Thomson recruitment.
1-2: Off
3: Late eve DLM (land on the 4th)
4: Late eve PMI (Land on the 5th)
5: Rest
6-8: Off
8: Blank day
9: Mid morn FUE
10: Early Morn KOS
11: Off
12: Early morn PUY
13: Early morn PMI
14-15: Off
3: Late eve DLM (land on the 4th)
4: Late eve PMI (Land on the 5th)
5: Rest
6-8: Off
8: Blank day
9: Mid morn FUE
10: Early Morn KOS
11: Off
12: Early morn PUY
13: Early morn PMI
14-15: Off
not impressed
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK
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To be honest, you must have been at Thomson quite a while ago as block window protection has been one of the good things about the roster for many years. But this is the sort of thing the company wish to change.
As far as I know it’s always been the case that on blank days you can be asked to work but don’t have to (the only caveat to this is that when operating operating away from your home base, when asked to you have no choice). As you say it does not attract flexi (day off payment) so nobody (I know) does it and I can’t remember the last time Crewing asked so at home base these blanks are effectively just more days off.
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As far as I know it’s always been the case that on blank days you can be asked to work but don’t have to (the only caveat to this is that when operating operating away from your home base, when asked to you have no choice). As you say it does not attract flexi (day off payment) so nobody (I know) does it and I can’t remember the last time Crewing asked so at home base these are effectively just more days off.
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FWIW
May 75/6 roster
3 off
5 on
5 off
1 on
6 off
5 on
3 off
3 on
3 nights away and one extended duty in there too. I’d expect to be slightly busier july-september. So 17 days off will probably reduce by a couple.
Would I join again? depends on union/company talks, I’d expect with expansion plans next Summer, not much will change but who knows. I wouldn’t leave a LCC with a command imminent though as we are still 10 years plus for LHS.
May 75/6 roster
3 off
5 on
5 off
1 on
6 off
5 on
3 off
3 on
3 nights away and one extended duty in there too. I’d expect to be slightly busier july-september. So 17 days off will probably reduce by a couple.
Would I join again? depends on union/company talks, I’d expect with expansion plans next Summer, not much will change but who knows. I wouldn’t leave a LCC with a command imminent though as we are still 10 years plus for LHS.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Morning haven’t posted for years, but for info.
Current command review board will be looking at joiners from 2013/14
Recruitment for lower experience will open in the next couple of weeks, north of 100 needed on top of the 30 or so in the current recruitment.
As a 737 trainer I have met many new joiners over the last years and very few regret their decision. I’m not going to say what anyone should or shouldn’t do, but generally there is always two sides to a story from the miserable posts. The current climate with management has definitely changed due poor communication mainly, but personally I’m not worried.
Oh and it’s not a Xmas bonus, it’s a end of company tax year bonus, which just so happens to be paid in December. Yes it was a joke that it wasn’t paid in it’s two forms-but BIG BALPA are on to it
Apply, go through selection and then make your own mind up if given the opportunity.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the future
Current command review board will be looking at joiners from 2013/14
Recruitment for lower experience will open in the next couple of weeks, north of 100 needed on top of the 30 or so in the current recruitment.
As a 737 trainer I have met many new joiners over the last years and very few regret their decision. I’m not going to say what anyone should or shouldn’t do, but generally there is always two sides to a story from the miserable posts. The current climate with management has definitely changed due poor communication mainly, but personally I’m not worried.
Oh and it’s not a Xmas bonus, it’s a end of company tax year bonus, which just so happens to be paid in December. Yes it was a joke that it wasn’t paid in it’s two forms-but BIG BALPA are on to it
Apply, go through selection and then make your own mind up if given the opportunity.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the future
Join Date: Mar 2018
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Does anybody know if there are any alternatives to the forced winter Scandinavian detachment? PYW for example?
This very factor is deterring me from booking an assessment at the moment.
This very factor is deterring me from booking an assessment at the moment.
Join Date: Apr 2011
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The have been a number of 757 rated pilots in the last 12 months who have joined straight onto a UK only contract. If you join and are indeed sent to Scandinavia in the winter (the work/trips on the 767 are quite good if you're willing to do some long haul), you can bid for a UK only base. With the expansion I wouldn't imagine you would have to do more than one winter over there, if that...
As theflyingbus says, not many people come here and regret it. I'm not worried about what's going to happen - I hope (and dare I say confident) there won't be any cuts and maybe positives to come. It's a great place to work and whatever those who experienced the 70/80s say, it's still one of the best career airlines in the UK. If you're close to command at an LCC and the left seat is important to you, don't bother. If you're after better options of lifestyle (long haul, short haul, lots of bases, part time, RTW trips, detachments etc.) and willing to wait to move seats then apply and see what they have to offer you - can always say no! It's a long time to command because very few people leave and I can't see that changing, however this is falling drastically with expansion happening.
Good luck.
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G1991 many thanks for taking the time to reply and shedding some reality on how things are at the moment. Like you say, it's probably worth taking taking the 'pain' for 1 year to feel the gain long term.
I have heard that a former (before my time) colleague went to TOM 18 months ago and has grossed £104k this last year. Obviously in an FO position.
I am indeed closing in on Command in my current outfit, but I fully appreciate the fact that a command is not the be all and end all....
I have heard that a former (before my time) colleague went to TOM 18 months ago and has grossed £104k this last year. Obviously in an FO position.
