Monarch Interview
 

Hello. Managed to finally get an interview with Monarch. Only taken four years of letters!

Im aware of the current feeling of disappointment with the new terms and conditions.

Would appreciate a little info regarding the actual interview i.e questions they ask, group exercises, psychometric tests........

Any info appreciated.

Red

In the past it's always been just an interview with a couple of management pilots, usually the Chief Pilot and a Fleet manager (depends who's available). No tests or group exercises in previous years but it ain't the place it used to be so this may change.

Could anyone at MON divulge how many of the CTC guys taken on in Jan/Feb 2004 have been offered contracts now that their 6 months line training has been completed?

Many Thanks
Joe

As has been already stated, probably just an interview. I don't think they have either the time or resources to do much else, bearing in mind the expansion that has just been announced. Low hours, little experience to expect A320 or B757. Only the more experienced to be selected for the A300. Course dates to start early in the year.

Joe
I believe 20 out of the 29 CTC cadets were kept on...

I believe it was 24 out of 30ish. It was only supposed to be 15 plus the 9 CTCer's from the previous year. These 9 had indicated a desire to return to Monarch. However when they looked at what Monarch is presently offering they decided it was better to stay at Easy. The numbers might be out by one or two but you get the idea.

Why?
Is MON's new C scale that much below what Easy offer ?

Rgds

It's less, no sector pay and 10 plus years to command. Best you ask the company for a copy of the Scale (along with the package or lack of it) that they are now offering and make your own comparison.

Just curious to see the experience levels of people getting called (Not CTC). I am trying with 4000 all turbo and some is heavy/P1. No jet time though.

Also curious of the entry level pay scale on the new scheme. Any hard numbers?

From what I have heard they are doing only interview due to time and a policy that has been working for years.

Good luck to all!

First Officer Year 1 - 39K rising to Year 10 - 45K.

people getting their command courses at the moment have averaged 6/7 years at Monarch....if you get a choice best fleet for variety is probably the A300 if you get the 320 fleet be warned you will work hard..at MAN 850 hours a year.
Balpa is currently in dispute with the company over the new payscale/conditions for new entrants so hopefully they can get this package improved .
Good bunch of people in the cockpit and in the cabin although the MD has been trying his best to destroy morale...if the union can get things changed in terms of conditions etc then still a good company to come and work for.

Monarch
 

Am a little more clued up!

Thank you all. Responses appreciated.

Red.

You mention the A300 fleet has the best variety. Can you give some examples? You would think that the A330 with its longer range would have better variety... Are the A320/A330 cross qualified as well? Can you fly an A320 one day and then an A330 the next?

Cheers

As a rule Monarch do not recruit directly on to the A300. The A300 operates the whole range of flights that Monarch offers, with the vast majority being charter. Ie 1hr ski flights (LYS or TLS), short hauls eg (AGP,ALC,PMI) medium short eg (TFS, BJL, SSH, TBA) all the way upto long hauls flights like GOI. Although these flights will tech stop in BAH. (BAH being like a second home to A300 crew in winter). Much ad-hoc work is also undertaken on the a300.

With 320,321,330 fleets, crews are not selected directly for a330. That said, pilots are rated on both 320 and 321 with a330 rated pilots, rated on all 3 types. The A330 operates 90% long haul and most notably (various Caribbean destinations, Cuba, SFB and YYC) and eastwards such as GOI, MLE and CMB. A330 selection is primarily done by seniorority, with many already waiting for their turn, so don't go holding your breath for quick selection.
The 320,321 operate probably 75%+ of the scheduled service flights. These range from the significant number of flights to southern Spain, Gibraltar, the Balearics to longer canaries sectors. Little seasonal variety between schedule or destination.

The 757 workhorse operates probably an equal mix of charter and scheduled flights. There are also some long haul flights operated (BAH, TRV). In addition, the versatility of the aircraft makes it very acceptable to the ad-hoc market

So whats the whole package worth then? Destinations sound great but what about the rest?

So has anyone attended an interview in the last two weeks and recieved a positive response yet??? Could be a good christmas present!

A colleague of a long time back, got an offer last week, so I am told.

Which fleet did he get on with? Did he already have a type rating?

He was at easy, so may have had a 320 rating

Hi guys,

Just one question. I was called yesterday by Monarch. They invited me for an interveiw. Does anybody know how long it takes, which questions they ask and what the next step in their selection system is? I am already type-rated on one of their a/c.

If somebody could help me with information about which aircraft at which bases, working schedule, salary etc I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

ocho gardena,

Interview is the only stage normally, no sim rides or tests in the past. Only three pilot bases in the company LTN, LGW & MAN. As has been said previously your fleet and base will very much dictate your working pattern. If your A320 rated you can expect a busy roster year round especially at MAN. As RHINO wrote the new F/O scale starts on 39k rising to 45k after 10years. The new Captain scale that will apply to new pilots when they get commands starts on 64k and rises to 77k.

Flt allowances very much depend on base and fleet. On average if you're busy expect around £250-£300 per month if your flying is out of your home base, more if on voyage to other bases (if you're on the A320 up north this will not happen!)

No sector pay.

