Nordic basing isn’t happening this winter, so you’ll be U.K. based regardless of if you’re given a dual base or not. It might be scrapped permanently if this winter goes well without using the dual base.

Command is rumoured to have come down to and including all 2014 joiners. Still awaiting bid results, however.

737 doesn’t do any Nordic work. All 73 UK bases were generally fairly easy to get into up until recently. LGW is overcrewed as it stands, but all subject to change pending the bid results.

Rosters are crap. You will find yourself on endless bullets usually with some positioning thrown in, all planned by people who’d not be trusted with a TV remotein any sensible world.

Typical bit bit of stupidity:
Day 1 position Your Base to NCL, preferably by the most circuitous route and don’t forget to plan it during the rush hour to save 38p on allowances. Check in to cheapest hotel possible but remember to spend at least 30 mins of your already traffic reduced rest ringing the Hotac department (who will have gone home) to get them to book you in.

Day 2 operate NCL-BGI. Be prepared to tear your hair out doing all the jobs other people are paid to do as everything will have been contracted to the lowest bidder. Upside, you will have a great day out with a great crew once the doors are shut although you can expect at least one disruptive pax who is pissed up and getting arsey because they think £200 all in on the lash entitles them to an in board Presidential Suite. You can also expect some genuinely aggrieved pax who’ve booked and paid for Premium but been bumped and are now spread out all over Economy.

On arrival stand in the blazing heat in a uniform made by the lowest bidder while you wait for the transport. Amuse yourself watching VS and BA crew waltz past straight on to big buses to their decent hotel. Eventually board two cramped and smelly minibuses of unknown Chinese origin. On arrival at hotel, wait minimum 1 hour for rooms as hotel will be hot bedding despite their denials and the contract specifically stating it’s not allowed and the Hotac manager saying he’s spoken to the hotel about it.

Meet up in bar and bitch about everything. Don’t forget to slag BALPA off but then not bother emailing anyone official about it. Coordinate travel with A N Other crew who will be positioning with you tomorrow, ring Crewing to ask why the two crews are rostered 90 minutes apart even though they go on the same aircraft tomorrow and get told to go with what’s on your roster. Attempt sleep to the dulcet tones of reggae from the bar which does at least drown out the noise of the aircon that is expending so much energy making a noise it has none left to cool air.

Day 3. Ring transport to find out why it hasn’t turned up as booked by you personally just 16 hours ago. Get to airport and wait 90 minutes for the other crew who are on the same aircraft but with a different rostered departure time. Upside, you’re in the private jet terminal so rape the bar. Banter with the crew who will look a $million while you look like a sack of !!!! tied up with baling twine, Flight Deck Fashion, it’s for winners.

Board private aircraft raft which will hopefully be a Saab 340 and not the dreaded Wetdream Jetstream. If the latter you will be tech stopping. Upside, the local crews know us all and are top people who do the best to make the journey pleasant. Assist at least two of your crew off the aircraft at the other end as a result of the local hospitality.

Arrive in MBJ. Transport and Hotac as last night.

Day 4. Operate back to U.K., own base if lucky. Flight back is a repeat of flight out.

Day 5. Position back to base late afternoon after arriving around 0600 and getting to the hotel for a day stop.

3 days off, rinse and repeat. Other combinations are available.

LGW get better trips than MAN although IMHO MAN pax are easier going. BHX is a small base so getting in there unlikely as lots of senior guys.

Trips are rostered through Carmen with a small seniority loading. Top Tip, bid for what you DON’T want as that’s the last thing you’ll get. It’s crap.

Bring sense of humour, you’ll need it.

TUI is pretty much 100% Boeing NPs etc.

If it wasn’t for some great people to work with once you’re free of The Landside Idiots I’d have shot myself long ago. They make life good but if you’re expecting any kind of support or respect from beyond the crew level, you’ve made a mistake. Upside, my Pilot Manager has been brilliant with a number of pastoral care needs I’ve had which is probably why they’ve not been promoted.

