BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[thetimesreader84]

Got my transfer approved about 2 months after I requested it- moved the next month.

LHR - LGW moves normally get actioned quite quickly. Going the other way can take a bit longer (took me about a year from an OK bid)

Best decision you can make whilst on SH.

Agreed - IF you live within a short commute of Gatwick

[kookiesandkreme]

Originally Posted by thetimesreader84

LHR - LGW moves normally get actioned quite quickly. Going the other way can take a bit longer (took me about a year from an OK bid)



Agreed - IF you live within a short commute of Gatwick

I know it’s been posted before, but what’s the difference in net pay? Just for example someone on year one?

[Seosan]

Sorry to steer away from pay chat for a jiffy; has anyone heard any whispers of when the doors may open again?

[RexBanner]

Originally Posted by kookiesandkreme

I know it’s been posted before, but what’s the difference in net pay? Just for example someone on year one?

I can’t really comment on PP1 so maybe my comments are of little value but I haven’t noticed a massive difference to my payslip since moving to Gatwick. I hardly do any daytrips here (none in January) and when I do it’s mainly when called off reserve, I am top 20% here so coming in junior you’re probably not going to be able to achieve that to the same extent unless you know of some good Carmen hacks. So it either is a negligible pay differential or a reasonably sizeable one of several hundreds of pounds dependent on your ability to get the few nightstops that exist here. I can only agree with MikeAlpha320’s comments, Gatwick is a far, far, far nicer place to see out your engagement freeze. Its just a much nicer and more harmonious working environment here and a far lesser proportion of the LHS are “difficult” characters like the ones that exist at LHR. The nightstops are good at LHR (and don’t get me wrong I miss some of them) but in every other respect it’s horrible (IMVHO).

[Serenity]

Is LGW mainly day trips on the 320?

How long is the list looking for commands at LGW these days?

thanks

[Lordflasheart]

Part Time Beef

...
In BA - Part Time seems to mean ......

GS-Alpha wrote -

" .... you can get back from a trip on the last day of your available days, and the industrial or EASA required days off are within your unpaid part time days off."

" ... part time pilots are working harder than their adjusted full time equivalents."

"Global constraints is a particularly brutal part of JSS ...."

Not exactly 'privy' but ..... Our local's resident BA skipper is on part time and suffers from the above mentioned cheap-skate tricks, which seem to have been sneaked through onto their part time contracts.

After each longhaul trip he gets two nights off, that he calls MTBR or 'recovery days.' But when it comes to his part-time days off, he loses his MTBR because they make him start his seven unpaid part-time days off the day after he lands back at London.

So he isn't paid for two days of righteous work (his MTBR) which should be on Company Time and Money, that follows his trip on CTM, because those two days are rostered as his unpaid part-time days off instead. He doesn't think he loses any money but he becomes available for two more days work each month than his (adjusted) full time mates.

He says 'JSS global constraints' then shuffles his initial roster to cover any left-over work and to ensure his two days extra availability is not squandered. He says his part-time roster usually looks and feels like he's still working full time.

What really peeves him off is that his Virgin mates who are part-time have so far managed to fend off this cheating. They get all their entitled days off in full - MTBR and Part Time. You'd think Balpa-BA and Balpa-Virgin would get their part-time heads together. Let's hope their managements don't do the same.

He calls it Part Time (Chipped) Beef - aka - 'S*** on a (BA) Shingle.' That's not a reference to his crew meal BTW; it's apparently a popular culinary delicacy from his USAF exchange days.

...

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Panel3

The issue isn't so much JSS. It is the inhibitors that the union have placed in the system (almost 80%), which make it almost unworkable. Yes, this gem was BALPA, not BA.

That is an urban myth - and not wholly accurate - in fact, not accurate at all. Just like a lot of the internet, if someone repeats something often enough, it becomes truth - no matter how wrong it is. It shows a basic lack of understanding on what the inhibitors do.

The main reason JSS doesn't work well at BA (on that we do agree), is we are, as we were under bid-line, massively under-established, with CAP far too high to enjoy a decent home life, unless on a part-time contract.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Heisenb3rg

If anyone if privy to knowledge of part time work at BA, could you pm me? Specifically interested in how many extra days off per month you see Vs. the obvious cut in salary, and if it’s worth it or not! Cheers!

If you are junior - then Part-Time is the only way to have a semblance of family life - it will (if on a Right To Request contract) guarantee you a weekend at home once a month.

In theory, you will work (on a 75% contract) just 75% as hard as a full-timer - but that's not quite true, as anyone senior on a fleet, can pretty much write their own roster and effectively spend as little, or less, time at work than a junior guy on a 75% roster. (Legal action is being considered by a band of RTR part-timers over this - whether that amounts to anything is anyone's guess)!

Moving to a 75% contract costs around a 16% reduction in take-home salary, if paying UK tax - so from that point of view, is well worth it.

