BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Morning all, Firstly may I commend RexB’s descriptions of both Bidline and JSS to the house....
Paddington..
Unless you have a burning desire to do shorthaul out of London I can’t see why BA would be of interest, though TBF I don’t live the BA shorthaul dream...
As for travelling in Premium cabins.... I’m not sure how the recruiters / advertising sells that benefit but you have a very limited number of those particular tickets and despite everything there are no guarantees about getting on a flight and where you will end up seated (and it can get really difficult if you are travelling as a family ).
Many a staff traveller with First or Club entitlement has ended up on a jumpseat......
Paddington..
Unless you have a burning desire to do shorthaul out of London I can’t see why BA would be of interest, though TBF I don’t live the BA shorthaul dream...
As for travelling in Premium cabins.... I’m not sure how the recruiters / advertising sells that benefit but you have a very limited number of those particular tickets and despite everything there are no guarantees about getting on a flight and where you will end up seated (and it can get really difficult if you are travelling as a family ).
Many a staff traveller with First or Club entitlement has ended up on a jumpseat......
Last edited by wiggy; 5th August 2018 at 08:50.
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 34
Likes: 2
From: London
Thanks Wiggy.
I did put a huge effort into this. In fact, I'm not ashamed to admit it was my fourth attempt. If anything, merely passing this process is satisfying in itself.
I have obviously followed this thread with great interest and ask my original question based on reports from people who are very obviously within BA at the moment, and can tell me how it is.
Cheers and all the best to those applying.
I did put a huge effort into this. In fact, I'm not ashamed to admit it was my fourth attempt. If anything, merely passing this process is satisfying in itself.
I have obviously followed this thread with great interest and ask my original question based on reports from people who are very obviously within BA at the moment, and can tell me how it is.
Cheers and all the best to those applying.
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Tw
Any news on Sim dates?
Hello everyone, thanks for all of those who post interesting info for the ones of us still in the application process. I’ve been waiting for. sim dates for a month already after receiving a mail telling me I had passed day 2. Anyone in the same condition. Anyone knows if it’s going to be 767 or 747. New to the forum so cannot receive any PM it seems. Any info would be very appreciated. Thanks.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: England
Hi Paddington,
Personally if you have no interest in LH why join what is predominately a LH airline. The grief of doing multiple sectors out of Heathrow on a day in day out basis for a a 40+ year career doesn’t make sense. If you want to be home every night you would be much better off working for an airline outside London where the cost of housing is more reasonable, the commute quicker, time to command generally quicker with associated better pay.
However, the reasons I enjoy LH is the opportunities to visit places that I would never visit on holiday. To take my son with me to Chile to see the penguins in the Tiera Del Fuego or my family to Tokyo after sector swapping to turn a 4 day trip into a 6 day trip. To go whale watching on a 4 day San Francisco trip or visit the Aztec temples in Mexico.
On LH you only need to commute 4 or 5 times a month with the same number of departures and arrivals from Heathrow. Like all jobs there are downsides and frustrations as well, but as an individual you need to work out what your priorities are and then find a job where you will get the greatest percentage satisfaction to live your life.
Regards
Personally if you have no interest in LH why join what is predominately a LH airline. The grief of doing multiple sectors out of Heathrow on a day in day out basis for a a 40+ year career doesn’t make sense. If you want to be home every night you would be much better off working for an airline outside London where the cost of housing is more reasonable, the commute quicker, time to command generally quicker with associated better pay.
However, the reasons I enjoy LH is the opportunities to visit places that I would never visit on holiday. To take my son with me to Chile to see the penguins in the Tiera Del Fuego or my family to Tokyo after sector swapping to turn a 4 day trip into a 6 day trip. To go whale watching on a 4 day San Francisco trip or visit the Aztec temples in Mexico.
On LH you only need to commute 4 or 5 times a month with the same number of departures and arrivals from Heathrow. Like all jobs there are downsides and frustrations as well, but as an individual you need to work out what your priorities are and then find a job where you will get the greatest percentage satisfaction to live your life.
Regards
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 64
From: england
Good advice above. I know it is obvious to most, but some may need reminding that this is only a way of earning to money to live. If you can make the job work for you and enjoy it at the same time, then you will never work a day in your life.
