British Airways Direct Entry Pilot
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: UK
Yeah I've heard similar to the post above. They were offering those in the hold pool for mainline 320 EF for 2025 but I think that's done. I'm in the paddling pool for ML since Jan and am not expecting to hear anything till Q1 2026.
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
Offers from other carriers are becoming somewhat appealing for the certainty 🥲
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 10
From: UK
Joined: Jan 2025
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 166
Likes: 137
From: Mars
The person I know is A320 rated but <1500 hrs.
I wouldn't be saying no to other jobs in the hope that BA may call you for EF when they say they will, that's for sure! A year is a long time to be in a hold pool and who knows what C19 type event can strike at any time, rescinding any offers made.
I wouldn't be saying no to other jobs in the hope that BA may call you for EF when they say they will, that's for sure! A year is a long time to be in a hold pool and who knows what C19 type event can strike at any time, rescinding any offers made.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 995
Likes: 100
From: Botswana
The BA pilot body is too fractured.
LHR mainline, LGW euroflier, LHR short haul, LHR long haul, PP24, PP34 .. before we get into the various pension arrangements. Whatever about BA, they're a business out to make as much money as they can, I can understand them. It's BALPA who are to be blamed for allowing this all to happen, IMHO of course. No other union worth their salt would have allowed it.
The problem with this fractured pilot body is that it now appears to be nigh on impossible to get everyone on the same page, behind one single aim when it comes to pay, because x% of the body have no skin in the game when it comes to improving another cohort's pay, or they see it as potentially occurring at their expense (and understandably so).
LHR mainline, LGW euroflier, LHR short haul, LHR long haul, PP24, PP34 .. before we get into the various pension arrangements. Whatever about BA, they're a business out to make as much money as they can, I can understand them. It's BALPA who are to be blamed for allowing this all to happen, IMHO of course. No other union worth their salt would have allowed it.
The problem with this fractured pilot body is that it now appears to be nigh on impossible to get everyone on the same page, behind one single aim when it comes to pay, because x% of the body have no skin in the game when it comes to improving another cohort's pay, or they see it as potentially occurring at their expense (and understandably so).
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
One of the company’s managers’ jobs is to get as much bang for their buck from the company’s employees. A union’s job is to protect and improve their members’ lot. Sadly BALPA reps within BA believe it is their job to help the company achieve its objectives without upsetting the pilots too much. They have completely the wrong objective, and appear to never want to change. The majority of pilots continue to support them, so that’s what we continue to have.
If we want to see an end to the erosion, we need a union that actually wants to be a union, and they will never want that until the majority of pilots realise that is the only way. Too many people accept the current situation, whilst whinging about it but continuing to pay their subs. Doing the precise same thing will continue to provide the precise same results. Money talks. Big BALPA is after the money, and the reps are after the money/lifestyles their roles provide. They’re very happy with the status quo.
If we want to see an end to the erosion, we need a union that actually wants to be a union, and they will never want that until the majority of pilots realise that is the only way. Too many people accept the current situation, whilst whinging about it but continuing to pay their subs. Doing the precise same thing will continue to provide the precise same results. Money talks. Big BALPA is after the money, and the reps are after the money/lifestyles their roles provide. They’re very happy with the status quo.
Joined: Apr 2012
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 400
Likes: 18
From: UK
As an outsider looking in I was surprised at how quickly BALPA appeared to fold during the 2019 dispute. I'm in ASLEF and we won in the 2022-2024 dispute by going out at least once per month on average for the best part of two years and making the whole "minimum service levels" government plan unworkable. Quite frankly we could have done a lot more if a small number of people with limited savings had been better prepared but ASLEF couldn't risk even small numbers of people crossing picket lines.
Do the younger BALPA members, who are probably worst affected by JSS, regularly attend BALPA meetings? One of the challenges we face in rail is that my generation and younger often want the benefits of the union but don't turn up to branch meetings to have their say.
Do the younger BALPA members, who are probably worst affected by JSS, regularly attend BALPA meetings? One of the challenges we face in rail is that my generation and younger often want the benefits of the union but don't turn up to branch meetings to have their say.
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 528
Likes: 62
From: everywhere
I don’t know company wide numbers, but of my intake only a handful bothered signing up. Most of the others in my age bracket hadn’t a remote interest, mainly because they’ve experienced BALPA elsewhere and want nothing to do with them. They don’t want the benefits of union membership because they don’t believe there are any.
Joined: Apr 2012
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 400
Likes: 18
From: UK
I'm currently studying ATPL theory alongside the job, so it's interesting to see the differences compared with my current industry.
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
Just to update prospective new joiners...
The company has agreed an improvement to the Long Haul rostering situation on a 1 year trial period. Key takeaways:
Minimum 3 days off after a longhaul trip (can be waived if you desire). This is designed to end the trip/2/trip/2 which we all found fatiguing towards the bottom of the list.
Slight reduction in CAP (up to 3hrs/month less).
Increase in golden days (advance notice day off) from 6 to 12 per year.
The cost to this is a tightening on the rules of where you can place golden days around other duties or leave, and putting ground duties inside reserve periods. Both of these "techniques" could be used to force the system to give chunks of days where you would not be usable which created inefficiencies that the company wants to address.
The hope is that these improvements reduce the sickness and fatigue rates while making the operation more predictable and efficient.
The company has agreed an improvement to the Long Haul rostering situation on a 1 year trial period. Key takeaways:
Minimum 3 days off after a longhaul trip (can be waived if you desire). This is designed to end the trip/2/trip/2 which we all found fatiguing towards the bottom of the list.
Slight reduction in CAP (up to 3hrs/month less).
Increase in golden days (advance notice day off) from 6 to 12 per year.
The cost to this is a tightening on the rules of where you can place golden days around other duties or leave, and putting ground duties inside reserve periods. Both of these "techniques" could be used to force the system to give chunks of days where you would not be usable which created inefficiencies that the company wants to address.
The hope is that these improvements reduce the sickness and fatigue rates while making the operation more predictable and efficient.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 13
From: Somewhere
The Golden Day thing is slightly annoying (coming from someone who abused that possibility of extending leave at every opportunity) but by doubling the amount we receive the company are still going to find that people (ie me) put them at the start and end of leave but it’ll now only be possible to extend by two days either side rather than three for the cost of the same proportion of Golden Days. No major biggie really.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: UK
On a different subject, is there a possibility to get unpaid leave in BA if you don’t have children?
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: UK
A very positive step. As an outsider with a limited knowledge of “CAP” is this likely to naturally increase the variety of routes for those at the bottom too, on the basis that East Coast/3 off/East Coast etc probably won’t achieve CAP?
On a different subject, is there a possibility to get unpaid leave in BA if you don’t have children?
On a different subject, is there a possibility to get unpaid leave in BA if you don’t have children?
Another change we have seen recently which i think will have an impact is company paid hotel on certain back to back trips (all of them east coast). Now with a free hotel and 6 days work generating 6 clear days off you may well see east coast trips going further up the list as pilots bid proactively for them to get those 6 days off.
As I understand unpaid leave is pretty hard to get without kids. It's hard enough to get with kids!
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: glasgow
Sent.Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: UK
Junior A320 Roster
Hi all, I've recently accepted a place for 320 mainline. Would anybody be able to DM me a typicial bottom of the pack 320 roster/ give me a better idea of what to expect atm. Anything appreciated