BA Direct Entry Pilot.
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Integrate bmi or we will set up BA express
SH must be more efficient or else all investment will go to Vueling
Invest for today, invest in your future so we can pay shareholders today.
Level this, level that. Norwegian etc etc. Never, Lufthansa, KLM, American etc
We need to be sensible, after all how many cars are built at Longbridge now? But we also need to share in the success we are delivering and have confidence in our value to IAG. Let’s not sell ourselves short. Have confidence in the value we provide and the power of the brand.
Anyway, if BA want to be competitive with Easyjet and Ryanair then they need to start paying us better and working us less. 😉
SH must be more efficient or else all investment will go to Vueling
Invest for today, invest in your future so we can pay shareholders today.
Level this, level that. Norwegian etc etc. Never, Lufthansa, KLM, American etc
We need to be sensible, after all how many cars are built at Longbridge now? But we also need to share in the success we are delivering and have confidence in our value to IAG. Let’s not sell ourselves short. Have confidence in the value we provide and the power of the brand.
Anyway, if BA want to be competitive with Easyjet and Ryanair then they need to start paying us better and working us less. 😉
Just a snap-shot. Other listings are available.
(*means some are night-stop, **means some include a stand-over day):
AGP
SVQ
PMI*
JER*
ALG
GVA
SZG
EDI*
EDI**
INN
TRN
FAO
VCE
FCO
AMS
NCE
GLA*
GNB
BOD
GOA
NAP
LYS
FNC
ACE
TIA
FDH
NUE
RAK
BCN
MLA
TFS
VLC
CGN
DBV
OPO
Join Date: Dec 2018
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Hi all, was at the first stage on December 3rd and was successful. Haven't heard about stage 2 yet, except as mentioned earlier. Which means BA released one slot for the 3rd of January and that was it. Is it the same for you guys?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Thanks a lot in advance.
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There was a slot that opened up on the 29th of Jan for a microsecond .
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Thanks for the info! I’m checking the website every hour or so, and still I missed it... it’s quite incredible. Any feedback most welcome for those who were there lately.
Cheers
Cheers
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Hi everybody,
I just got the invitation to be assessed. Can anyone be kind enough to let me know what Stage 1 consists of? What about Stage 2?
I have the option of doing only a Stage 1 day or a date that comprises both Stage 1 and Stage 2 on the same day. Does it make sense to take a day where you can do both? Or from your experience you would avoid the extra work?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers!
I just got the invitation to be assessed. Can anyone be kind enough to let me know what Stage 1 consists of? What about Stage 2?
I have the option of doing only a Stage 1 day or a date that comprises both Stage 1 and Stage 2 on the same day. Does it make sense to take a day where you can do both? Or from your experience you would avoid the extra work?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers!
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Hi everybody,
I just got the invitation to be assessed. Can anyone be kind enough to let me know what Stage 1 consists of? What about Stage 2?
I have the option of doing only a Stage 1 day or a date that comprises both Stage 1 and Stage 2 on the same day. Does it make sense to take a day where you can do both? Or from your experience you would avoid the extra work?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers!
I just got the invitation to be assessed. Can anyone be kind enough to let me know what Stage 1 consists of? What about Stage 2?
I have the option of doing only a Stage 1 day or a date that comprises both Stage 1 and Stage 2 on the same day. Does it make sense to take a day where you can do both? Or from your experience you would avoid the extra work?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers!
Stage 2 - Interview and Group Ex.
Personally, I'd have definitely elected to do Stage 1 and 2 on the same day if given the choice. I don't think theres much you can do to prep for Stage 1 - and you'll be out in a couple of hours if you do it on its own. Also, as you'll see from other comments on here, there are limited days available and it can be hard to get one that coincides with time off work. All told, I had nearly 2 months between stage 1 and 2 which will cost you a good number of places on the seniority list with the current level of recruitment.
Good luck!
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As others have said above don't come here for SH. You'd have to be somewhere pretty bad to better off. FTL's are targets and I've never been so close to 60 hours duty/ 7 days more than I have been here. I made the mistake of leaving ezy for BA short haul and IMHO you're not better off. More work for similar pay. Fatigue isn't a recognised concept here and you'll get patronising comments from management telling you to bid for more days off.
