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.