Another point that my have been overlooked is that you get no staff travel privaliges on scale C

Hey Sick,

Will your friend take the position with Monarch? Why would he want to leave Easy with all of its growth? Sounds like FO pay at Monarch for the next 10 years is pittiful (up to 45K with no sector pay)...

I suppose getting cross-qualified on the A330 and flying to some interesting resort destinations could partially make up for the cr@p pay...

Don't get too excited about the 330 - they are now having to force people onto it because they have run out of volunteers!

Having already been to Monarch for my informal chat and reading a previous post reference offers been made I am assuming that I have not been successful.

Has anyone else that is currently 757/767 rated been for an interview and if so when and have you heard anything yet.

I can remember when Monarch was THE charter company to work for. Amazing how things have changed. Very short sighted of the management and will end up costing them more in the long run.

Hey Sick can you find out why your mate wants to leave Easy with its better package and his better Command prospects to come to Monarch.

We are curious!

I have been offered a start with Monarch on the Boeing fleet. Just waiting for the contract. Current time to command is all that worries me otherwise they appear to be a solid outfit.

flexthrust

When was your interview and when did you hear the good news?

Interview week before last and heard last week!:ok:

You are MAD if you go to Monarch on the new package, it is seriously BAD. The guy leaving Easy for ZB must be a loony.

I've just left Monarch for sandy pastures, been there 14 years, for generally other reasons. Great bunch of people to work with, but there are huge attacks on the terms and conditions of both new and established pilots.

The pilots are in dispute with the company, remember that, its not happy company like it once was!!!

At MAN on the 320/1 you will work you nuts off and be permanently knackered. Other bases not too bad.

EGGW :cool:

I am sure the ex EZY person is neither mad nor a loony.

Both airlines have their attractions and also things that go against them.

Monarch pilots are, generally, an intelligent bunch and the main complaint about the current disagreement with the company is the way the managing director has gone about it. If someone is happy to sign a contract that is inferior to your own then there is nothing much you can do about it. You are well within your rights, however, to defend your own contract when you feel it is under attack.

If you plan to stay a long time then you will definitely notice the reduction in quality of the contract (less increments, no wide body scale, pension) but if your plan is to use it as a stepping stone then it will not make much difference.

A pilot has the opportunity to gain a huge diversity of experience whether operating day-trips out of base or moving on to wide body operations.

Typical career pattern - start off flying B757 as RHS (possibly moving onto B767 in near future) - gain command on A320/321 flying predominantly shorthaul - in long term, with seniority, command on A330/B757/B767.

Join EZY - RHS for 3 years, flying lo-cost round Europe - gain command, flying lo-cost round Europe for 32 years.

In respect of command then don't believe everything you have read. Some people have just gone on the seniority list only 20-30 slots behind people who have been there 5-6 years. Nobody joined the seniority list for a long time after March 2001. The next joiner was only a couple of months ago.

Monarch has definitely changed over the last few years but there are still far worse options out there.

flexthrust, current time to command for new joiners will be in the region of 10 years, thomson fly tried this approach to the pilot workforce and due lack of interest have gone back to final salary pension scheme for all and a link between pay scales and all the perks, bupa,travel etc etc. - and they are hiring.

Get your command at Mon, and if your senior enough in another 10-15 years, you might just get on a long haul a/c and visit somewhere else than Spain!

First Officers have been leaving Monarch recently to go to BA, Virgin, Emirates, BMed and ... EASY.

If you are coming with a type rating for this deal (cannot think why) - good luck

If you are coming for your first jet job - many congratulations you have made a wise choice!

A lot of mixed opinions.

I have 3000 turbo prop hours and have always wanted to work for Monarch.

Lots of peeps saying NO. So what's it actually like to work for them?

Interview next week.


Many thanks in advance....

You will work with a great bunch of people, of that is there no doubt.

But, terms and conditions for you a new joiner are rubbish. You will be on an entirely different pay package from all current employees, scale C.
BALPA and the piots are not a happy bunch at Monarch.

It was once a company for a career, now its a place for getting hours and disappearing off for a better job somewhere else.

EGGW

Well I for one am Happy to have been offered a contract to start in February/ March.:ok: :D

Well done, Blighty.

Where will you be based?

Until you have worked for easy, you do not know what it is like. I was there for two years which was great. I was the 19th F/O out of LGW in to leave in one month. If it is so great,why are people leaving? Because it is not sustainable and not a career airline.I have now moved to another airline which is a breath of fresh air. Yesterday, i went into discretion for the first time in a year.At easy, it was at least two times per week with min rest in between with max FDP's every day.

With regards to getting your command, the req hours has just gone up and to be honest I could not think of anything worse than working like a slave for the rest of my life! I would prefer to be a taxi driver!Yes the money is great but you cannot spend it as you never get quality time off. Have heard of a couple of people spending vast amounts on Pro plus.

I feel it is much better to go to a career airline like Monarch rather than getting your cmd at easy. As after having your cmd at easy for two years, you will want to move and where will you go? the LHS again, unless you are very lucky. You will also have to take a pay cut etc to do so.

Everything is going low cost and salaries cut. When the aviation market turns around again, I am sure we will see those golden hand shakes appearing to attract people and t's and c's will get better again.

Just a quicky, How many Monarch crews have done 6 days in a row, all of them four sector days with max FDP's - not many?

It's an average week at Easy!:sad: