Thomson recruitment.
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: UK
Age: 32
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Caveat emptor. Thomson is not the Britannia Airways of yore. Little stunts like asking for 7k for tr training costs should give you a clue. This is symptomatic of flight ops management who I would not buy a used car from. There is a big push to drive costs down and no surprise, pilots are the target. Reduced pension contributions, ludicrous basing arrangements, reduced allowances etc, etc. Once a really great company, now not so much.
Looking past the ridiculous training cost arrangement which isn't popular with the work force in the slightest, AT THE MOMENT it's a great company to be at. People will compare it to what is was years ago and it certainly isn't that. If you want the option of living in "the regions", not commute and dabble with short and long haul then its the best airline in the UK to work for.
There are negotiations ongoing which have lets say, raised a few eye brows, but the airline has one of the strongest unions in the land and it's fair to say the workforce are severely pushing back on any changes that aren't positive, especially during the current recruitment climate and record company profits. I agree with Olster on a number of points he/she makes but none the less I believe it's still a great place to be with fantastic colleagues.
The Nordic operation is for 757/767 and 787 pilots. 737 will be UK based with the opportunity to go to Canada in the winter should you wish to bid. There is an accommodation option and and commuting option in Scandinavia (minimum 5 days off between trips - which you will need to commute during). All flights, trains, taxis etc are paid. It suits some and not others but if you're looking long term and are willing to do the Nordic op for a time period you can bid off at any point.
It's very hard to passionately say "apply!" because it's uncertain where the current negotiations will take the work force, but there's no harm in applying and going to find out what they have to say on the assessment day! I've been in the company a small number of years now and have loved every minute. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I hope it stays that way.
It was a great company, at the moment it's a great company (compared the vast majority in the UK despite cuts in Ts and Cs over the years). Time will tell if that remains to be the case...
Er, I am being spectacularly fair. In fact my views on your management would be interspersed with expletive deletives if I was not restricted by common sense on a public forum. This is because I am aware of their extremely dubious moral compass or basically complete lack of one. I worked for Britannia Airways from back in the late 70s and it was undoubtedly a great airline. It would be extremely unrealistic to expect that now. However, you can live in your cosy bubble but the truth is different. It is certainly not in the 'top 3' uk airlines but hey, that is just my opinion.
However, also in fairness... I do agree that there are a lot of very good people in the workforce who do the job on a daily basis, pilots, crew etc. Ill served by the management unfortunately. When I was there Balpa struggled to deal with this brave new world of immoral management and the creeping Ryanairisation that is endemic in the industry. The previous 'partnership ' between reasonable managers and the pilot union has been ripped asunder. I don't want to be harsh to the guys / gals there now but it is disappointing to see where it has gone. A view shared by us old fogeys. Good luck anyway.
I left Tui/Thomson about eighteen months ago after a decent innings in the lhs on the 75/76. The outstanding terms and conditions created by the Britannia CC in days gone by have been under constant attack since the merger with First Choice; they were in reality quite unsustainable in current market conditions and potential new recruits should be under no illusion that what is on offer is very different from that enjoyed by senior pilots in the Company. That being said, TUI operates a varied fleet and is a significant UK operator of the 787 with an expanding longhaul programme not to mention the replacement of the 737 fleet with new for old in the not to distant future. Part-time working is a popular option for both individuals and the Company but make no mistake, you will be worked hard for your money ! The training department is very good despite their endless changes of SOP's. The Company Council fights hard to restrict the constant pressure from Board level management in both UK and Germany.
TUI is definitely worth serious consideration but go in with your eyes open.
TUI is definitely worth serious consideration but go in with your eyes open.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK
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It’s an outstanding airline if you joined in the 70. A great airline if you joined in the 80s. A good airline in the 90s. Not bad compared to the low costs, if you joined in 00s. Probably better than the LCCs if you joined in the
10s. And what the company is proposing now, will put it on par with the LCCs ...but with a 15 year wait for a command. Oh and the chance of flying a B787.
10s. And what the company is proposing now, will put it on par with the LCCs ...but with a 15 year wait for a command. Oh and the chance of flying a B787.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL390
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Commuting Mainland Europe or Canary Islands
Anybody can tell if is commuting Doable from UK bases to Canary Islands or Europe mainland on the 737 fleet ? What about on the 787 as well ?
Air Uk
From what I understand the boys and girls in Scandiland do get home quite often but clearly it can get difficult with winter weather and the lack of direct flights to certain UK bases - you may get used to Schipol !
There are the odd one or two pilots who commute from the Low Countries and the Channel Islands but from what I have been told, its not easy and quite wearing. Not sure if the Company would be very enthusiastic to such a proposal from a new recruit.
The 767 is doing Far East trips from Scandi in the winter.
The 757 is slowly dying on the vine so I would not make too many assumptions about anything other than the 73 and 78.
Staff Travel when I left was not easy due to understaffing.
Working environment is very friendly despite one or two dinosaurs in the LHS who will bore you to death about the size of their FS pension pots.
