BA Direct Entry Pilot.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Room 506
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Only EDI GLA and JSY night stops from LGW. So you might as well join EZY for a fixed roster if you're going to LGW.
LHR does do tours, but being at the bottom of the list you wont have much say in whether you get them. Coupled in with at least 2 blocks of 3 weeks reserve a year, commuting to LHR for short haul would be tough on the home life too.
Long haul is best for commuting, but again, being at the bottom of the list isn't going to get you a great roster, don't forget to add the multiple blocks of reserve every year.
With that experience I would seriously try and look elsewhere. There are much better options now, that will pay more, give more days off and be a company that you are actually proud to say that you work for, with a much nicer day out when at work, rather than planning a mission to Mars every report.
LHR does do tours, but being at the bottom of the list you wont have much say in whether you get them. Coupled in with at least 2 blocks of 3 weeks reserve a year, commuting to LHR for short haul would be tough on the home life too.
Long haul is best for commuting, but again, being at the bottom of the list isn't going to get you a great roster, don't forget to add the multiple blocks of reserve every year.
With that experience I would seriously try and look elsewhere. There are much better options now, that will pay more, give more days off and be a company that you are actually proud to say that you work for, with a much nicer day out when at work, rather than planning a mission to Mars every report.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’m Gatwick based (three years at Heathrow before) and rarely do a day trip in LGW unless it’s called from standby on reserve. However I am senior there and still have to do multiple nights in Gatwick (maybe 10 or so). As others have said not the best base for commuting unless, like me, you live in one of the few nightstop destinations and even then it’s a drag.
The workload gets high all year round too if all you’re doing is bidding for nightstops because, by their nature, they’re mostly six sector single nightstops over two days with long links either side. I was told Gatwick was seasonal and quiet in the winter but that doesn’t apply if you ask Carmen for nightstops. Flew 95 hours in January, my first month there, March was just as bad. A lot of nights in my own bed though!!
I wouldn’t necessarily say that LGW is more likely than LHR as I think we have nearly a full compliment in the RHS here, maybe a few less. According to iBid and looking at the historic compliment, however, it looks like LHR is under by nearly 30 pilots, possibly more. There’ll be many more unfrozen pilots leaving the Airbus from Heathrow next year than Gatwick too.
Gatwick is a far friendlier base and nicer place to work IMHO vs Heathrow, you actually get to know people here and the knob jockeys in the LHS are considerably fewer. The aircraft though are absolutely knackered and the number of MEL items you can be confronted with upon boarding the aircraft for the first time can be frustrating and downright exhausting.
More for anyone considering Gatwick vs Heathrow to be honest rather than the original poster..
The workload gets high all year round too if all you’re doing is bidding for nightstops because, by their nature, they’re mostly six sector single nightstops over two days with long links either side. I was told Gatwick was seasonal and quiet in the winter but that doesn’t apply if you ask Carmen for nightstops. Flew 95 hours in January, my first month there, March was just as bad. A lot of nights in my own bed though!!
I wouldn’t necessarily say that LGW is more likely than LHR as I think we have nearly a full compliment in the RHS here, maybe a few less. According to iBid and looking at the historic compliment, however, it looks like LHR is under by nearly 30 pilots, possibly more. There’ll be many more unfrozen pilots leaving the Airbus from Heathrow next year than Gatwick too.
Gatwick is a far friendlier base and nicer place to work IMHO vs Heathrow, you actually get to know people here and the knob jockeys in the LHS are considerably fewer. The aircraft though are absolutely knackered and the number of MEL items you can be confronted with upon boarding the aircraft for the first time can be frustrating and downright exhausting.
More for anyone considering Gatwick vs Heathrow to be honest rather than the original poster..
Last edited by RexBanner; 3rd Jul 2019 at 13:09.
Join Date: May 2018
Location: South of the North pole
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your help
Join Date: May 2018
Location: South of the North pole
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Grime, crime and slime?
Yeah if you believe all the media.
Loads of lovely areas stones throw to LHR. Twickenham, Teddington Richmond lovely areas not too expensive.
If you can afford it Chiswick, Kew are great. 15 mins to T5 or tube it in 30-40. No parking to worry about.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In-between is slightly difficult because you are limited to the outer edges of the southern M25. So places like Epsom, Weybridge, Chertsey, Guildford! All very expensive. Once you know your base you can draw a 30 miles ring and almost pick anywhere. I can’t really talk about LGW but I live just west of LHR in Buckinghamshire, lots of lovely places out that way. Henley, Marlow, Amersham. Oxfordshire even Chinnor, Thame, Oxford. Basically follow the M40 or M4 out of London and most places are nice and a lot cheaper than the city.
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: In a house
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there anyone who can shed some light on the roster for longhaul pilots?
1 - Is it possible to commute from another country?
2 - If you live in another European country how many days at home (on average) would you have per month?
3 - Is it possible to pay taxes etc in the country of domicile instead of the UK?
Thanks in advance for any information!
1 - Is it possible to commute from another country?
2 - If you live in another European country how many days at home (on average) would you have per month?
3 - Is it possible to pay taxes etc in the country of domicile instead of the UK?
Thanks in advance for any information!
Join Date: May 2005
Location: WILTSHIRE
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: In a house
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there anyone who can shed some light on the roster for longhaul pilots?
1 - Is it possible to commute from another country?
