BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[captain.weird]

Originally Posted by Phantom4

Good friend,Sim early September,positive result to hold pool,A320 rated.Posted 777 Jan

What was his experience total?

[student88]

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."

[Phantom4]

captain weird, She has 1500hrs

[Dozza2k]

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...

[bex88]

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

[buzzc152]

Anyone know how long applications are open for ? I can’t see it on the website.

[Cough]

Bex - Think the 34 PP scale has different salary caps to the 24PP scale...

[Paddingtonbear]

Essentially it’s EZY in blue

Does that apply, if one achieves a command after a few years?

[EllanVannin]

Originally Posted by bex88

Essentially it’s EZY in blue.

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.

[student88]

Originally Posted by bex88

Essentially it’s EZY in blue.

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).

[speedrestriction]

Originally Posted by student88

If you're flying an A320 at LGW for easyJet what have you got to lose by applying for BA at LGW?

Money, you lose money. Management’s attitude to FOs is slowly shifting as well. About time too.

[.89]

From what I was told, if you ask for 320 LGW, you’ll get it.

[CXKA]

You can apply directly to LGW as they have split the applications, but need 500 hours on A320 or A330.

[student88]

Originally Posted by speedrestriction

Money, you lose money.

I guess it depends how much you're being screwed over when you leave. My pay almost doubled the first year I joined BA, I was on a £39K Second Officer contract at easyJet..

[AviatorNL]

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.

[nrn]

It's more like around 4k on longhaul if you're lucky.. Not sure about the 5 year figure as I've only been in for 3 years

[EllanVannin]

Originally Posted by The Foss

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.

you can avoid nightstops quite easily at LGW if you want to, as there aren’t masses around. At LHR it’s harder to avoid them entirely though.

[wiggy]

Re nightstops and:

At LHR it’s harder to avoid them entirely though.

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.

[JW411]

I can't understand the modern desire to be home every night. I used to like being away and believed in the adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

[RexBanner]

Originally Posted by nrn

It's more like around 4k on longhaul if you're lucky.. Not sure about the 5 year figure as I've only been in for 3 years

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?