As always its each to their own- long term there is more variety and yes the staff travel for Long Haul is a nice addition. Come here for short haul and you will probably be on the airbus for at least 5 years and with all the Long haul DEP possibly even longer. Even when your freeze is up you still need seniority for it. That currently sits about 3400 and as a new joiner you will be somewhere about 4400. Who knows how long it will take. What is long haul even going to look like in 5/6/7 years? BA are after productivity and you bet the workforce here will give it. Never seen so many people offering days off at a pretty embarrassing market rate (330£/day LGW FO) and coming in on days off to 'help-out' when we get extended none of it back.
You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times. LHR/LGW SH/LH PP24/34 BARP/NAPS just to name a few. Company have cleverly manipulated the pilots into this position where will they pick away until there is very little left with almost little to no response from us. I remember reading about what people were willing to do to defend NAPS, Bidline e.t.c but surprise surprise where are they both now?
I'm sure there will be plenty along to tell you how great 24 hours in Cairo/Beirut/Tel-Aviv is (
) and spending every weekend sat in Pret at T5.. at least you can wear your hat and tell everyone you work for BA! 
If you're lucky enough you might even get to come in unpaid on days off to be a pilot ambassador 
Ok, I'll stop now. Its each to their own- I don't see why you would leave other UK (stable) SH operators to come here and I suppose I'd like people to know what I now know about lifestyle on BA short haul. Probably just bitter and don't want to work 85 hours in February when LGW winter is 'Quiet'.
As always its each to their own- long term there is more variety and yes the staff travel for Long Haul is a nice addition. Come here for short haul and you will probably be on the airbus for at least 5 years and with all the Long haul DEP possibly even longer. Even when your freeze is up you still need seniority for it. That currently sits about 3400 and as a new joiner you will be somewhere about 4400. Who knows how long it will take. What is long haul even going to look like in 5/6/7 years? BA are after productivity and you bet the workforce here will give it. Never seen so many people offering days off at a pretty embarrassing market rate (330£/day LGW FO) and coming in on days off to 'help-out' when we get extended none of it back.
You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times. LHR/LGW SH/LH PP24/34 BARP/NAPS just to name a few. Company have cleverly manipulated the pilots into this position where will they pick away until there is very little left with almost little to no response from us. I remember reading about what people were willing to do to defend NAPS, Bidline e.t.c but surprise surprise where are they both now?
I'm sure there will be plenty along to tell you how great 24 hours in Cairo/Beirut/Tel-Aviv is (
) and spending every weekend sat in Pret at T5.. at least you can wear your hat and tell everyone you work for BA! If you're lucky enough you might even get to come in unpaid on days off to be a pilot ambassador Ok, I'll stop now. Its each to their own- I don't see why you would leave other UK (stable) SH operators to come here and I suppose I'd like people to know what I now know about lifestyle on BA short haul. Probably just bitter and don't want to work 85 hours in February when LGW winter is 'Quiet'.
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As others have said above don't come here for SH. You'd have to be somewhere pretty bad to better off. FTL's are targets and I've never been so close to 60 hours duty/ 7 days more than I have been here. I made the mistake of leaving ezy for BA short haul and IMHO you're not better off. More work for similar pay. Fatigue isn't a recognised concept here and you'll get patronising comments from management telling you to bid for more days off.
As always its each to their own- long term there is more variety and yes the staff travel for Long Haul is a nice addition. Come here for short haul and you will probably be on the airbus for at least 5 years and with all the Long haul DEP possibly even longer. Even when your freeze is up you still need seniority for it. That currently sits about 3400 and as a new joiner you will be somewhere about 4400. Who knows how long it will take. What is long haul even going to look like in 5/6/7 years? BA are after productivity and you bet the workforce here will give it. Never seen so many people offering days off at a pretty embarrassing market rate (330£/day LGW FO) and coming in on days off to 'help-out' when we get extended none of it back.
