EASYJET What are they like to work for?
 

With an interview looming large I would be interested to know what Easyjet pilots thought of their employer, their lifestyle and their pay and conditions please.
Any pointers on the interview, and how I should be preparing for it would also be greatly appreciated.
Ta much.

Ooh, this promises to be a good thread!

hotnhi, I don't work there, so cannot give you any pointers, but the best of luck!

The ground staff are fed up, the pilots are thinking of industrial action,and there's a TV programme on evey week where the staff and passsengers are frustrated with everthing orange.Still you can always have your C.V looked at elswhere for £50 quid!

Any positive, helpful people out there who actually work for the company? It would be nice to have a professional and balanced view for a lot of interested people out here...........:)

The company really is not the bad to work for, friendly crews, job security and the pays not that bad. I will say this summer was hard work, not because of the amount of flying but the complete F******** with the new rostering system. If you want to fly nice new boeing`s and soon airbus then join. There are somethings which could be better but as the saying goes " the grass is always greener........." still all in all it's OK.:)

Well said Dr.

Thanks Orange.

I've done turbo-props, charter and now scheduled with easy. This is by far the best job I have had!

I am not tired in August, as per charter world. I spend most of my flying hours in the daylight. I have predicted days off - 6 on, 3 off (this in itself is one of the best features).

pay and conditions are comparable to other airlines in the UK.

Aircraft are new ish , although the 737 is an old piece of kit by design. Even the -700 which looks reasonable enough at first glance, is in fact the FD of a -300 with screens bolted on. However, the 319 is a completley different story..........

Flying is fun if you like lots of short sectors and t/o landings. Log books are a pain to keep up to date.

Bad points. To be honest not that many for me, infact I'm struggling with this one. I haven't been affected by rostering, crew shortage issues here in L'pool. The crews moan a bit, but isn't that written in the contract somewhere??

The pay review is a complete farce, but that has been covered in other posts.

All in all a very friendly airline that should give job security for a few years to come!

PS. Pilots tend not to get caught up in the "orange" bit. (thankfully)!!

HEY HOTNHI, CAN YOU TELL ME IF YOU ARE 73 TYPED, I HAVE AN APPLICATION IN AND HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM FOR A WHILE.

I HAVE PLENTY OF HOURS BUT NOT THE TYPE.

I SEEM TO THINK THEY ARE KEEN ON AIRBUS PEOPLE AT THE MOMENT

It's been a tough summer, but we've learnt from it. Morale was (totally understandably) low because of the rostering cock-ups, and there were simultaneous handling issues at LTN. Both now resolved.

I would support a previous post....new aircraft, airbus on the way, job security, interesting (increasing) network, etc. etc. Ignore some of the gloom and doom you here about.....it ain't that bad and I would say go for it!

Dunlops......They are recruiting non 737 and non Airbus. I'm not sure what they are looking 4 experience wise, I suspect that the "Sell Yourself" part of the application form is v.important.

:) Thanks for all the positive contributions.

Kick the tires,

6 on 3 off going in April.

"Work" can you enlarge on that because if true that would in my opinion be a major disincentive. The 6 on 3 off is an attractive option that gives people stability to plan ahead and for those of us a little older with family etc that is a major issue.

I am Airbus rated and was thinking about applying next year the loss of 6 and 3 would make a big difference.

Just to add my bit.


I worked there for a year and a half, thats all I could stand.

Its not like working for an airline at all, honestly.

As a last resort I guess we'd all take the job, but like I say it would be a LAST RESORT!!!!!!!!


Don't do it!

:mad:

Seems a fair question, that deserves an honest answer.

I don't normally bother with these things, but I have never before felt so incised to offer my opinion.

I have been at EJ for over two years. Before them I worked for a charter company, before that I flew schedule and before that turbo props, so I have seen some different operations in my time.

I joined EJ because they had great expansion plans, they made a big song and dance about the family environment, the caring and sharing, and of course the rapid time to command.

Now don't get me wrong this is not a vent because I am still an FO, far from it. There is no way I would ever take a command in this company and I will leave as soon as I find something suitable.

Why?