2 - If you live in another European country how many days at home (on average) would you have per month?
3 - Is it possible to pay taxes etc in the country of domicile instead of the UK?
Thanks in advance for any information!
1 - Is it possible to commute from another country?
2 - If you live in another European country how many days at home (on average) would you have per month?
3 - Is it possible to pay taxes etc in the country of domicile instead of the UK?
Thanks in advance for any information!
2 - You’ll be junior on the long haul fleets. Bear in mind that the junior guys are the ones getting JSS absolute disaster rosters of six trips a month with minimum days off in between (which I’ve no doubt you weren’t shown on any recruitment roadshow/day). Coupled with point 1 above you have to consider if this is really worth it if you only have two days off between most trips and you’re being forced to come back the night before your next trip due to the intimidatory attitude from BA management. Of course if you have staff travel with another airline then you’re onto a winner. You might end up with only five useful full days at home a month in this scenario.
3 - Yes. As long as you can limit your time in the U.K. to a maximum of 90 nights in the tax year. You’ll still pay national insurance (social security) in the U.K. regardless of your domicile.
P
It’s a complex subject and has been the subject of heated debate here. Simplistic answer is that if you meet the requirements to be non resident in the U.K. for tax purposes ( and there is much more to it than simply avoiding being in the U.K. for 90 days) you may well still end paying some U.K. income tax and also some income tax where you are resident.
As Rex has said you pay full U.K. National Insurance, which may exempt you from some social charges on income in your country of residence.
As Rex has said you pay full U.K. National Insurance, which may exempt you from some social charges on income in your country of residence.
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You’re right here. BA is probably the best long-haul job in the UK but definitely the worst short-haul job. If you don’t want to do long-haul then there are far better short-haul options.
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: London
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The worst short haul job? Do 5 years and you’ll barely work a weekend ever again with your choice of earlies / lates / daytrips / tours.
The days at work are so much easier compared to low cost, you just need to figure out how to not be bothered by the BA machine. I really enjoy it!
The days at work are so much easier compared to low cost, you just need to figure out how to not be bothered by the BA machine. I really enjoy it!
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Uk
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In-between is slightly difficult because you are limited to the outer edges of the southern M25. So places like Epsom, Weybridge, Chertsey, Guildford! All very expensive. Once you know your base you can draw a 30 miles ring and almost pick anywhere. I can’t really talk about LGW but I live just west of LHR in Buckinghamshire, lots of lovely places out that way. Henley, Marlow, Amersham. Oxfordshire even Chinnor, Thame, Oxford. Basically follow the M40 or M4 out of London and most places are nice and a lot cheaper than the city.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Under the table
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cool. I live in a lovely house in the Sussex countryside, near a lovely school, spend every night in my own bed and I leave the house 25 mins before report time. I know which I'd prefer!
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The worst short haul job? Do 5 years and you’ll barely work a weekend ever again with your choice of earlies / lates / daytrips / tours.
The days at work are so much easier compared to low cost, you just need to figure out how to not be bothered by the BA machine. I really enjoy it!
The days at work are so much easier compared to low cost, you just need to figure out how to not be bothered by the BA machine. I really enjoy it!
If if you want to stay in the RHS then you’ll probably do ok, but the people that choose to do that rather than move on to other fleets and seats are few and far between.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you seen a junior LH roster nowadays? At least in the days of Bidline you had Seeded Blindlines and you could go somewhere decent and not work too too hard. Nowadays you can expect to pick up all the crap, with six trips with minimum days off in between. There’s guys now actively bidding for reserve because it gives them a better work/life balance, that’s saying something! Virgin fly 750 hours a year on a full time roster to our 900. That alone disproves your point. The case of the DEP who did a couple of months on the 787, took the type rating then buggered off to Virgin tells its own story.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Button Moon
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you seen a junior LH roster nowadays? At least in the days of Bidline you had Seeded Blindlines and you could go somewhere decent and not work too too hard. Nowadays you can expect to pick up all the crap, with six trips with minimum days off in between. There’s guys now actively bidding for reserve because it gives them a better work/life balance, that’s saying something! Virgin fly 750 hours a year on a full time roster to our 900. That alone disproves your point. The case of the DEP who did a couple of months on the 787, took the type rating then buggered off to Virgin tells its own story.
Just for completeness, Seeded Blindlines were ONLY on the 747.....the other long haul fleets weren't so lucky. However when I joined on a LH Fleet Blindlines were pretty good and trading with EOT was very easy allowing me to totally rewrite my roster some months.
I'm currently about 2/3 down the P2 list on the 777.....rosters are manageable but under JSS I'm very realistic about what I can expect so bid accordingly. My real gripe at the moment is the number of weekends worked per annum which is ridiculous. In fact it's having a very serious impact on my family life. That said, I met a lovely bloke on my last trip who's just vacated the LHS of the Bus to return to the RHS on the triple. So short of moving to the RHS of the SH Bus and gaining a huge chunk of relative seniority I'm stuck with it. Hopefully the efforts towards getting a fairer balance of weekends off can be achieved soon!
As you say, stories of DEP's joining then swiftly leaving (I know of at least 2 other guys who've done the same) and people giving up a BA Short Haul Command to return to the RHS on a Long Haul fleet to regain some sort of life out of work says a lot!!! Pretty sad really isn't it.
