags and instant coffee for in-flight brews — though they can still have free hot water.
Another cutback infuriating the airline’s 500 pilots is that on flights of up to ten hours they will now get only one hot meal instead of two.
The economies have been drawn up by easyJet bosses to try to counter falling sales and cut prices.
The airline, founded by Greek-born tycoon Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, reported a 35 per cent drop in annual profits to £123million last November.
But crews were furious and their union rejected the plans.
One employee said: “They should rename the airline MeanyJet.
“It’s not a lot to expect meals when you are travelling. We spend hours in the air and have to be at airports very early.
“Do they really expect us to bring sandwiches and teabags? It is petty and ludicrous and the offer of free hot water is downright insulting.”
Crews have been told that in future they must bring their own milk, teabags and instant coffee for in-flight brews — though they can still have free hot water.
Another cutback infuriating the airline’s 500 pilots is that on flights of up to ten hours they will now get only one hot meal instead of two.
The economies have been drawn up by easyJet bosses to try to counter falling sales and cut prices.
The airline, founded by Greek-born tycoon Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, reported a 35 per cent drop in annual profits to £123million last November.
But crews were furious and their union rejected the plans.
One employee said: “They should rename the airline MeanyJet.
“It’s not a lot to expect meals when you are travelling. We spend hours in the air and have to be at airports very early.
“Do they really expect us to bring sandwiches and teabags? It is petty and ludicrous and the offer of free hot water is downright insulting.”
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 911
Likes: 334
From: uk
If the economic future of the airline is dependent on the flightcrew tea/coffee allocation then they may as well close it down and give up.It's heartening to know that the good old-fashioned easy 'style' is extant- superficially more cuddly than Ryanair but in reality it's not.It's like Britain pretends to be less corrupt than Zimbabwe but it isn't due to good old human nature(ref poiticians,bankers etc).
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 112
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From: UK
This is just the beginning of the arsehole WB at work. It only gets worse from here. Stand up to him and get him the sack. He thinks he is in Ryanair where the gutless pilots let him get away with anything he came up with. In fact he was mostly a parrot for DO and could barely string two words together to make a sentence.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 1
From: In someone pocket
never had any coffee
When i was working for airasia (Skytrax-world best low cost airline) we never had free coffee or tea, even meals.. all we where given was a complimentary bottle of water. the rest was up to you.. I normally bring the 3 in 1 coffee and tea. Tony..wouldnt even discount the price on food on board for staff. btw I we didnt have time to go to starbucks... 20min turnaround 
I guess Stelios has been talking with Tony.. how to cut cost...to the bonemarrow....
you get use to it guys....
I guess Stelios has been talking with Tony.. how to cut cost...to the bonemarrow....
you get use to it guys....
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 44
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From: Earth
JetJockey696,
We pilots at easyJet pay for our food. It is a contract we signed with the management many years. What they are doing now is a pay cut. I have looked at the options, and as I am leaving in about nine months due to retirement, I will take them to court for breach of contract if they go ahead.
In H89, they have seen the fuel statistics go up, and they thought that it was due to weather. When it was discussed with them that this was just the beginning they could not believe it, they are in denial.
They said that they will try to come after the pilots for gross misconduct. I said that they will not be able to, all we are doing is giving them the absolute minimum effort, and that reflects in their bottom line.
As for WB, there are many ways to deal with a selfish immoral person.....
We pilots at easyJet pay for our food. It is a contract we signed with the management many years. What they are doing now is a pay cut. I have looked at the options, and as I am leaving in about nine months due to retirement, I will take them to court for breach of contract if they go ahead.
In H89, they have seen the fuel statistics go up, and they thought that it was due to weather. When it was discussed with them that this was just the beginning they could not believe it, they are in denial.
They said that they will try to come after the pilots for gross misconduct. I said that they will not be able to, all we are doing is giving them the absolute minimum effort, and that reflects in their bottom line.
As for WB, there are many ways to deal with a selfish immoral person.....
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 557
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From: .
If I read that correctly they (H89) said they would pursue flight deck for taking extra fuel with charges of gross misconduct!?!?!?!?!
About a most dangerous precedent as you could try and set! Please tell me I have read that out of context!
About a most dangerous precedent as you could try and set! Please tell me I have read that out of context!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,271
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From: West Country
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 1
From: Asia
Why is it that companies deliberately set out to have bad industrial relations and complain when they get it ? The loss of goodwill from the pilots is far more significant then the minor cost saving of a cup of tea or coffee.