BA isn’t for everybody. Those that are here seem to enjoy the job, or at least pretend to. The only problem is spending too much time at work enjoying yourself. Hence the old cliché of the BA skipper on his/her third spouse. It can be difficult holding down a home life as the long haul part of the job is great fun, if tiring, staying in pretty decent hotels with like-minded people, especially now legacy crews are on the decline. The danger is it is possible to treat the job as one long holiday, to the detriment of loved ones at home.
BA isn’t for everybody. Those that are here seem to enjoy the job, or at least pretend to. The only problem is spending too much time at work enjoying yourself. Hence the old cliché of the BA skipper on his/her third spouse. It can be difficult holding down a home life as the long haul part of the job is great fun, if tiring, staying in pretty decent hotels with like-minded people, especially now legacy crews are on the decline. The danger is it is possible to treat the job as one long holiday, to the detriment of loved ones at home.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
The only problem is spending too much time at work enjoying yourself. Hence the old cliché of the BA skipper on his/her third spouse. It can be difficult holding down a home life as the long haul part of the job is great fun, if tiring, staying in pretty decent hotels with like-minded people, especially now legacy crews are on the decline. The danger is it is possible to treat the job as one long holiday, to the detriment of loved ones at home.
..well if it is who I am thinking of they can be a breath of fresh air but they can also sometimes produce some real "duty of care" issues for the senior managers on the crew, who have been known to end up sorting out problems with management and/or medics and/or others at oh’dark thirty in the morning...I would however agree on balance Long Haul is isn’t a bad gig, and certainly better than SH at BA but it’s not all a bed of roses, and BTW top tip - the trick to being a BA skipper on their first marriage after 30 plus years (and despite rumours and stereotyping there are a lot of us about) is not doing anything stupid and not going home and telling the other half what a fantastic time you just had.. .
Last edited by wiggy; 12th August 2018 at 15:35. Reason: TLC > TIC..
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Uk
I have been pretty negative on BA SH and there are good reasons for that. I then asked myself what is it that I do not like? Is it that I don’t like my job or is it that I just have a really good home life? The problems here are little more than delays due to ATC in Europe, workload and rostering due to a error in manpower planning and BALPA selling out SH to protect LH. A quote from a friend of mine on LH. “Nobody gives a sh&t about SH, it’s never even talked about other than to say they are never going back”. Something has to change. I know a number of captains who are considering going RHS LH to escape. If you only desire SH and being at home BA is not it, if you want options then that’s very different.
It’s easy to piss and moan from a privileged position but on balance there are jobs I have had which I would love to go back too, but BA whilst not perfect is not bad enough to leave either and if JSS destroys my home life (probable) then there are options such as part time.......which I understand Klaus hates and wants to stamp out, or ditching the 4th stripe for RHS LH.
Applications closed? Probably......remember how keen we all used to be.
It’s easy to piss and moan from a privileged position but on balance there are jobs I have had which I would love to go back too, but BA whilst not perfect is not bad enough to leave either and if JSS destroys my home life (probable) then there are options such as part time.......which I understand Klaus hates and wants to stamp out, or ditching the 4th stripe for RHS LH.
Applications closed? Probably......remember how keen we all used to be.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 103
From: Botswana
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 64
From: england
I gather the rumours about restricting part time were to restrict the current numbers. This would mean new part timers having to wait until an existing part timer retired or gave it up. Apparently some other countries run it that way?
Wiggy....it was slightly tongue in cheek.....I was having a good day....usually I’m the guy that retires early to bed to “chill and watch some Netflix”....I manage to avoid the duty of care stuff as I’m nowhere to be seen......
Wiggy....it was slightly tongue in cheek.....I was having a good day....usually I’m the guy that retires early to bed to “chill and watch some Netflix”....I manage to avoid the duty of care stuff as I’m nowhere to be seen......
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 103
From: Botswana
On a temporary basis whilst the crew numbers are low it’s probably the current score until they’ve got more people in but as a permanent long term policy they’d be on an extremely sticky wicket trying that. I’d guess that rumour will remain unrealised.
Last edited by RexBanner; 12th August 2018 at 18:11.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 470
Likes: 53
From: The Dirty South
Klaus can go screw himself. By law BA has to provide part time options. Rather than bitch and moan about it he should consider why so many people (including myself, a soon to be PP4 SH FO and about to put the RTR request in as soon as some home renovations are made) feel they have to go part time in order to make life work..
The name ‘Klaus’ is very familiar. I thought that it couldn’t possibly be the same one. It is. And the same trail spreads itself across three countries, and four airlines.
It’s an ill wind that blows.
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: England
