BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 65
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From: N/A
No WWW, in fact the 380 is pretty unpopular. It has a limited number of routes, is seen to be quite a lot of hassle and a number of people have failed or removed themselves from the type rating course.
As for the shorthaul review. It's still up in the air at the moment. Rumours vary from total takeover of shorthaul flying (in the long term) by Veuling to minor changes to our terms and conditions. One thing is for certain, BA shorthaul is not a happy place to be at the moment and I expect there will be some skippers bidding back to the right hand seat of long haul.
As for the shorthaul review. It's still up in the air at the moment. Rumours vary from total takeover of shorthaul flying (in the long term) by Veuling to minor changes to our terms and conditions. One thing is for certain, BA shorthaul is not a happy place to be at the moment and I expect there will be some skippers bidding back to the right hand seat of long haul.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,044
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From: UK
I was told yesterday about a young chap who left to BA about five years ago when he must have been mid to late 20's. On the 380 fleet now he has worked out his numbers mean he is unlikely to ever get a command on that fleet. That surprised me a bit
Sounds like a distortion. If he joined in mid to late 20s, he'd have over 35 years in the company and would easily secure a long haul command.
I have also heard speculation this week that the outcome of the short haul review might make shorthaul less agreeable. As a consequence there may be surge in shorthaul Captains bidding to transfer to longhaul RHS. Thus drastically increasing the number of years a new joiner might expect to be 'stuck' on shorthaul.
Its certainly a topic of debate amongst the FO community out here in the swamp.
Its certainly a topic of debate amongst the FO community out here in the swamp.
I can only stress the above is one scenario, based on nothing in particular - better (or worse) scenarios are possible. But a timely BA command, and particularly a BA LH command rely on SH remaining on the BA pilot list...
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 62
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From: 30 West
I think EZY is great and can understand why many prefer to stay and take their much quicker commands. However I do wonder about EZY after their CEO departs, she has a vision and communicating with BALPA and staff has been part of that vision. There are still many contracts, bases and countries at EZY and I do wonder if the conditions will stand the test of a CEO with a different methods - the same methods observed at some of the other loco carriers.
Also interested to hear more from you BA pilots who speak about vueling. What do you envisage? Vuelings product is the opposite end of the spectrum is it not? A different customer base even?
Also interested to hear more from you BA pilots who speak about vueling. What do you envisage? Vuelings product is the opposite end of the spectrum is it not? A different customer base even?
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,275
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From: Planet Moo Moo
and then just look away in disgust is a little bit over the top
Personally I always wave to say hello to fellow professionals.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Also interested to hear more from you BA pilots who speak about vueling. What do you envisage? Vuelings product is the opposite end of the spectrum is it not? A different customer base even?
)meant that our natural customer base would always tend to fly with us. Then the likes of Easyjet started to encroach on the likes of LGW. From conversations I have had and from what I have seen if timings and costs fit then BA's "natural" customers, yes even business class passengers, will certainly fly with the LoCos, and yes, even if they are connecting to/from a BA Longhaul flight...At the end of the day I'm sure the accountants at IAG have looked at the costs of operating Vueling into LHR vs BA will have come up with a long term plan.....and unfortunately it probably won't involve BA shorthaul flight crew remaining on their current T&Cs.
All IMHO of course.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
A little off thread I'll grant you, but in my opinion BALPA are running scared of IAG due to what happened with Openskies. Back then, they were absolutely certain of their legal stance and then all of a sudden it was proven to be wrong. The whole idea that Veulling or any other IAG owned company could just come in and replace BA shorthaul is contrary to the spirit of UK employment law, however BALPA are petrified that BA would find a way. As a result, they agree to anything and everything. It is the same with the current rostering farce.
Would I join BA if I was starting over? I'd certainly consider the job as a stepping stone, but there is no way I'd plan to stay for the long term. I know pp17 SFOs with interviews elsewhere. Traditionally they'd be well and truly locked into the company for the duration by that stage.
Would I join BA if I was starting over? I'd certainly consider the job as a stepping stone, but there is no way I'd plan to stay for the long term. I know pp17 SFOs with interviews elsewhere. Traditionally they'd be well and truly locked into the company for the duration by that stage.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 428
Likes: 45
From: Down South now...
Can I just enquire....F/Os I fly with at work that have applied recently tell me that the job offer specifies that you can fly for another affiliated airline within the group (I.e Vueling) if so required by BA. Is this correct for current F/Os on the bus fleet?? Seems unlikely.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
Ummm, very very unlikely indeed, AFAIK there's absolutely no mechanism in the current IAG structure that would allow that so I wonder where they (the applicants) got the idea from - perhaps they don't understand how the relationship between IAG and BA works (or doesn't)?
The various current adverts for DEPs/Managed Path I have seen simply mention the opportunity of moving to other British Airways fleets at some point - and that's nothing new.
The various current adverts for DEPs/Managed Path I have seen simply mention the opportunity of moving to other British Airways fleets at some point - and that's nothing new.
Last edited by wiggy; 4th September 2014 at 13:22.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,044
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From: UK
The whole idea that Veulling or any other IAG owned company could just come in and replace BA shorthaul is contrary to the spirit of UK employment law, however BALPA are petrified that BA would find a way
BALPA may well be concerned that IAG might transfer the work to Vueling, as is their right. Not sure UK employment law would have anything to do with it?
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 104
From: The Winchester
WBV
If you happen to find out there's a single "hard" source of the rumour could you let me know, by PM if necessary
?
I know some folks who would be very interested if the story was being put out by someone in BA....
NOD
Agreed, I think a lot of folks still don't understand the whole IAG and BA "thing". BA is just one of several IAG companies, and the Board in Madrid is IMHO quite happy to see their companies competing with each other.....
If you happen to find out there's a single "hard" source of the rumour could you let me know, by PM if necessary
? I know some folks who would be very interested if the story was being put out by someone in BA....
NOD
BALPA may well be concerned that IAG might transfer the work to Vueling, as is their right
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 0
From: UK
....F/Os I fly with at work that have applied recently tell me that the job offer specifies that you can fly for another affiliated airline within the group (I.e Vueling) if so required by BA
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 638
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The legal entity is irrelevant, TUPE offers some protection.
That said, if an airline needs to reduce t and C s, there are ways a la monarch.
Focus on short haul is interesting, but lets not pretend longhaul would then stay ok as BOAC!
18 year SFOs looking to leave sounds like music to management.
That said, if an airline needs to reduce t and C s, there are ways a la monarch.
Focus on short haul is interesting, but lets not pretend longhaul would then stay ok as BOAC!
18 year SFOs looking to leave sounds like music to management.