It’s not quite that bad. After 13 years I can count on one hand the number of times a hotel hasn’t been booked.

Rosters are crap? well yeah they are but what does anyone expect when flying a full long haul roster? week orlando’s twice a month?

Crap hotels? well a few but most are OK. I personally hated the holiday hotels in Dominican and Jamaica but some are excellent, LIR/MRU springs to mind, I quite like the CUN hotel as well.

i have to to say I don’t see the appeal of long haul anymore, back on short haul and life’s great again... I’m currently sitting in the beer garden in the middle of 5 days off looking for ward to my weekend in the back garden, that’s the life for me!!

Hi Yeoman

I read this thread from the start and noticed a couple of years back you posted different sentiments. Has working there changed in the last couple of years (Thom to Tui) or have you just got wracked off with it? Genuine question in case it reads as sarky (it’s not meant if it does). What you describe does sound quite full on for one trip.

Thanks.

I had to smile at this comment by Yeoman - this is exactly what Thomson did to us a few years ago when travelling to Cancun.

Due to a configuration change they tried to tell us we were now in Economy and not sitting next to each other for 11 hours. Prolonged “discussion” at check-in eventually gave us a row of four economy seats for the two of us despite paying for the Premium legroom seats at the front.

Not a good start to the holiday - haven’t been back to Thomson/Tui.

No problem.

It’s a lot of the former and a fair bit of the latter. I don’t know what duties the Happy Squad are flying but my earlier post stems from my increasing frustration at having to sort loads of stuff that needs sorting because others have failed to do it. As a pilot I expect to manage wrinkles down route, it’s part of my job but I’m now managing routine stuff that should be being done and it’s starting to distract me from my real role, keeping it safe.

As for the eternal SH / LH debate, I’m happy enough on the Plastic Fantastic as it’s a nice aircraft to fly and suits a lazy git like me. It’s all the other crap that irks me, crap that could be got rid of if we invested some time, effort and cash in doing it properly rather than relentlessly looking for cost savings in one area that inevitably end up costing somewhere else. In short, I’m tired of picking up the bits. I also think SH is even worse, I’ve had a few health issues and been clearly told that the SH roster was not doing me any favours; apart from anything else, the sheer ergonomic stupidity of the 737 was ruining me!

i also like summer leave and for me, the 787 offers the opportunity for me to get away with my school age kids. I’ll put up with a lot to get that but it also begs the question why as a “family friendly” employer I had to make such a decision in the first place.

As for the oblique reference to “my position”, I’m giving that up too. I’m tired of people sniping who don’t have the pods to stick their heads above the parapet. The nomination process starts in a few days and I look forward to reading a load of manifestos from people who can clearly do a better job of it. I learnt to deal with disappointment a long time ago.....

As for the original question, yep, there would be someone in my seat before it was even cold if I left and yep, there are some good parts to the job, it’s just we seem to expend so much effort on making life difficult for no real gain when actually a little bit of effort would have so much positive effect.

Back in my box I go.

But before I go, Doobler, as a MAN bod with a load of other stuff on my roster I’ve never been to LIR or MRU. I’ve got more nights in the Divi than any man alive:p

A courtesy I sincerely appreciate. We are at cross purposes, I was attempting to continue to be as veiled / discrete as you were kind enough to be.

And I’m not touchy at times, I’m touchy all the bloody time!

I completely agree with Yeoman. I spent countless times chasing up hotel rooms / flights / taxis that were not booked in my tenure with Thomson / Tui or whatever they’re called this week. In 2 years with my Northern orientated airline, never had a problem. Go figure and be careful what you wish for.

hey mate,

are you rated ? Were you in the holding pool ?

BB......I concur. Golf on thursday, day at the cricket yesterday and in the garden all day today when not walking the hound......

BB.....I concur. Golf on thursday, day at the cricket yesterday and in the garden all day today when not walking the hound....lovely !