But if that's all you do 3 times a week...

I’m getting slightly out of what I know-given that I’ve never been on a part time contract. But in 10+ years I’ve never gone above 600 hours for the year (regional base).

if you’re joining on a part time contract initially, I’m not sure the hours will be massively less than the full time guys if I’m honest. Certainly in regional bases, full timers often only fly a handful of times during a winter month…so if you’re off for half of the winter you’re not necessarily missing out on a lot of hours flying. From what I’ve heard if you join on a reduced/part time contract, you generally got offered a full time contract about a year after final line check. Happy to be corrected on any of the above though..

That three times a week sounds pretty horrific. Do that for a career and you’ll struggle to make 65.

Has to be a balance!

And in summer, I'd bet it's more than three trips a week, maybe two long plus two equally dull, delayed, Spain trips, back in time for breakfast. And working every weekend, save for special rdos.

I absolutely hated bucket and spade flying, and English shell suits are by far the most troublesome of all of Europe. On that subject, jet 2 is a highly geared play (big expensive airbus expansion) on the state of purely the UK economy, facing as it is, an even more Marxist lurch to oblivion; doesn't look good.

Glad you have such a positive outlook, midnight cruiser!

Yes, you're right, I'm biased - as a long term expat, it saddens me to see what the uk has become from what i remember, and it's difficult to feel positive. My company really struggles to persuade anyone to take a UK base, and there is much to be said, EJ included, for having the scope for EU options (not least because marginal tax on UK captains has become ridiculously high - more or less the highest in the world).

There is a balance. If you're not on a particular early or late preference then you generally end up with a week or two of lates and then a week or two of earlies.

Some people like the long late duties and are on a late preference. Personally I couldn't think of anything worse.

Love my late preference, nice and quiet coming back from the Aegean and if there’s much disruption and delay you hit one of the few nice things about the non-Scheduling Agreement, the 4am cutoff that automatically gifts you a rest day

Can anyone tell me what’s morale like in Jet2 at the moment ?
I hear wildly varying stories.
Is there any pay rise agreed for 2026 ?
Any sign of improved staff travel ?

I can't speak for all the bases but in the northern bases on a PM preference you won't even do that 3 times per week in peak summer because you would be out of hours. So a lot of people choose PM preference because it means coming into work less; 9-12 days in the month max with the rest of the month rest days or days off. And FWIW I have never worked "max" hours every month of the summer. Sometimes 2 or 3 months are tough but never the whole summer season.

Morale? The staff will be beaten down until morale improves...
Staff travel?? Haha, good one. They calim to have a form of staff travel available, but it isn't anything like what Easy offer.

Morale is probably wildly variable, that's why. Most people seem quite content. Those that aren't have left or are leaving.

4% on basic, 10% on sector pay. Additionally a new payment of 2 medium sectors when rostered away from base on top of duty pay.

Haven't used staff travel but it is improving usually subject to the whims of the hotel if you're not just after flight only.

For new starts or SO wants to get promoted to FO fast, what are the buiser bases in the network and one can fly more hours per year? I heard there is an oven to heat up food, what do most flight crew do regarding food? Do they have to buy food onboard?

Why don't you just ask the crew to stash your feed in their ice drawer? Colder than a witch's tit in there.

Different ice, different container.

I can honestly say I've never had an issue keeping sandwiches/meals cold. The cabin crew are always more than happy to help. Not sure where this has come from but its certainly not an issue in my base or any other base I have operated out of.

Exactly
The only time I’ve had issues with keeping food cold, is when out of base with an early start and no fridge in the room.
Personally I’d rather they gave us the money instead of crew food, I always brought my own food when flying in the sandpit. Decades of airline food, is a fast track to kidney stones/heart attack etc. But that’s purely my opinion & I understand why people will disagree.

I joined 3 yrs ago and morale has definitely dropped compared to when I joined. But most of the people are happy overall & it’s always a good day out with lovely crew.

But compared to the sandpit, I find the summer rosters similar, but at least I’m at home the vast majority of nights. Winter time is by far the easiest flying job I’ve had.

Overall I’m happy with my decision to join, it’s what I expected.

”Staff travel” is definitely lacking compared to the competition though

I've never kept food cold in 10 years of bringing my own. Sandwiches have been fine and the hot meal gets fully heated for 30 mins by the crew and has never made me ill. The only time food has made me sick on an aeroplane was about 20 years ago and that was airline-provided crew food.

If you're on the Airbus, you'll notice the ledge below the No. 3 window is icy to the touch, so I'd stow your sandwich (wrapped) on there. Just remember to move it if you're planning to slide open the DV window on the ground, otherwise the subsequent tech log entry becomes a difficult one to word.

I didn’t mean it was one or the other.
Crew meals aren’t free to the business, the cost will be recovered from somewhere. Most likely it will be from crew pay.

If you don’t think you have correct food storage for your duty, that is a massive safety issue! Have you reported it?

As much as I’m sure the whole of EasyJet are refreshing the thread constantly to find out about Jet2’s crew food cooling methods; perhaps we should get the thread back to issues that are more pertinent to most people 😉

I find this subject extremely important, as I am sure most other people too. I am no longer 18 and have all sort of gastric issues when working hours straight on empty stomach.

easyJet are getting RPI plus 1% pay rise shortly. Taking captains basic pay into the 150’s.
are Jet2 still planning to compete to attract Airbus pilots ?

is there a pay rise with j2 shortly? I noticed that there is a pay rise from SO to captain. Do new starters also get a pay rise?

There are no pay scales in J2, so yes everyone gets a pay rise at the same time

dynamicq

If you have problems such as those you describe, maybe you should see your A.M.E. Are you fit to fly?

Dont be bitter. Any healthy individual will eventually get some sort of stomach issues when skipping meals. You can actually ask your AME yourself.

This profession is wildly unhealthy. If you don’t take active steps looking after yourself, you will look like some of the fragile skippers I sometimes fly with. Absolutely nothing wrong about caring your wellbeing and comparing it between airlines. For some of us younger folks it’s a deal breaker. Long gone the days of breaking your neck over employer loyalty for some questionable rewards.

looking at going LH back to SH can anyone tell me the salary as Direct Entry for SFO?

from April 1st £95955 basic for SFO. I usually worked off about 5k sector/duty pay in the RHS. Profit share the last couple of years for RHS I think was around the 9/10k mark. But it’s not contractually binding that it’s paid and is proportional to number of employees and obviously the amount of profit

Wow that's big money for a SFO ! What's the incentive to upgrade to captain ?

I have decided to wait it out for EasyJet although Jet2 offered a position with a start date and EasyJet is Holding pool I just had a better feeling about EasyJet.

Salary is £5k more @ £151,537 and with loyalty bonus @ 5% salary years 2-4 £7.5k 10% 5-9 years £15.2k 15% 10+ years £22.8k.
Day off Payments £600 more.
Sector Pay more roughly £22k per year, and yes I know EasyJet fly more ! but comparing figures their sector pay is more.
Disruption payments £300 along side scheduling agreement.
Great staff travel.
More than £200 discount voucher off a Holiday £500 £750 £1000 as you reach year service.
Union
Free food !!
Better death in service and sick pay
20% uplift of your Salary for training positions
You don't have to take a PAY CUT for a fixed pattern roster !!

But Jet2 do beat them on pension contributions at 10% to Easys 7%

Until they call !! keep flying the desert !!

Flysafe everyone!!