RHS Ezy to BA LHR switch?
 

Hello all,

I'm currently a second officer at Ezy in my second year (FO contract starting in October at 2 year mark) at approx 900 hours on type A320. I have realised I am quite confident I don't have any interest in long haul but seeing some peers moving to British Airways mainline have been stuck trying to decide if I would like to make the move. For reference I am in my 20s and as I say have no interest in sitting on a long haul flight deck and flying an approach twice a month (although I understand those that do). Staying at Loco obviously gives flexibility in base options (lovely regional bases) and being home every night which appeals especially thinking down the road when family etc will hopefully be a factor, and I am very aware the grass isn't always greener and very much am happy at easyJet. On the flipside I always hear about the infamous BA seniority list and the benefits taking advantage of my young age and (hopefully) the long time this provides to build seniority and quality of life. I'm very conscious of not just chasing a perception of a company and like I say I am very happy here so would not want to leave a good thing to regret it, but also don't want to regret not making the move 10+ years down the road. Would appreciate any experience or advice anyone has from either side of the fence. Many thanks!

It sounds like you have already weighed the pros and cons.

Have a chat with your mates/ ex-colleagues who have made the jump. I don’t know any personally who have done so and then ended up regretting it.

There is no harm in applying, doing the assessments and then making an informed decision.

EZY is a great place to work and I reckon at a regional base is one of the best gigs in the UK but it is hard work as you know.

BA short haul full time works great if you live near the M25. I hear it’s less enjoyable if you’re commuting.

Don’t completely discount Long Haul. You may not want it now but when you do get the twitch you want to be in the right place to have a dab… and if you don’t like it you can always shift back over to the 320.

Remember, those deep night AYT/SSH/HRG’s have a longer FDP than some of BA’s long haul routes!

If you’re happy there then stay. Why move and risk the most important thing in life?

In my early and late twenties I had no interest in long haul. I thought I’d be at easy for life, but after Covid and just generally getting older. The itch to try, or at least be able to try when I’m ready to, some long haul, was too strong. I left after 14 years in my mid thirties.
Agree if you have no interest in living in the south east, BA short haul will be a challenge at times. People commute from all over, by air and road, but it certainly adds cost and stress.
Another thing to consider, whilst past performance is no guarantee to future returns, your roster at easy will not get better over time, whereas BA, as you gain more seniority you’ll have more control
over when you work and what type of work you do. I enjoyed my time at easyjet, I met my wife and had a lovely secondment to Porto, but I am glad I was brave enough to leave it and go to BA, even though I’ll always be on the junior side compared to my peers from flight training.

Like you, I had no interest in longhaul when I applied for an A320 job at BA (my previous outfit were looking shaky). I ended up being offered a longhaul job and (listening to the advice on here and elsewhere), I took it as the first chance to get onto the seniority list. It was a complete eye opener (I didn't know what I didn't know) and loved every minute of the following 12 years. I headed back to the 320 for a command and enjoyed the change for another 9 years before coming full circle back to longhaul. That is the beauty of BA, there are always opportunities to move as your career and life progress.

The commute (UK) is much easier on longhaul (still a faff!) but if I hadn't jumped ship, I imagine I'd have been quite happy doing what I was doing at my previous airline (if it had kept going), doing it closer to home and remaining nonethewiser about longhaul!

You're two years in, 900 hours (just getting started in a hopefully long career) and it sounds like you're enjoying it. There's plenty of time to stay put for a bit longer and then look around (seniority takes a hit), jump in and have a look (you'll probably be able to get back, albeit not necessarily where you want to be) or stay, get a command in few years and enjoy the benefits of being closer to home. Any of those sound good to me!

Best of luck :ok:

I am also one who never in a million years wanted to do long haul. I had done four years of short haul in BA and was disheartened as I was getting way too little time off at home, and not enough time off down-route either. I decided I would try long haul and quit BA if I couldn’t stomach it. Over two decades later - I still love my job, and work/life balance. If you think you’ll miss the regular approaches, do a bit of general aviation for fun? That’s what I did.

BA certainly isn't for everyone, and if you're enjoying life in orange right now then there's an argument to be made 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. Having said that, your biggest advantage is that BA has no upfront cost, and no bond to pay back if you leave. Give it a go - if you really hate it worst case you leave and head back to Ezy in a year or two (economy permitting) and are back where you would have been anyway. Best case scenario you've joined the MSL early and will take advantage of that for the next 40 years.