You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times. LHR/LGW SH/LH PP24/34 BARP/NAPS just to name a few. Company have cleverly manipulated the pilots into this position where will they pick away until there is very little left with almost little to no response from us. I remember reading about what people were willing to do to defend NAPS, Bidline e.t.c but surprise surprise where are they both now?
I'm sure there will be plenty along to tell you how great 24 hours in Cairo/Beirut/Tel-Aviv is () and spending every weekend sat in Pret at T5.. at least you can wear your hat and tell everyone you work for BA! If you're lucky enough you might even get to come in unpaid on days off to be a pilot ambassador
Ok, I'll stop now. Its each to their own- I don't see why you would leave other UK (stable) SH operators to come here and I suppose I'd like people to know what I now know about lifestyle on BA short haul. Probably just bitter and don't want to work 85 hours in February when LGW winter is 'Quiet'.
As always its each to their own- long term there is more variety and yes the staff travel for Long Haul is a nice addition. Come here for short haul and you will probably be on the airbus for at least 5 years and with all the Long haul DEP possibly even longer. Even when your freeze is up you still need seniority for it. That currently sits about 3400 and as a new joiner you will be somewhere about 4400. Who knows how long it will take. What is long haul even going to look like in 5/6/7 years? BA are after productivity and you bet the workforce here will give it. Never seen so many people offering days off at a pretty embarrassing market rate (330£/day LGW FO) and coming in on days off to 'help-out' when we get extended none of it back.
You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times. LHR/LGW SH/LH PP24/34 BARP/NAPS just to name a few. Company have cleverly manipulated the pilots into this position where will they pick away until there is very little left with almost little to no response from us. I remember reading about what people were willing to do to defend NAPS, Bidline e.t.c but surprise surprise where are they both now?
I'm sure there will be plenty along to tell you how great 24 hours in Cairo/Beirut/Tel-Aviv is (
) and spending every weekend sat in Pret at T5.. at least you can wear your hat and tell everyone you work for BA! If you're lucky enough you might even get to come in unpaid on days off to be a pilot ambassador Ok, I'll stop now. Its each to their own- I don't see why you would leave other UK (stable) SH operators to come here and I suppose I'd like people to know what I now know about lifestyle on BA short haul. Probably just bitter and don't want to work 85 hours in February when LGW winter is 'Quiet'.
Last edited by Enzo999; 16th Jan 2019 at 20:40.
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I would like to query this; when you joined BA short haul at LHR on PP34, what exactly did you expect? Exactly why leave somewhere like EZY with stable fixed rostering, regional basings and better and fairer command prospects? The misery of BA SH at Heathrow as been long publicised; certainly for those at the ass end of the list. I’m not having a go, I’m just interested to hear the thought process? I can just about get the LH arguement however anyone doing a straight swap from the orange brigade to BA SH in the last 3 or so years must know something that most don’t?!
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As others have said above don't come here for SH. You'd have to be somewhere pretty bad to better off. FTL's are targets and I've never been so close to 60 hours duty/ 7 days more than I have been here. I made the mistake of leaving ezy for BA short haul and IMHO you're not better off. More work for similar pay. Fatigue isn't a recognised concept here and you'll get patronising comments from management telling you to bid for more days off.
As always its each to their own- long term there is more variety and yes the staff travel for Long Haul is a nice addition. Come here for short haul and you will probably be on the airbus for at least 5 years and with all the Long haul DEP possibly even longer. Even when your freeze is up you still need seniority for it. That currently sits about 3400 and as a new joiner you will be somewhere about 4400. Who knows how long it will take. What is long haul even going to look like in 5/6/7 years? BA are after productivity and you bet the workforce here will give it. Never seen so many people offering days off at a pretty embarrassing market rate (330£/day LGW FO) and coming in on days off to 'help-out' when we get extended none of it back.
You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times. LHR/LGW SH/LH PP24/34 BARP/NAPS just to name a few. Company have cleverly manipulated the pilots into this position where will they pick away until there is very little left with almost little to no response from us. I remember reading about what people were willing to do to defend NAPS, Bidline e.t.c but surprise surprise where are they both now?