Please accept a health warning on these comments as I am out of the loop but still in contact with some on the coalface.
From what I understand the boys and girls in Scandiland do get home quite often but clearly it can get difficult with winter weather and the lack of direct flights to certain UK bases - you may get used to Schipol !
There are the odd one or two pilots who commute from the Low Countries and the Channel Islands but from what I have been told, its not easy and quite wearing. Not sure if the Company would be very enthusiastic to such a proposal from a new recruit.
The 767 is doing Far East trips from Scandi in the winter.
The 757 is slowly dying on the vine so I would not make too many assumptions about anything other than the 73 and 78.
Staff Travel when I left was not easy due to understaffing.
Working environment is very friendly despite one or two dinosaurs in the LHS who will bore you to death about the size of their FS pension pots.
Please accept a health warning on these comments as I am out of the loop but still in contact with some on the coalface.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK
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The people I know in TUI/Thomson all say that it’s a great crowd to work with, and arguably it has been up there with BA/VS as a career until recently.
I have been tempted in the past, but as a TR applicant I just object to paying £7k for an OCC. Have never had a problem with bonds etc for TR’s, but I refuse in principle to pay that for the minimal training required. Also, being married with kids I don’t want to risk the possibility of spending winters in the Nordic countries away from the family.
It seems obvious that management are determined to drive the airline side towards low-cost Ts&Cs. I really hope that the union guys can hold that off, but think that for new joiners there’s a real risk that you’ll wait 10yrs+ for a command in an airline that is by then a LoCo along the lines of EZ/J2.
Just my rambling thoughts.
I have been tempted in the past, but as a TR applicant I just object to paying £7k for an OCC. Have never had a problem with bonds etc for TR’s, but I refuse in principle to pay that for the minimal training required. Also, being married with kids I don’t want to risk the possibility of spending winters in the Nordic countries away from the family.
It seems obvious that management are determined to drive the airline side towards low-cost Ts&Cs. I really hope that the union guys can hold that off, but think that for new joiners there’s a real risk that you’ll wait 10yrs+ for a command in an airline that is by then a LoCo along the lines of EZ/J2.
Just my rambling thoughts.
Last edited by zero/zero; 26th Mar 2018 at 11:54.
And another thing... as we were referring to the good operational people @ Thomson which is indeed true. I left as a trainer and in terms of the office staff that I had direct dealings with, absolutely superb. Long standing Britannia employees, very good at their jobs, polite, friendly and always helpful. Many culled due longevity and ergo, expensive. Thomson, in terms of the pilots are trading on the industry reputation which was hard won on the basis of the fabled (but real) partnership between the company and the pilot group. That was when the flight ops managers were gentlemen and had integrity. Be careful what you wish for.
Join Date: Apr 2016
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Perm base - no. You could take a winter base and commute in the summer. I imagine commuting in the summer will only be possible on the 787 because of the block of days off after each trip. 75/6 will be too busy in the summer to commute, although some people manage.
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Having been TCX not TUI mind, I can say charter is a great lifestyle and job. If you are close to a LCC command, personally I think you would be bonkers to join the long queue there. Just my two pence worth but I guess it depends on what you value most, your age and career aspirations. Good luck I know people in both scenarios and both are very happy
Join Date: May 2003
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Hi.
Any threads or info regarding the assessment with TUI (UK - East Mids)?
Considering leaving my 737 LCC to join. I'm an FO about 1 year away from command currently, any advice from anyone who took the leap from a similar position?
I've heard rumours from ex-colleagues that they didn't receive the expected xmas bonus & management are trying to cut pay 20(?)%
Cheers
Any threads or info regarding the assessment with TUI (UK - East Mids)?
Considering leaving my 737 LCC to join. I'm an FO about 1 year away from command currently, any advice from anyone who took the leap from a similar position?
I've heard rumours from ex-colleagues that they didn't receive the expected xmas bonus & management are trying to cut pay 20(?)%
Cheers
But things have changed dramatically over the recent past. The senior management team in TUI are emulating Ryanair in their approach to flight ops and pilots and doing all they can to reduce the terms and conditions, which once made TUI the airline of choice. The management are trying as best they can to more closely align our T&Cs with LCC around Europe. While the pilots through their BALPA representatives are trying their best to resist this onslaught, it is difficult to say anymore whether leaving your airline to come here would be a good move. If management get their way and impose the massive and significant reduction to our T&Cs, then I suspect the over whelming opinion would be not to join. In effect you would be leaving an airline with a short time to command to join one with a much longer time. TUI is not a happy place at present!
Join Date: Feb 2018
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What a fantastic group where short sightedness will do nothing but leave it in shambles
Probably scared ****less of Jet2 pushing their boundaries - hence hedging to remain ahead of competition by reducing the biggest cost -salaries/T&C,s
Caveat Emptor
Probably scared ****less of Jet2 pushing their boundaries - hence hedging to remain ahead of competition by reducing the biggest cost -salaries/T&C,s
Caveat Emptor