A happy pilot will be motivated to save the company money, ie requesting track shortening or a more favourable runway, trying to get flight levels closer to the optimum, and what if they urgently need you on a day off ?
A disgruntled pilot may just follow the flight plan as given, not bother requesting a more suitable runway or better flight level. If rostering call on a day off, well there's no need to be contactable is there ?
Potentially hundreds of $$$$ of good will lost for a saving of a few cents.
Probably refers to duty days, with reporting time, flight times and turnarounds, time at work can easily exceed 10 hours.
A happy pilot will be motivated to save the company money, ie requesting track shortening or a more favourable runway, trying to get flight levels closer to the optimum, and what if they urgently need you on a day off ?
A disgruntled pilot may just follow the flight plan as given, not bother requesting a more suitable runway or better flight level. If rostering call on a day off, well there's no need to be contactable is there ?
Potentially hundreds of $$$$ of good will lost for a saving of a few cents.
Are you sure? - 10 hour flights on easyjet? - where?
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 242
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From: Europe
I'm as consciencious as the next skipper, but I confess anything I do to keep the show on time is due to selfishly wanting to relieve my own fatigue and just sod off home.
But yes I had to smile when I read the memo about "discretionary" fuel use going up. Well "Hello??"!!!!!!!
But yes I had to smile when I read the memo about "discretionary" fuel use going up. Well "Hello??"!!!!!!!
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 332
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From: UK
I don't think WB had anything to do with the tea and coffee gate affair - I think he joined after that.
Anyway it is tale that has many more Chapters to go - as it stands today, BALPA have forced the Company to step back and things are pretty much back where they were before (almost) which is a point that Ryanair pilots should mull over - you guys need BALPA.
Anyway it is tale that has many more Chapters to go - as it stands today, BALPA have forced the Company to step back and things are pretty much back where they were before (almost) which is a point that Ryanair pilots should mull over - you guys need BALPA.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 451
Likes: 18
From: London
This is very old news and pre-WB. That exact article was in The Sun about 2 months ago. Balpa was already on the case and tea, coffee and water are definitely staying, as are sandwiches, hot meals and the snack pack (although these have been "refreshed" to contain less sustenance than a tin of pet food).
It's staying cos we're already paying for it! (Well, for the time being at least)
It's staying cos we're already paying for it! (Well, for the time being at least)
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 235
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As has been said, we pay for food, Tea & Coffee as per long standing agreement. Removal may amount to a breech of contract, yet to be tested.
With security as it is (not being able to take a sealed cup a soup through because "it is designed to be turned into a liquid") we are limited to what we can take through on our own now, although others do manage perfectly well.
If the company was in jeopardy there are very few who would not do whatever was necessary to help reduce costs. But we are still making an annual profit and with the bonus culture someone will get a nice reward should they be able to remove crew food &/or tea and coffee.
Additionally the management still enjoy their "perk" of subsidised food and drink at their in house cafe, is there talk of that being under threat....didn't think so!!
Save money to ensure company survival and jobs= Yes ....... reward some manager with a nice fat bonus by doing so = No way.
With security as it is (not being able to take a sealed cup a soup through because "it is designed to be turned into a liquid") we are limited to what we can take through on our own now, although others do manage perfectly well.
If the company was in jeopardy there are very few who would not do whatever was necessary to help reduce costs. But we are still making an annual profit and with the bonus culture someone will get a nice reward should they be able to remove crew food &/or tea and coffee.
Additionally the management still enjoy their "perk" of subsidised food and drink at their in house cafe, is there talk of that being under threat....didn't think so!!
Save money to ensure company survival and jobs= Yes ....... reward some manager with a nice fat bonus by doing so = No way.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,480
Likes: 2
From: In a far better place
To the guys at EZ... just curious... how much do you pay for food, or are fees deducted from your pay based on what you eat, or is a flat monthly amount, or based on scheduled days of work?
What happens if your flight is cancelled, do they refund the amounts not used.
What happens if your flight is cancelled, do they refund the amounts not used.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: UK
It was a deal struck 7 years ago - the Company didn't want to pay for the crewfood and we wanted it. The Company said it cost GBP 1100 pa per pilot so following a ballot, BALPA agreed with the Company to deduct GBP 1100 pa per pilot and the Company would supply the crewfood.