I'm sure there will be plenty along to tell you how great 24 hours in Cairo/Beirut/Tel-Aviv is () and spending every weekend sat in Pret at T5.. at least you can wear your hat and tell everyone you work for BA! If you're lucky enough you might even get to come in unpaid on days off to be a pilot ambassador
Ok, I'll stop now. Its each to their own- I don't see why you would leave other UK (stable) SH operators to come here and I suppose I'd like people to know what I now know about lifestyle on BA short haul. Probably just bitter and don't want to work 85 hours in February when LGW winter is 'Quiet'.
As always its each to their own- long term there is more variety and yes the staff travel for Long Haul is a nice addition. Come here for short haul and you will probably be on the airbus for at least 5 years and with all the Long haul DEP possibly even longer. Even when your freeze is up you still need seniority for it. That currently sits about 3400 and as a new joiner you will be somewhere about 4400. Who knows how long it will take. What is long haul even going to look like in 5/6/7 years? BA are after productivity and you bet the workforce here will give it. Never seen so many people offering days off at a pretty embarrassing market rate (330£/day LGW FO) and coming in on days off to 'help-out' when we get extended none of it back.
You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times. LHR/LGW SH/LH PP24/34 BARP/NAPS just to name a few. Company have cleverly manipulated the pilots into this position where will they pick away until there is very little left with almost little to no response from us. I remember reading about what people were willing to do to defend NAPS, Bidline e.t.c but surprise surprise where are they both now?
I'm sure there will be plenty along to tell you how great 24 hours in Cairo/Beirut/Tel-Aviv is (
) and spending every weekend sat in Pret at T5.. at least you can wear your hat and tell everyone you work for BA! If you're lucky enough you might even get to come in unpaid on days off to be a pilot ambassador Ok, I'll stop now. Its each to their own- I don't see why you would leave other UK (stable) SH operators to come here and I suppose I'd like people to know what I now know about lifestyle on BA short haul. Probably just bitter and don't want to work 85 hours in February when LGW winter is 'Quiet'.
As always, perspectives vary, and they'll invariably do so depending on where you came from. If your airline is dying or has been abusing you somehow, join. If not, I'd personally avoid it like the plague - unless you're desperate for long haul. Bear in mind though that JSS now destroys any kind of roster control for the juniors, irrespective of fleet. Short haul can be truly appalling - you'll have no control over days off and you'll find yourself switching between earlies and lates relentlessly, often with only one or two days off between. Equally some junior long haul rosters now appear to feature 6 full trips per month, again regularly with only a single day off between trips. How you manage any kind of home life with that kind of roster really is a mystery to me.
As I've seen mentioned before - don't get drawn in by being able to say you work for BA, calling yourself speedbird, or just going there because everyone else is. Think long and hard about it and ask yourself if it's really worth it.
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Sadly of course things at BA have deteriorated so drastically that the above is actually becoming the more appealing option. You only have to look at the current recruitment options to see what BA are having to do to entice people in these days.
Join Date: Apr 2011
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You can blame BALPA for the huge decline in T&C's here but we are the only ones to blame from what I've seen in a short period of time IMHO. Its look after number 1- the division amongst us as a work force is genuinely quite depressing at times.
Divide and conquer, I’m alright jack. If it does not effect me, I’ll ignore it. BA and easyJet management must be loving reading this thread. I used to work for Shell Aviation at Manchester Airport as a refueller. Many many years ago, the money earning potential for those guys was unreal. Then they offered the Shell guys a mega pay rise as long as they allowed a new rate in for new joiners, like a 2-3 tier pay scale. When the new joiners outnumbered the Shell guys, the Shell guys were made redundant and the work was contracted out to ASIG. Yes you now see them all over LHR and LGW.
BALPA is only as strong as its members. It all depends on how many I’m alright Jacks you have for anything to change or the number of staff leaving outstrips the number arriving and required. Why you would want to leave easyJet to go to BA I often wonder. You even have several pay scales for your cabin crew, again I’m alright Jack. Divide and conquer.
