BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Direct Entry Pilot - First Officer has opened again today.
"To apply to this campaign you must have a valid type rating with a minimum of 500 hours or 100 sectors on type."
"To apply to this campaign you must have a valid type rating with a minimum of 500 hours or 100 sectors on type."
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SE UK
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I'm not LGW based, but i believe they only have 3 night stops at the base, EDI/GLA and JER so lots of daytrips, gatwick has more flexible hours than LHR so some flights do get back at 0200 or so...
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Uk
Age: 42
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Essentially it’s EZY in blue. Preference based rostering. 58.8k starting salary and pay is capped at year 10 but the increments are different to the 34 point scale at LHR too. You earn a little more basic pay but overall less than at LHR because the allowances are less. That’s my take on it but I am LHR
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: United Kingdom
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A significant over simplification in my opinion.
I worked at EZY for 5 years, then spent my first 3 years in BA based down at LGW (leaving there not very long ago).
Some differences -
1. BA workload is much quieter during the winter than EZY. My highest annual hours were around 700. Easyjet was 800-900 each year.
2 True that nightstop destinations are limited, but lots of decent length layover times in the town centres rather than minimum rest at airport hotels. Decent amount of clear days off in EDI or GLA should that be your thing. I loved them.
3. Small base so you know everyone and so enjoy the friendly atmosphere that goes with it, which is not the case at the massive LGW easyjet base.
4. The knowledge that if you don’t enjoy it, or begin to lose your enjoyment of it, then you can move to LHR or long haul rather than being relatively trapped in the job at EZY.
5. Significantly lower number of 4 sector days.
6. Tastier crew food IMHO. Certainly healthier.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to slag off easyjet. There are plenty of plus points to working there.
Just trying to help people from avoiding the trap of not moving airlines because they took it at face value when someone said that BA at LGW is just EZY in blue. There are similarities but there are significant differences too.
Hope that helps anyone considering the move.
I worked at EZY for 5 years, then spent my first 3 years in BA based down at LGW (leaving there not very long ago).
Some differences -
1. BA workload is much quieter during the winter than EZY. My highest annual hours were around 700. Easyjet was 800-900 each year.
2 True that nightstop destinations are limited, but lots of decent length layover times in the town centres rather than minimum rest at airport hotels. Decent amount of clear days off in EDI or GLA should that be your thing. I loved them.
3. Small base so you know everyone and so enjoy the friendly atmosphere that goes with it, which is not the case at the massive LGW easyjet base.
4. The knowledge that if you don’t enjoy it, or begin to lose your enjoyment of it, then you can move to LHR or long haul rather than being relatively trapped in the job at EZY.
5. Significantly lower number of 4 sector days.
6. Tastier crew food IMHO. Certainly healthier.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to slag off easyjet. There are plenty of plus points to working there.
Just trying to help people from avoiding the trap of not moving airlines because they took it at face value when someone said that BA at LGW is just EZY in blue. There are similarities but there are significant differences too.
Hope that helps anyone considering the move.
Rubbish - I don't regret leaving easyJet for BA. It wasn't everything I imagines but perhaps I was being a bit naive. I feel like I'm treated as a professional at BA, and I'm no longer treated like a child by my management.
If you're flying an A320 at LGW for easyJet what have you got to lose by applying for BA at LGW? You can essentially carry on doing the same job whilst you build up seniority to make a move over to long haul if thats something you fancy doing, if you get in quick you'll probably get a command sooner at BA (I have heard C32X is down to the 4000's this year).
If you're flying an A320 at LGW for easyJet what have you got to lose by applying for BA at LGW? You can essentially carry on doing the same job whilst you build up seniority to make a move over to long haul if thats something you fancy doing, if you get in quick you'll probably get a command sooner at BA (I have heard C32X is down to the 4000's this year).
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: France
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Thanks for al the info!
From ppjn I calculated roughly the pp1 take home pay (incl tafb and block hour payments) for long haul. Is a figure of £4500,- net realistic? What would this be approximately in 5 years time?
Thanks again and good luck to all applying.
From ppjn I calculated roughly the pp1 take home pay (incl tafb and block hour payments) for long haul. Is a figure of £4500,- net realistic? What would this be approximately in 5 years time?
Thanks again and good luck to all applying.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: United Kingdom
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Thanks for all the info, I’d actually prefer minimum time away, how often were you generally doing nightstops each month?
Thanks to all others that replied as well! Does anyone know what the chances are of getting short haul if currently Boeing rated? Are you able to specify a preference and do they take this into consideration? I just have the sim check part of the interview to do now.
Re nightstops and:
I’ll admit short haul isn’t my aisle but I thought the days of BEA and “Back Every Afternoon” had long gone for all but the most senior (if that’s what they want)....If maximum number of nights at home per month is an important criteria is BA (certainly at LHR) necessarily a wise choice? That’s not intended as a pointed comment - I’m just throwing the question out there to hear what people think.
At LHR it’s harder to avoid them entirely though.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
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nrn you must be using host a LOT if you’re lucky to take home £4K after 3 years on LH. I’m a Short Hauler in the company a similar amount of time to you and even in quiet months I’m taking home £4K easily. Is your tax code correct?