Are you suggesting that the business may be at risk because of what has been happening?

I don’t think he’s suggesting that at all. I took it to mean that in light of current events prospective joiners should be fully aware of what sort of “organisation” they are trying to get into.

Thanks. Yes absolutely. I certainly hope a solution can be found soon...not good for anyone.

They are still working on the manpower plan for next year so unlikely to hear anything yet. Expect to get three months notice pretty much on the dot if you are slated for January.

When did these offers go out?

and for which fleet(s)?!

Definitely do not just gloss over the warning I posted further up the thread. The behaviour from management has been utterly disgusting and I’m now ashamed to be a part of this airline. Management in the desert couldn’t even hope to exceed some of the abhorrent things that have been happening. You are not escaping that kind of culture by coming to BA, in fact it may be out of the frying pan into the fire considering your salary for enduring such things will be considerably less. Make no mistake, British Airways with the incumbent management is a horrible place to work.

What is going on at BA. I always thought that they were THE airline to work for?

Is someone inside BA able to clarify the requirements to upgrade to the left seat SH? I have been through most of this thread and I understand you require seniority, but I’ve also seen reference to hours too. Some posters seem to suggest a figure of 3000 - is this hours or number of the seniority list, or both?

If you joined today what would be an approximate seniority number?

That’s hours. Not sure of the exact number but sounds about right. I’m terms of seniority I wouldn’t worry about that as Gatwick commands have gone right to the bottom of the list, you’d probably get an OK bid in the first window.

I keep posting this right now but it’s very, very important. Be fundamentally aware that this company is absolutely toxic and the atmosphere poisonous. It’s going to take a hell of a lot to fix this after the dispute has ended and it’s difficult to imagine how it could ever happen absent a complete change at the top and also a complete overhaul of flight ops management. If we lose this dispute then 2 crew three day West Coast slipping in an airport hotel are next on the agenda. Not only does it point to absolute exhaustion and hellish rosters for any junior FOs on Long Haul (not to mention the rest of us!) but you also have to think of the amount of pilots BA can get rid of if they’re only using 2 crew on many of the LH routes. Does that fill you with confidence being #4500 on the MSL? It’s vitally important to think about this bit before you take the plunge.

I joined BA and throughly regret it now. I would urge extreme caution to anybody thinking of joining right now at the very least. If you want my honest opinion I would say run a mile. If you’re getting a quick command and doing the hours then buggering off somewhere else quickly then that’s just about the only justification to join this outfit right now IMVHO.

Certainly a wise aviator considering his/her options and BA should recognise that the future shape of any agreements regarding commands, command upgrades, aspirational bidding between fleets and seats and a thousand and one other things such as rostering, hotels, etc. is completely dependent on the outcome of the current dispute.

Where are you planning to go?

I think the only option right now is to take the LHS at Gatwick, get the hours and go somewhere else as DEC ASAP. Personally I’d go back to easyJet or just do China for ten years. Trouble is in the light of current events that might become a very popular course of action and hence the seniority for Gatwick command less easily achievable.

Thanks for this. So how does the bidding work? Is it open for a set period once a year or something like that? I have plenty of hours, but need to decide if it’s worth the gamble and not to mention the prep for the NASA computer assessment.

P.S. no rose tinted glasses here. Thank you for your honesty.