pile.it, questions like yours are common, but the answer remains the same.

If you don't have the hours at the time of application, then you don't meet the requirements. If you turn up for an interview and are asked about your flying experience, and then have to tell them you don't yet have the 500 hours on A320, then how do you think that will look? Or will you lie? You will have to bring your log book .....

So, you will be awarded the black mark for precisely the reason you have acknowledged: Don't want to put a black mark for any future applications because "the candidate can't read the requirements" And deservedly so!

How busy can last summer have been if you haven't achieved 500 hours in a year?!?!

Stuart yes I agree but there are grey areas, Emirates will let you apply with (up to 500hrs?) less than the minimums providing you have them by the time you come to interview. BA, however, is not Emirates so I don't think it would be the same situation. Considering they have stated there will be Direct Entry next year I would be inclined to wait rather than piss them off by applying with less than the minima.

(WhyByFlier I was about to post exactly the same thing!)

Imagine life without bidline?

Tourist

What's that got to do with it ?

I presume that present BA staff accepted the pension - or lack of it - option that was presented to them at time of engagement ? Present staff are enjoying rebate travel facilities that I could only dream of when I joined, good luck to them, I just want what I signed up for - and worked for - too.

It's to do with trust and integrity - a word BA wouldn't even know how to spell.

Your attitude just mirrors that of the present BA management, just confirms my opinion of BA, and apparently All Who Sail In Her.

Should I be surprised ?

Goodbye.

Ex Birdseed.

I think you've conveyed your dismay clearly over your last few posts.

It's always irritating when things promised/strongly implied don't play out like you think they will.

You have the sympathy of us 30 something's reading. But only as much sympathy as it commensurate towards a final salary pension, 5 bed leafy Surrey dwelling, new car every 4 years, 3 holidays per annum, retired at 55 former airline pilot.

Sit back, download 'Time to say goodbye' from iTunes, sink a couple of unpronounceable Scotches and think about tomorrow when you breeze into the 19th hole and in hushed tones someone says 'That's xxx, retired BA 747 Captain' accompanied by a simultaneous deferential slow nod.

Life's not so bad.

Retired BA skipper or not let's give him the respect he is due. Fortunate enough to fly in the glory days but does that mean his life is perfect? Probably not and who knows what challenges he may face. If your company says x and does y then we are all screwed. As pilots we need trust in our managers. I am working hard to fund investment and pensions now and in the future all being well someone will be doing the same for me.

Depending on the outcome of the current talks about work coverage, if any changes made are significantly detrimental to Bidline, it is likely that shorthaul commands will become more junior as the senior trash choose to remain on longhaul and wait for a seat swap.

A big gamble for those joining now but it is entirely feasible that you could find yourselves senior enough for a shorthaul command but too junior for longhaul FO. Not dissimilar to the US system.

Suffice to say that without Bidline, your lifestyle control will be reduced significantly, even though it may be "industry leading" at the moment. Career progression will be slow. You'd hope the pay and pension would make up for that but you can achieve better elsewhere.

Come in by all means and you will be welcomed. Just come in with your eyes properly open.

Without that control and lifestyle that BA currently offers a quick loco command will be a better option for many.

Given the increasing time to long haul it doesn't make sense why short haul pilots will accept any further squeeze? I imagine there is guys flying short haul that would rather die fighting to protect the core systems and perks which make BA the lifestyle decision it is?

Watersidewonker, I don't suppose it is surprising that your bitter view, as beaten cabin crew, brings you back here. Where does your complete lack of expertise in Bidline place you in the hierarchy?

You might be better placed posting, elsewhere, about the hurricane that is about to whirl through Eurofleet cabin crew. I think they are shortly going to get some idea of what Mixed Fleet cabin crew do for a living.

Just curious how long before a SH Airbus newhire could bid the LCY-JFK flying? Super senior for FOs?

With most junior FO at position 3632, most junior LCY FO is around the 2800 mark, you're talking many years!

Cheers SinBin.