....and then there's JSS and the MBTR (Minimum Base TurnRound) thing mentioned above, where the system can use your part-time (unpaid) days to satisfy the legal rest requirements - which other airlines, and even our cabin crew on part-time contracts, don't suffer from!

75% RTR (1 week off in 4) is just one of 4 major part-time contracts; the others being 50% RTR (2 weeks off in 4), 72% APTW (Aspirational Part Time Working) - 1 month off every 3 (a small amount of work has to be done within your month 'off' to satisfy recency etc.), and 58% APTW (month on, month off). There are a couple of minor PT options for those that have been refused access to one of the major contracts - one of which is 85%, but no fixed days off - and one other that I can't remember. I don't know anyone that has taken up these minor versions, though I guess someone must have by now!

[back to Boeing]

Originally Posted by Heisenb3rg

thanks for this! 75% RTR possibly sounding like it could be desirable to ensure some certainty that you’re not away from home every day of every month, with the knowledge that you’re likely working harder than you should be on the day on...

in terms of RTR - are these accepted often or is it quite hard to come by? I presume you need a fairly good reason, such as child care / elderly parents needing care etc ...

The law around right to request changed a few years ago. You don’t need a reason anymore to request part time working. But right to request by employee is also right to refuse by employer.

[GS-Alpha]

Heisenb3rg, take a look at my post #6672 of this thread.

[Twiglet1]

Originally Posted by back to Boeing

The law around right to request changed a few years ago. You don’t need a reason anymore to request part time working. But right to request by employee is also right to refuse by employer.

Part Time is a great option to offer as it really motivates crews (well some do still want a part time contract on full pay). But you've also got to keep the manpower up as if not the full timers start taking a hit - its a fine divide. The Management need to buy into it also as the costs are normally higher.

[RexBanner]

Originally Posted by back to Boeing

But right to request by employee is also right to refuse by employer.

well not really, the company can continue to deny applications (at the moment on the basis of crewing levels) but it’s important to bear in mind that ultimately they are legally bound to demonstrate they are providing opportunities for part time working. They are hardly demonstrating compliance with the law if the majority of requests are getting turned down. So sooner or later that will have to change and the floodgates will probably open at the start of the next downturn.

In answer to the question about the nature of work in LGW yes it’s mainly daytrips. There’s only three nightstop destinations in Gatwick: Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey. Hence the scope for additional pay in terms of time away from base is reduced compared with LHR.

[Jason Derulo]

Hello, a little guidance please. If I had received an offer and signed the contract, but then decided that I didn't want to join BA due to my current employer making a better offer. Other than burning all bridges with BA are there any other contractual implications that could bite me?

[Serenity]

Following, Just about to do the same!!
offer from BA is just not good enough to leave current employer, a 5/4 roster home every night is pricelsss.
also not over 700hrs in the past year.
I fear the future is not similar in BA.

[capt.sparrow]

Out of curiosity, were there unexpected bits of the contract that didn't appeal, or was it the base/fleet offer? Just trying to guage reasons as it's such a mission to get through to an offer stage, and then have to consider turning it down.

[GS-Alpha]

Originally Posted by capt.sparrow

Out of curiosity, were there unexpected bits of the contract that didn't appeal, or was it the base/fleet offer? Just trying to guage reasons as it's such a mission to get through to an offer stage, and then have to consider turning it down.

My money is on the two J s
JSS + Juniority
It is no fun being endlessly beaten by the global constraints stick month after month.

[Jason Derulo]

Originally Posted by capt.sparrow

Out of curiosity, were there unexpected bits of the contract that didn't appeal, or was it the base/fleet offer? Just trying to guage reasons as it's such a mission to get through to an offer stage, and then have to consider turning it down.

Contract etc all fine and I know what I was letting myself in for. BA was a backup due to uncertainty at current workplace, that uncertainty has nearly disappeared and the quality of life definitely outweighs what I could expect at BA.

The reason for the original post: The uncertainty should be completely gone within the next 10 days, is it within my rights to sign contract (to keep the automated system happy) and then remove myself from the process?

[bex88]

BA will not blink an eye lid. You will not have a black mark against you. I would thank them for the opportunity and say your decision is based on the needs of your family and a change in circumstances at your current employer.

Hell they asked me why I wanted to leave my previous employer to which I replied “I don’t I am very happy there”

If they ask why you came to that decision by all means tell them what the factors were. Let’s face it they will understand and probably already know. I know someone who turned the offer down, explained why and apologised for the late notice. BA wished them the best of luck and left the door open in the future.

Good luck with your decision. BA is not for everyone, it’s not as good as it was but it is not so bad that I have left either.

[Jason Derulo]

Thanks bex, just what I was after.

[The Foss]

You’ll have no issues, they’d rather that than put you through type rating / line training only for you to give your notice straight away (no bond at BA)