BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Flying clog;
If being trapped in golden handcuffs is difficult, think about facing a third redundancy in under 5 years and facing no job and no income after xmas followed by a pension that wouldn't support a small hamster. Then consider that your best hope is a selection process with an 80% chance of failure, even at the first stage. Things suddenly don't look too bad do they?
Put yourself in the position of the Monarch guys or even someone like myself. You could easily wind up as a Grounded clog.
I'll get me coat...
If being trapped in golden handcuffs is difficult, think about facing a third redundancy in under 5 years and facing no job and no income after xmas followed by a pension that wouldn't support a small hamster. Then consider that your best hope is a selection process with an 80% chance of failure, even at the first stage. Things suddenly don't look too bad do they?
Put yourself in the position of the Monarch guys or even someone like myself. You could easily wind up as a Grounded clog.
I'll get me coat...
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Honkytown
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Starting FO pay as a year one FO (about a year after starting your upgrade from SO is a take home of around £7300. This is on a normal non-expat contract with no housing.
Seniority-based pay scale goes up gently, take home as a fresh skipper around £11500 net.
Similar number of pay points to BA.
Not that it's the only consideration, but the money in the UK isn't great.
Seniority-based pay scale goes up gently, take home as a fresh skipper around £11500 net.
Similar number of pay points to BA.
Not that it's the only consideration, but the money in the UK isn't great.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: UAE
Age: 44
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Do people delsy dine to supplement their salary? HMRC would love that. Are the allowances enough to cover your host bill?
Last edited by Kempus; 30th Sep 2014 at 05:00.
Allowances are easily enough to cover your Host bill unless you're unfortunate enough to have 2/3 HKGs in a month in which case your wallet and liver might take a bit of a bashing.
your allowances daily rate will cover the "Host" bill for most destinations.
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Don't forget though that the cost of living in Hong Kong is astronomical, way more than the UK which itself is expensive. Unless you're slurping on noodles in Mongkok, it's definitely not cheap.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ex-DXB
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Given how short they are on the 744 I'd imagine the courses would start just as soon as you could work your notice with your present employer....
Don't forget though that the cost of living in Hong Kong is astronomical, way more than the UK which itself is expensive. Unless you're slurping on noodles in Mongkok, it's definitely not cheap.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
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My mate is a three striper on short haul at BA. Every year he's put in a bid transfer for the 747 so why is he still being denied..?
My mate is a three striper on short haul at BA. Every year he's put in a bid transfer for the 747 so why is he still being denied..?
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: York
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My mate is a three striper on short haul at BA. Every year he's put in a bid transfer for the 747 so why is he still being denied..?
Moving from two to three stripes occurs after four years. The Engagement Freeze runs to five years. But your mate could easily have told you that? So 'every year', he's either been frozen, or he's only been bidding for 747. (they've had few vacancies recently as the number of hulls is reducing) Though he could likely have had A380, B777 or B787 had he been unfrozen AND bid for them.
Or maybe he's waiting for the A350?
Choices, choices!
The process is completely and utterly transparent. Unlike very many other outfits. Though I have just read of the possibility of 'denied bids' in 2015, due solely to BA's lack of required training capacity.
Flying Clog.
Your 'biggest error of judgement' is preferring the number in the bottom right corner of your pay slip above everything else! I hope Beijing don't come a knocking!
Last edited by 4468; 30th Sep 2014 at 10:05.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: York
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In any normal year, new recruits would only be accepted in a seat for which there are insufficient unfrozen internal bidders.
However, it's looking increasingly likely that 2015 may not be a normal year.
However, it's looking increasingly likely that 2015 may not be a normal year.
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Quote:Your 'biggest error of judgement' is preferring the number in the bottom right corner of your pay slip above everything else! I hope Beijing don't come a knocking!
I don't need to live in Myfair, but 4k will not go far in London or in the South East in general.
Yes there' s more to it than mere net salary, but I don't see any accomodation provided, private schooling payed, or company car and phone here right?
So please tell me, what should one be looking at if not the number at the bottom right corner?
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: York
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I don't live in London, or the South East. BA have pilots who live in NZ and pretty much everywhere (in both directions) in between. Commuting to one's tax haven is not for me, but our rostering and remuneration (currently) allows it, for anyone who so prefers.
Individual choice and all that.
At least one of our top paid pilots is taking home £20k per month. (He doesn't live in Mayfair either!) Horses for courses!
Personally, I'm not bothered about dying rich, but I would like to enjoy the journey, because (accommodation/private schooling/company car or phone?) it won't be long for any of us, before it's gone!
Individual choice and all that.
At least one of our top paid pilots is taking home £20k per month. (He doesn't live in Mayfair either!) Horses for courses!
Personally, I'm not bothered about dying rich, but I would like to enjoy the journey, because (accommodation/private schooling/company car or phone?) it won't be long for any of us, before it's gone!
Last edited by 4468; 30th Sep 2014 at 11:12.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: UK
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One pilot in BA taking home £20k per month?
That sir, is rubbish.
Perhaps if a trainer on the top pay point in a month where profit share was paid and they had done LOTS of overtime the previous month, he could take home £12k.
Put it this way, there is perhaps only one The Director of Flight Ops, but his profit share is never explained.
That sir, is rubbish.
Perhaps if a trainer on the top pay point in a month where profit share was paid and they had done LOTS of overtime the previous month, he could take home £12k.
Put it this way, there is perhaps only one The Director of Flight Ops, but his profit share is never explained.
Join Date: Sep 2014
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I suppose that's the rub. Undoubtedly, if you took home £10,000+ in a month, ones gross salary in the UK is very handsome. The tax regime is so incredibly punitive, it's pretty hard to capitalise and generate wealth over and above a certain level; which, these days, is quite low.
Am I remembering rightly that the IR seemed to create/change legislation in such a way that it seemed like it was exclusively targeting flight crew commuters who were able to previously minimise their UK tax exposure whilst working for UK Airlines?
Am I remembering rightly that the IR seemed to create/change legislation in such a way that it seemed like it was exclusively targeting flight crew commuters who were able to previously minimise their UK tax exposure whilst working for UK Airlines?
One pilot in BA taking home £20k per month?
...but OK, it might just be one....I guess if a senior pilot (top pay point, possibly a trainer) had a very very good month with payable work/back pay, and wasn't exposed to much UK tax that sort of figure might just be possible once in a blue moon but it sure as heck wouldn't be the norm.
Am I remembering rightly that the IR seemed to create/change legislation in such a way that it seemed like it was exclusively targeting flight crew commuters who were able to previously minimise their UK tax exposure whilst working for UK Airlines?
I suspect the normal senior mortals resident in the UK might see half that if they were very lucky, on a good month....
Last edited by wiggy; 1st Oct 2014 at 09:02.
Anyone with the latest planned retirement figures for the next few years?
My emphasis - answer: AFAIK there aren't any plans, just a few guesses...
[Speculation] If the retirement age stays "as is" then logically you're going to see (best guess) perhaps 100+ a year retiring starting in the next couple of years. OTOH if someone decides to challenge the age 65 rule and is successful in that challenge ( and rumours are starting to circulate
) then all bets are off. [/Speculation]That said there are signs that attrition and being nibbled to death by ducks is starting to take it's toll and there's a handful (<10) going from the more senior fleet(s) in the next month or two.
Join Date: Jan 2012
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The number of pilots hitting CRA is low for the next 5 or so years, in the tens not hundreds, before it ramps up to around the 100 p.a. figure in a decade from now. Currently new commands and moves are largely being generated by new fleets/expansion.