Just curious again - do these LCY pilots also fly Europe short haul out of LHR or LGW or do they just fly LCY-JFK routes? Can they mix their flying with LHR short haul?

Would be nice to get a mix of short and long haul like the departing 767 fleet...

A318 pilots fly the 319/320/321s out of LHR too so get a mix of SH and LH flying. The A318 flights use LGW cabin crew.

What are the requirements and how long does it take to become SFO in BA?

SFO after 4 years length of service. IIRC

OMDB
 

Just be aware that whilst that might be a nice fact to know at interview it's mainly a cosmetic promotion (no offence intended to my two/three ringed colleagues). Yes, you get the extra ring on the uniform but your job spec doesn't change (i.e. keeping the likes of me out of the dwang) and you remain in place on your fleet's "P2" seniority list.

Force drafted.....as in made to come in to work on your day off?!

How would it work without bidline, just a purely random roster?

There are plenty of other software programmes capably of replacing bid line. The problem is, the company will choose one which benefits the pilot community the least.

The replacement is being sought.

And essentially, yes. If you pick up that phone, don't expect to open the wine.

While the 767 is likely to around for a few more years it is planned to become a Shorthaul only fleet.

I am thinking of applying next year so I can be closer to the 1700 hrs as opposed to the 1000 hrs I have now. Apparently you can not reapply within a 12 month period and I guess the most experienced candidates will always be in a better position to make it through to the end.

As per what I have read in one post here in 2015 BA may be recruiting again.

If this year's selection of A320 DEP turns out to be the only one in the foreseeable future I may give it a go instead.

Anyone here knows what's more likely to happen? 2014, 2015, or both?

Many thanks in advance.

I would suggest that if BA is the company you want to work for a-Ricky-town and if you meet their minimum requirements then apply as soon as possible. At 31 I wouldn't waste any time and I certainly wouldn't try and second guess their future needs!
The BA recruitment is very black and white. If you tick the right boxes by way of your minimum requirements, essay answers on your application and then the subsequent recruitment process then you'll be given a shot.

My advice to anyone looking to join a large airline would be to apply as soon as possible in order of getting on that seniority list sooner rather than later as seniority is key in the path of your future career within the large airlines.

LCY 318 pilots don't fly the 321 either, so they are restricted in how much Europe flying they can do, and do very little mid haul. As a result of a small band that are LCY qualified, they are doing the trip fairly regularly.

News to me... :confused:

Yes funny that? Recently did an AMM with a LCY guy, on none other than an A321.:confused:

Totally and completely wrong.

No weekends off in longhaul for a decade? Total balls.

Whole complete consecutive weekends off? Quite hard, go work in an office if you want that.

I can comfortably get landing early sat or departing late Sunday evenings etc, so most of a weekend off and I am 15% off the bottom of my fleet status.

It does mean that sometimes I don't go to the 'glamour' spots but days off at home with family are more important than where I work, single friends of mine work weekends and go to nicer spots because they want to. Lots of choice in BA, and I am steadily marching up the seniority list on my fleet, slowly mind but steadily.

I also haven't met anyone on my fleet who is truly unhappy, my friends still on short haul are getting towards that though unfortunately, but FPP and recruitment hopefully will bring CAPS back down.

Weekends and Bidline etc.
 

Dozza2K
I couldn't agree more.
As far as some other posters are concerned............
I'm quite astonished that so many aspire to work as a pilot for an airline, which by its very nature is a 24/7, 365 day a year operation, only to become fixated on whether or not they may get weekends free of duty.
Days off during the week can be very useful, especially so for those with a family. You will also need to be very circumspect when it comes to your ability to be at home for Christmas, parents' evenings, children's parties, sports days and notable birthdays etc. It's not the end of the World if you can't always be there; of course, as you progress up the seniority list you will begin to be a little more successful in bidding for specific dates, but then (like 'Snakes and Ladders') a command puts you down at the bottom again.
Enjoy the variety and spoil the family when can't always be there. If you think the lifestyle is not for you, perhaps you should seriously consider why you chose this career in the first place.

