Monarch Manchester -how does it compare?
 

Hi Guys,
I have been with BA Connect flying the 145 out of Man for nearly 10 years.
Really need a change..... but based in MAN.
Have only just started looking so dont yet have the Ts & Cs etc....a few of those posting here have horror stories which are in danger of ringing alarm bells already!
What is the general concensus on the deal for new pilots.
My current situation.
Work 750 hours per year
Stable roster/scheduling agreement protection
£55K / year (£10K more if you work a couple of days off each month)
work 21 days a month mixture of 2 and 4 sector days
No night stops
7 weeks a year
How does this compare to a MAN A320/A321 F/O??
Thanks in advance
RMC

Well, I would say think very carefully before deciding...

Pay for new joiners about 42k
900 hrs/year
No Scheduling agreement
Roster disruption is horrendous
5 weeks + 2 days leave
pension is very poor

however, you will enjoy the people you work with. I do.

RMC
Whats the point?, at first it will be great, new crews, aircraft and destinations. Then after your first summer you'll think same S$$t different airline and time to Command?!?.
If you want to further your career in the long term look at BA/VS, if you want to be in MAN every night then stay where you are and be happy.
The grass is always greener..

Have to agree with Banzai Eagle. The grass is not always greener. It would not be worth it just for the paycut alone. BA/VS is where you want to be.

Roster instability was one of the overiding reasons why I left. And that was on a Salary of over £75K with FS pension and max 700 hrs . Some people can live with being dicked around. My family and I couldn't!


Big NO from me i'm afraid.

A320/321? MAN? You're avin a larf :}

The guys you fly with are great, sadly management is awful and T's&c's smell worse than Billingsgate on a hot summer's day... but hey, if you like plot changes, 900hrs and Malaga - welcome aboard!!!:}

DH121

Yes I was. Different fleet and different base. And still I left !

3 years with new Company and plot changes have totalled...........2! One of those was my choice as well. :D

Thanks for the above.
Didnt realise roster instability was such a huge issue in Monarch!
With regard to those who suggest BA (we have a fast track into their system) the main problem with that is that the 145 weighs less than 25 tons. BA insist on us going onto the A320 (777 not an option for three years) so I would have to live in a caravan at LHR and come home for days off. Lack of bidding seniority would mean finish late on say Monday (get home Tue AM) see the kids Tuesday evening and leave home Wed PM for an early on Thursday(weekends are not available to new starts for a considerable period).:yuk:
Did apply to VS a year ago but havent got a hope in hell at the moment (too many type rated guys well ahead of me).
The only sure thing for me is I dont want to continue regional flying in a jungle jet for the next 25 years.
Any further thoughts on Monarch much appreciated.

RMC
All comments made so far are valid. Monarch is a very good company to work for and the people are fantastic. That being said things have changed. The company is cutting costs and it has hit the pilots square in the can. The MAN 320 pilots are working their butts off with no sector pay to reward them. The pension is crap to say the least and roster instablity can do your head in. The new pay scale has capped all new joiners.
I chose to leave them looking 30 years down the road. If you want 1000 hours of 320 time and then want to bolt to VS/BA a good move. Leaving the job that you have now for Monarch as a career would be a close call.
Good luck.

Can't really see a move to MON being anymore than a stop gap measure for someone with your experience. Big pay drop / pension drop and presumably giving up a command to join at the back of a intake of nearly 100 over the last two years? All that said the people/culture are great but couldn't recommend it as a long term move in your circumstances.

Good luck.

RMC, you should think about Emirates.....straight on to 777 or 330..as BYmon said no roster changes, and better still no CP or PH..

onto my 22nd plot change this month, you will find yourself switching from early mornings to nights on consecutive flights, better off at easyland, get paid more, pension is rubbish, people leaving to VA/BA and the desert, never happened before the 'new' management, low cost drival started, chasing people with no money is doomed to failiure.......
that said, money in the bank each month.

There are other airlines at Manchester other than Monarch you know...

Man Flex...I appreciate there are other airlines but Monarch has historically been one of the best and has also had an excellent reputation for being a great bunch of guys and girls to work with (having worked in a place where this is not the case this strikes a particular chord).
One last question...It seems the A320 is seriously hard work....how long is it typically before I could expect to spend some time in an A330? Mixed fleet flying is something else which attracts me to Monarch.

RMC - Monarch is not what it used to be.

Manchester, mixed fleet flying...look at the only airline which isn't losing people to VS/BA.

RMC Roster stability counts for quite a lot in my book. I think if you do decide to join Monarch, 6mnths on you will be quietly kicking yourself wondering what on earth you gave up a nice stable lifestyle for. Sadly it's not the company it used to be.

RMC, you are looking at 6 years + to get onto the A330, the back of a very very long line...

Cheers guys.... had a long conversation with a MAN based Monarch FO who said much the same as above...Monarch not for me then (never thought I´d say that).
RMC