I am indeed closing in on Command in my current outfit, but I fully appreciate the fact that a command is not the be all and end all....
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G1991 many thanks for taking the time to reply and shedding some reality on how things are at the moment. Like you say, it's probably worth taking taking the 'pain' for 1 year to feel the gain long term.
I have heard that a former (before my time) colleague went to TOM 18 months ago and has grossed £104k this last year. Obviously in an FO position.
I am indeed closing in on Command in my current outfit, but I fully appreciate the fact that a command is not the be all and end all....
I have heard that a former (before my time) colleague went to TOM 18 months ago and has grossed £104k this last year. Obviously in an FO position.
I am indeed closing in on Command in my current outfit, but I fully appreciate the fact that a command is not the be all and end all....
Good luck with your application.
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100k is possible on the 75 fleet but unlikely, that person would be looking at selling 50 days a year back, which would mean working most of their leave days. More realistic is to expect a couple of flexi’s (day off payments) a month putting there pay into the 90s.
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Those who suggest FOs will earn significantly more than this are either being disengenous or are promoting an expectation based upon the experience of an almost nonexistent few.
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I agree - don't come expecting to earn over 100k. I would say earning that in year 1 is not impossible but rare. You'd have to do a lot of flexis, even more when you consider that everyone has 7k deducted from their gross salary in year 1 for training.. and probably not on the 737 either due seasonality.
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For what it’s worth, I’ve grossed £85k as a year 2 FO and received 11 day off payments, but that doesn’t mean I worked 11 of my off days, some duties are worth up to 3 day off payments for 1 day off. I’ve turned down a lot of flexi out of shear laziness and could have grossed an extra 5k easily. So £10k+ on flexi alone is certainly possible.
I saw my buddies payslip last week, he’ll hit 95k as a year 3 FO on short haul. Long haul FOs will earn more.
I saw my buddies payslip last week, he’ll hit 95k as a year 3 FO on short haul. Long haul FOs will earn more.
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FWIW
I would agree £90-£100k possible as a F/O, but having done both SH and LH, my experience now is that pay is higher doing SH. I think it used to be the other way around but the advent of duty rig changed that. And def more Flexi available on SH.
I would agree £90-£100k possible as a F/O, but having done both SH and LH, my experience now is that pay is higher doing SH. I think it used to be the other way around but the advent of duty rig changed that. And def more Flexi available on SH.
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Afternoon Gents,
I've got my assessment day this month, can anyone help me with a few questions?
-Firstly, any hints or tips for the day? anything in particular the company is looking out for would be great.
-What are the chances on getting straight onto something that isn't the 737? (I'm completely happy with Scandi basing for a few winters)
-The figures stated above for the gross salary for a new FO (circa 85k), are they after the 7k training cost reduction? and I appreciate everyone's different but how does that work out as a net salary? I know I could put it into a calculator, but every airline seems to have it's own approach to how things like sector pay end up being paid (gross/net/combination).
Any other information you think would be good to know would be great too!
Thanks in advance!
I've got my assessment day this month, can anyone help me with a few questions?
-Firstly, any hints or tips for the day? anything in particular the company is looking out for would be great.
-What are the chances on getting straight onto something that isn't the 737? (I'm completely happy with Scandi basing for a few winters)
-The figures stated above for the gross salary for a new FO (circa 85k), are they after the 7k training cost reduction? and I appreciate everyone's different but how does that work out as a net salary? I know I could put it into a calculator, but every airline seems to have it's own approach to how things like sector pay end up being paid (gross/net/combination).
Any other information you think would be good to know would be great too!
Thanks in advance!
Join Date: Apr 2016
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Really they're just looking for a capable, honest and personable pilot. Somebody easy to sit next to on a 13 hour duty. Plenty of info in this thread.
Historically, people have been assigned the fleet they are already type rated on, but it isn't a rule by any means. It all depends where the shortfall is I guess. But with the 787 and 757 going down to less than a years seniority, you could probably bid off the 737 quickly enough assuming nothing changes. Again, it all depends on what seats they fill up in this recruitment round and where there is space. I'm not somebody who is in the know, these are just my observations.
The 85k is without deduction. The pay scales on PPJN are accurate, there is a decent pay rise at the year 5 FO mark so I reckon 100k+ is possible from year 5.
In terms of take home pay, without working any days off, 4.5-5k is my average. With day off payments your net pay can go through the roof. But I wouldn't count on flexi being available every month. There is a small combination of how duty pay is taxed but I wouldn't worry about it. When I was paying back the 7k OCC costs I usually netted 4.1-4.3k unless flexi was involved.
Historically, people have been assigned the fleet they are already type rated on, but it isn't a rule by any means. It all depends where the shortfall is I guess. But with the 787 and 757 going down to less than a years seniority, you could probably bid off the 737 quickly enough assuming nothing changes. Again, it all depends on what seats they fill up in this recruitment round and where there is space. I'm not somebody who is in the know, these are just my observations.
The 85k is without deduction. The pay scales on PPJN are accurate, there is a decent pay rise at the year 5 FO mark so I reckon 100k+ is possible from year 5.
In terms of take home pay, without working any days off, 4.5-5k is my average. With day off payments your net pay can go through the roof. But I wouldn't count on flexi being available every month. There is a small combination of how duty pay is taxed but I wouldn't worry about it. When I was paying back the 7k OCC costs I usually netted 4.1-4.3k unless flexi was involved.