Lot's of interesting information on here! Could any of the BA FOs maybe share an example roster? I am quite interested in the kind of trips that are usual, ie. are they 1 day, 3 day, 5 day? I am trying to decide whether it makes sense for me to apply, would enjoy the night stops but it's also important for me to be at home too!


Thanks guys!

But it speaks volumes when your 8 year old daughter comes home from school with 1 ticket for a school event for mummy. When asked why she did not get daddy one the reply was "its at the weekend and he's never here"

It does get better with improved seniority but in 2 years a movement of 75 places.........:ugh:

EASA FTL may impact life at BA also. Commuting for long haul, mixed East - West combo's, swapping trips will need careful planning

Jet Set Willie
Complete and utter :mad:! Who are you?

Largely irrelevant though to anyone thinking of applying, as LCY-JFK won't be available (even for P2s) for 5-10 years after joining.

Anyone (young) thinking there is any better 'gig' than BA, anywhere in the world, should probably think again!

Let's also consider a SH/LH split. Maybe in the not too distant future ;-).

SH drivers and new joiners on vastly reduced T's and C's and further selection required before getting your "new" position at BA longhaul and back at the bottom of their seniority list also with new T's and C's for new joiners.

Perhaps the new short haul airline could be called "Go" or more inventively "British Airways Shuttle".

Good luck to y'all.

Gammon

...agreed on that but:

Er.... Last trip ( and personally I find it happens most trips).

Very bizarre indeed, haven't seen that since the IA days. Last trip we all ( 11'ish) sat together at the bar - a long haul legacy crew on the second part of a back to back. There's no doubt some crews can be hard work but if somebody feels they are being cold shouldered on every trip maybe the problem doesn't lie with everybody else on the crew.....

Is that based on personal observation from working in BA and if so from which side of the flight deck door?

You get some rubbish on here.

Last flight I did the skipper bought coffee for all of the crew and we had a chat about stuff before heading off to find our aircraft. Cabin crew bought in snacks and we all helped each other to get the job done. For 99% it's a job and what matters is lifestyle, renumeration and future prospects.

A quote from management about the short haul review "this is a BA pilot issue not a BA SH pilot issue" I doubt we are about to go the days of BEA and BOAC again. Our contracts are as British Airways pilots. That may change for new joiners after the review or if SH was to follow the route of Lufthansa with German wings and mainline.

Sit on the fence or take a chance. For what it's worth the best gig in town is the Thompson, Thomas Cook job out of Bristol

I would advise anyone reading this thread, to help them decide whether or not to apply to BA, to treat many of the recent negative posts with a generous pinch of salt.

Yes, there is uncertainty at the moment because of the short haul review, bidline review etc. However, making your decision based on wild speculation from anonymous posters would be a little foolhardy. Changes will come to BA, but I don't think many level-headed people seriously believe that bidline will disappear or that there will be any drastic changes to working practices and/or Ts&Cs for BA pilots. Small and probably negative changes yes, but the BA pilot world isn't going to fall into oblivion like some on pprune would like you to believe.

My advice would be apply and try all that you may in order to get an assessment, pass the assessments, wade through the hold pool and then end up with an offer.

BA isn't the airline it once was. Hell, its a different airline than the one that I applied to three years ago. But so is the industry that we work in. This is a reflection on the industry, not BA.

There'll be no shortage in candidates. The majority fall at the first hurdle. Worry if BA is right for you when someone from pilot recruitment rings you with a start date. By then you should know.

Err Gammon Flaps, we get our FPA paid every month now, regardless of if you fly or not.

GF

Thanks for the further thoughts (and apologies for the grump!!),

Fair cop, yes the layout of the 744 always made "interaction" with most of the crew and access to the fancy bev. maker a challenge....

If prospective joiners take away one just one fact from this thread it should be that one.

Rgds.

So is it worth applying?
Do people actually enjoy working there?
Or are we suffering from PPrune Bias?