GO-fly
 

This weeks ad in flight says they offer "excellent salary, benefits and share options package".

So, what are they (for an FO)?

Hmmmm, starts at 28,000 for non-typed FO, plus 6,000 sector pay (70% tax free). 40,000 loss of licence cover, 10 pds a month for car parking. I think the next step is after 1 year to 34,000 basic.

Have to buy your own shirts. No medical benefits. Good upgrade opportunites in a rapidly expanding company. They hope to float in a couple of years and all current employees can take up share options that (if all goes according to plan) should be worth about a years salary.

10 Family and Friends tickets for 25 pds return confirmed seating on GO. Some benefits with Buzz and KLMuk, BA benefits disappear in 6 months.

:eek: oh yeah, stunning!

Whats the deal for captains (737 rated)?

:p

"Have to buy your own shirts!" So it looks like regular visits to the Oxfam shops to stay stocked up then!

Oleo, Thanks for giving us some info on Go.

Could you comment on Go's rostering practices?

Specifically, hours per month, number of standby duties, days off, number of nightstops and night duties.

Perhaps more importantly are the patterns sensibly planned to avoid fatigue?

For those of us who are applying it would be really useful to know how we might live.

Out of interest does anybody know the package being offered for Captains.

And what are working conditions / patterns like in GO.

In reply to my own question, I just found this from BALPA.

Cpts £52,500 - in pension scheme
£54,700 - not in scheme

F/O 300 hrs 737, 2000hrs TT
or 1000 similar jet, 2000 TT
or 2000 TP 500 PIC - £37,400 (year 2)

F/O < 500 hours 737
or none of the above
or non type rated - £27,500 year 1
- £34,300 year 2

Some info given is out of date:

Captain - £62,000 basic plus average £775 (after tax) sector/nightstop equates to average take home £4300 p/month before pension deductions.

Expect to work your arse off (target is 900 hours per annum, lots of night flights in summer, some gruelling 4 sector/12 hour duty days, plenty of roster disruption due to being constantly under-crewed.

Very good early command prospects once 3,500TT/1,000type, and a forthcoming requirement for nearly 100 pilots over next 9 months.

But, at the end of the day Low-Cost is Pants, so you'd be better off working for a "proper airline".

Hmmm. That doesn't sound very good. The well known dodgy deal 'Short Staffing' Not the sort of job you would do for very long.

Do Go offer part time on either a 50% or 75% roster?

[ 20 August 2001: Message edited by: Son Of Piltdown ]

Good person to ask about "life at Go" would be Crashdive - he voted with his feet and went to BWA - hear he's loving it there.

Hamroll is right, if you want lifestyle, don't work for a low cost airline, especially Go, who combine the worst of both worlds - long days and night flights, all mixed up together, so by the end of an average (18 sector) week, you won't know your arse from your elbow!

In addition, Ed Winter, Go's Chief Operating Officer has steadfastly refused to attend BALPA union meetings, to the extent that Chris Darke has, I believe, recently had a crisis meeting to force him to the negotiating table.

Since the recent MBO, Go are under even more pressure to make money, and one or two worrying trends eg the recent withdrawal without consultation of various allowances, and possible introduction of new lower pay scales for new entrants are all "negatives" from a flight crew point of view.

Sure, Go have introduced a share option scheme, but on a much reduced value to new entrants, which might be worth diddly in three year's time anyway.

To all aspirants I would say if you need hours, then you'll get them aplenty at Go, but if you want lifestyle then look elsewhere.

Could anyone give me some idea of how many nightstops and nightflights you could expect from the GLA/EDI base ?

Also - what is time to Command ?

Many thanks

I'm a 737 captain and was thinking of looking at GO but reading the above posts I'm now not sure...............
Is it really THAT bad????????????????

Honest answers really appreciated.

:cool:

For Capts Go isn't worth going near. Unless you have a few pounds of flesh to loose!

100 Hours per month or near as dam it. 5 days on- 2 off. Tho the Roster is very stable.

Part time rosters are available- but the guy's currently on them ( two weeks on two weeks off) are still managing 650 hours a year! And you'll be on half pay (nearly).

As Oleo says, no shirts, no car park (unless you pay 10 pounds per month, and no food.

Lots of night stops in GLA/EDI/BFS/Bristol none outside UK.

People are nice to with and it's a very good place for a new pilot to get in experience and hours. Unless you have loads of energy- dont join!

Fast moving company with lots of expansion- working for them is never a dull moment!

Jeepers ! it doesn't get any better does it?

I work full time and fly 650 hours a year.

How can they call it part time with that amount of flying?

3iii don't take prisoners do they?

They have this company by the nuts.

What is the likelihood of GO being in the market for new aeroplanes soon and if so would it be 737NGs or Airbus - any ideas?

GoforFun,
Thanks a lot for the info, think I'll steer clear..................

:cool:

Don't believe every comment you read on these pages.
There are several people I know in Go and they are all quite happy there - conditions, especially for Captains, have improved considerably over the past year.

Anybody know what is involved during GO assesment day?