I once jump seated a flight many years ago before I gained my license. It was with Britannia and was just before they starting painting their aircraft a lighter shade of blue thomson.co.uk. I asked the Captain was he sad to lose the old name and colour scheme. His reply was he did not give a sh@t as longer as his terms and conditions don’t change. I’ll never forget it. Is flying for BA really any better than flying for easyJet in terms of pay, terms and conditions and base options. I even hear BA staff leaving to return to Jet2.
MikeAlpha320 is the best post I’ve read on here for ages and hits the nail on the head.
Good luck to all at BA. About time you backed BALPA and grew some.
Apologise for posting in advance. I don’t and never have worked for BA, but have daily read this thread for the last few years.
Divide and conquer, I’m alright jack. If it does not effect me, I’ll ignore it. BA and easyJet management must be loving reading this thread. I used to work for Shell Aviation at Manchester Airport as a refueller. Many many years ago, the money earning potential for those guys was unreal. Then they offered the Shell guys a mega pay rise as long as they allowed a new rate in for new joiners, like a 2-3 tier pay scale. When the new joiners outnumbered the Shell guys, the Shell guys were made redundant and the work was contracted out to ASIG. Yes you now see them all over LHR and LGW.
BALPA is only as strong as its members. It all depends on how many I’m alright Jacks you have for anything to change or the number of staff leaving outstrips the number arriving and required. Why you would want to leave easyJet to go to BA I often wonder. You even have several pay scales for your cabin crew, again I’m alright Jack. Divide and conquer.
I once jump seated a flight many years ago before I gained my license. It was with Britannia and was just before they starting painting their aircraft a lighter shade of blue thomson.co.uk. I asked the Captain was he sad to lose the old name and colour scheme. His reply was he did not give a sh@t as longer as his terms and conditions don’t change. I’ll never forget it. Is flying for BA really any better than flying for easyJet in terms of pay, terms and conditions and base options. I even hear BA staff leaving to return to Jet2.
MikeAlpha320 is the best post I’ve read on here for ages and hits the nail on the head.
Good luck to all at BA. About time you backed BALPA and grew some.
As an important aside BA has finally started to publish advice to employees re BREXIT and it may have consequences for some planning on joining BA and “commuting”...
BA are now telling EU27 nationals (other than those with an Irish passport) to “consider your place of residency (where you live)”, since as it stands ATM the BA assessment of the UK government position is that if you are not settled in the U.K. post BREXIT you will not have the right to work in the U.K.....
Just a reminder to those not following U.K. politics in detail that if there is no agreement and no extension to the Article 50 process we are heading a non negotiated BREXIT that will occur at midnight Central European time, 29/30 March this year, and there will be no transition period.
BA are now telling EU27 nationals (other than those with an Irish passport) to “consider your place of residency (where you live)”, since as it stands ATM the BA assessment of the UK government position is that if you are not settled in the U.K. post BREXIT you will not have the right to work in the U.K.....
Just a reminder to those not following U.K. politics in detail that if there is no agreement and no extension to the Article 50 process we are heading a non negotiated BREXIT that will occur at midnight Central European time, 29/30 March this year, and there will be no transition period.
Last edited by wiggy; 17th Jan 2019 at 08:40.
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Spot on MikeAlpha
I left EZY to join BA before EASA FTL's kicked in (3 years ago) and pre-Brexit. When I joined BA £1,- was worth €1,40. And then some -(fill in yourself)- decided to leave the EU.
First year in BA was actually quite good but then someone decided we should stop recruiting..
Basically, 3 years ago things were different. Would I make the move to BA now? Definitely not.
I would like to query this; when you joined BA short haul at LHR on PP34, what exactly did you expect? Exactly why leave somewhere like EZY with stable fixed rostering, regional basings and better and fairer command prospects? The misery of BA SH at Heathrow as been long publicised; certainly for those at the ass end of the list. I’m not having a go, I’m just interested to hear the thought process? I can just about get the LH arguement however anyone doing a straight swap from the orange brigade to BA SH in the last 3 or so years must know something that most don’t?!
First year in BA was actually quite good but then someone decided we should stop recruiting..
Basically, 3 years ago things were different. Would I make the move to BA now? Definitely not.