Do BA pilots get free flights on other airlines?
 

Hi there,

Apologies if I'm in the wrong forum but I didn't know where else to post it. I work at Heathrow and on multiple occasions I've seen BA pilots (in their uniform) go into Terminal 2 and walk up to the Aer Lingus ticket desk, pick up what seems to be a boarding pass and walk towards security. I'm assuming they're commuting back home? Does that then mean that they can get tickets on any airlines within the IAG group? Or maybe only just for commuting purposes? I'm really interested to know so if anyone has any knowledge of this, could they kindly please post below.

We have fair few commuters who use Aer Lingus, they may well choose to travel in uniform, they will almost certainly not be travelling for free.

As to your general point..I'm not going to give you chapter and verse on staff travel benefits but BA does have reciprocal arrangements for staff travel with other airlines ( not just IAG) but I think I can safely say there's very little "free" travel..but I do know from experience as a "commuter" that pretty much everybody that sees assumes that if you are uniform you must be travelling for free... I wish..

As mentioned by wiggy, free staff travel is pretty much non existent. You may be entitled to heavily reduced airfares but certainly not free, taxes and charges must also almost always be paid exactly like a regular passenger, at least that's how it is where I work and other airlines i know of.

Interline is available (ID90) as part of staff travel. The ZED agreements cover where you can go and with whom. Its pretty extensive, but doesn't cover any routes covered by Company.

Rate charged at a mileage rate I believe. You can get some pretty decent rates once you get outside of the UK and onerous APD regime. So, flights to AMS/ Munchen then catch Clog Air/Lufty. Oh, some good regional rates available in the USA too, for getting from A to B there.

Three words - Air Passenger Duty

The only crews I know who travel for "free" are freight dogs on Company jump seats to/from UK. One of the few perks and usual rules apply - have a plan B

Free travel
 

In the old days especially with the yanks free travel was available but BEA ground staff refused to let crew have the perks. I flew to Rio in the early 70s for a service charge purely by being persistent..my hostess girlfriend paid a small fortune.
In the late 80s, although I had a ticket, I was offered a jumpseat internally in the states buckshe. Like everywhere its who you know.

Wot's Staff Travel ?

Having been told on joining B.O.A.C. in 1958 that the Staff Travel Concession continued for Life once one was in receipt of an Airways Pension at normal retirement at the then age of 55, many years later I subsequently accepted voluntary Severance at the behest of the Company but it also suited me at the time, and one condition was immediate, albeit reduced, Pension payments and re-emphasis that the acceptance of pension payments entitled me to Staff Travel for Life. Changed circumstances at final retirement suggested a move to New Zealand, and with Staff Travel and "Agreements" with partner airlines enabling affordable tavel to UK and USA that was "alright".

Yeah ! Right ! In 2009 Willie wotsisname , the then CEO, invoked S.T. 2009, a change of rules which decreed that I was too old, and now too long retired to qualify for the Staff Travel that I had worked for, and been promised, so piss off. Note: .. Board Members still qualify for Lifetime Staff Travel regardles of previous years of service, as do Iberia staff, part of the same IAG group still controlled by the aforementioned Willie - how amazing !

If I wasn't convinced that my APS pension wasn't related to the continuing existence of B.A., I'd actively support any movement to put them out of business, no chance, but I can certainly ensure that none of my hard earned pension is ever used to buy commercial tickets, and never have since they kicked us "oldies" - who worked to create the once proud airline that the present Board have the pleasure of working for - out.

I actually don't disagree with the provisions of S.T. 2009, which ensures that those who only work for a relatively short time don't eventually qualify for more years eligibility for Staff Travel in retirement than they worked, but those later kicked out didn't join under those rules, and were "promised" S.T. for Life. Newcomers have the chance to choose whether or not to accept the present, more restrictive, concession. Those recently kicked out were given no choice. Nice.

In answer to the initial enquiry ... My recollection is that wheras after a certain length of service one qualified for at least one "free" trip per year, this was never available on partner airlines acknowledging reciprocal staff travel agreements.

Yours in disgust,

ExSp33db1rd ( in fact I'm so pissed off with B.A. that I an seriously considering changing this moniker)

Nothing is ever for 'free', especially in BA

Certainly nothing free, just checking my STravel. About €50 O/W leaving in 2 hrs. Lhr-Dub.

ExSp33db1rd, Please don't become an ExProone.

Willie's little second cousin is a very long tenured CEO in Australia.

A connection working for the said airline (Captain 25 plus years) had family trying to get on a flight on Christmas day.
Given that the floors of bureaucracy had been vacant for weeks, they were surprised that there was so much "Duty travel" with no date of joining.
Which was informed means new "management" class, which given the changes to staff travel have about 10 minutes of company time.