The meritocracy of this company breeds an atmosphere of distrust and back stabbing. It is assumed and dare I say encouraged, that he who brown noses the best gets promoted quickest.

The lack of a seniority list means it is necessary to be seen in order to be promoted. Look at the management and you will see they have all come from a similar aviation back ground. They promote their own (and I'm not just talking about commands, but more worryingly to positions of significant managerial importance).

Recent events have allowed EJ to pick up some very experienced captains from flagging airlines. This has always been the easy way, good for them. It does however mean that their "promise" of early command can not be achieved as there are not the positions available. Look at the stats. 85% of new captains were direct entry. Those promoted were sent off to the frozen north, whilst the DE guys got the London jobs.

Every year they promise this will change.

The rostering of 6 on 3 off is an excellent idea. It is the first time I have ever been able to plan my life. Only I can't.

I start with three earlies, move into 2 four sector days and finish on a night flight. My 3 off very quickly becomes a 1.5 off.

Then there are the changes. Sure it was bad in the summer, but it hasn't improved that much now, despite all the apologies from the management. I still turn up at work not sure when I will be coming home, or if I will work anything vaguely similar to my roster. Making plans to spend time with friends or pick up the kids, or get your car serviced are all impossible on a work day as changes are so prolific.

So what of the management?

Well my base manager is a personable enough bloke, but he has very little managerial skill. His boss has absolutely no people skills at all and is widely mistrusted. Same applies at other bases. And their boss? Well he tried to leave but failed the interview allegedly.

And now the crew room talk is of those who intend to leave. The money section of the Mail (I think) said 40 pilots have already resigned. More disruption for the rest of us, but good luck to them.

Although apparently EJ won't let you leave. I am told (from a reliable source) that certain base captains are refusing to complete references and going out of their way to make alternative employment difficult.

And the money. Well theoretically it is very good. But after your travel (six commutes to work a week) topping up your pension, PHI, loss of licence etc etc, I am actually slightly worse off than I was in charter.

I think EJ serve a very important place in the avaition community, and I started out very proud to work for them. There are a lot of good guys to fly with, the aircraft are OK and routes, whilst becoming a bit repetitive do allow lots of handling.

But it is not a career airline, and will never be all the time the empire builders are allowed to continue as they have done, surrounding themselves with yes men.

I hope the fresh blood from GO will improve matters, but I am sorry to say, the first decent sniff of a job and I'm gone.

Some may say good riddance to me, but those who do are incredibly blinkered. Action has to be taken to prevent this possibly great airline becoming dominated by weak individuals.

Don't join unless your existing situation is really unmanagable.

Interesting post, especially for a first one, maybe my airline isn't that bad after all.

I was upset.

Still am!

Got paid today and found I am £700 short.

Try getting through to Orange world and oddly enough get answer machine which will no doubt be ignored.

Hateful company.

They still owe me about £70 "to be paid by cheque" and also a P45 from the end of September. Probably more chance of being abducted by aliens.
Very tempting to leave a rude message on the permanatley connected answering machine isn't it?

Houaah that was a very clear view on the orange way...Well, I think I'll stick to my airline which allows me to stay near my family for only a fraction of money less (if..)

Thanks for that and good luck.

Sorry to hear the super-negative remarks regarding easyJet. It seems like just a few months ago the remarks were mainly positive and optimistic... Just a couple of questions for easyJet pilots:

1. In the future (if you choose to stay there), what would you prefer to fly - the 737-700 or the A319 and why?

2. Quick question related to the 737-700 cockpit: does Easyjet use the full EFIS with speed and altitude tapes or the "watered-down" 737-300 version with projected ROUND DIALS like you find on Southwest 737NGs and Air Berlin 737NGs?


Best of luck to you in the future!

LD,

I'm rated on both so I can tell you that IMHO the Airbus is a much more pleasent place to work. It is much more comfortable. more spacious and quieter.

The NG fit that EJ use is as the 744, full PFD and ND only they have not taken the EICAS option.

The airplanes are fine, the pilots are nice guys, but the management is total cr@p. So I suggest you look elsewhere.

Northern Boy,

They haven't sent you a P45?

Well at least you got out, good luck mate!