If you’re in London, definitely consider it. For those in a regional base, it depends on your future plans. You could potentially have a command within five to seven years and apply for a part-time role, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. Of course, if you want to experience long-haul travel, we have the scheme with Virgin Atlantic. However, this isn’t guaranteed every year and falls short of British Airways’ offerings. For a family life environment, EasyJet is hard to beat, based on my career and experience with various airlines over the years, BA gets better the longer you’re there. Over the years, I’ve spoken to many people who’ve moved to British Airways and other airlines. None have admitted to regretting it, but they wouldn’t admit it even if they did I suspect. What I’ve heard is that British Airways can feel soulless compared to a regional base at EasyJet as you will fly with people you may never see from one year to the next. You’re young and the world is currently quite unstable. My advice is to prioritise job security and hold off until things settle down.

As others have stated, from people I know, the key is whether you're happy with a London base or would rather be at a regional base.

If the decision is playing on your mind, you'd be best to try for BA, get on the seniority list, get a few years under your belt and then make a final decision. You'd be in a much better place to choose having worked for both outfits. And it doesn't seem like there are many downsides to leaving EZY for a few years and then returning? Especially at relatively low hours.

If I was you though, I'd definitely hold off on making a big decision like this until the global situation settles. You don't want to be the last in at BA, that means first out...

This reminds me of the years old and lengthy "EZY v BA" thread, or something along those lines. In my opinion there simply is no comparing the career paths at any of the low cost carriers and BA. Neither in terms of finances, career satisfaction nor lifestyle.

Every now and again I see a reminder of a previous life at an ULCC and it all comes back, then I think of where I am now and by God are they different lives. I simply cannot believe that anyone would experience them both and deliberately choose the former.

I know personally of a handful who left BA over the years to go north but they are so few and did so for very specific personal reasons. It is no consensus or tidal wave, as these forums would have you believe.

I presume that you are not MPL?

Yes I am

go to BA and get LH asap to test it then a SH command straight after, if its not for you. bda321 above is so on the money. the greatest thing i can gather from your post is that youre happy and content. remember this feeling and keep it for the rest of your career!
ezy is great, but anything is great early in your career. moving to tui i had my eyes opened massively to what an airline with bells and whistles looks like.
ultimately either is a fantastic career you've earned for yourself - get out there!

Possibly the most cringe worthy post I’ve seen on here. Fly and serve and lobster claw?? Really.
please no one make a career call based on this

Pass me the bucket so I can throw up! Guess what, not everyone wants LH. Many want to be close to home and not living out of a suitcase. Seeing Cape Town for the 40th time starts to lose its appeal.

I agree about the bucket, but Cape Town never gets old.

I read the extolling of BA long haul with puzzlment too. I did it for a few years, and there was almost nothing I liked about it, and a lot which I hated. The immutable LH stuff like the boredom, desperately trying to stay awake in the endless cruise, very few landings, the gaggle drag of a dozen C/C whilst getting from plane to yet another anonymous hotel room taking for evvver when you're dog tired, wishing the hours away until report whilst knowing you have to sleep but can't, jet lag; the same salty glutinous food every day, but you eat it cos it's there and you're bored. I even caught every tropical disease and parasite going (possiblly because I liked to go hiking, and also from the beds thousands of people have slept in). It seems to attract some right egotists , and alao a large minority of the captains were utterly self absorbed - perhaps no different from elsewhere, but you have to sit with them for hours (albeit for me it was the previous generation of captains).

That said, if you're under 30, I'd still switch, just because you get slightly better control over your home life and your career destiny, and better money, perks and pension in the long run. And the option for SH (though the slog and frustration of LHR SH didn't appeal one bit either.)

Having been around a bit, including a 4 year stint flying the flag, I am now at my most content in my 20 year career. EasyJet command, regional base 15 min from home, 75% part time contract with a fixed roster (3 days a week) that involves very little weekend work. All while enjoying a total package of £160k+ (including £10k company pension contribution).

Either is a good choice at your age however if you’re anything like me, 40 year old you would thank you for staying at easyJet. 28 year old you probably won’t be too sad either if you get command and are knocking about on £200k.

I'm sorry to anyone who has read this and got the wrong impression of BA pilots, we're not all like this. Cringeworthy.

I'm ex-easyJet, flown both BA shorthaul & longhaul and I've loved every moment of it.

I'm very glad I left easyJet for BA despite missing some aspects of the eJ job, I feel the overall benefits to my life are better working for BA. I miss the credit dense working at easyJet which gave me more days off at home in the UK.

Yes you'll get paid more as a captain at easyJet in your early command years, but personally I couldn't face the inevitable monotony of flying an A320 around Europe for the rest of my flying career and I didn't want my last trip before retirement to be a max FDP baiting 4 sector day on routes I know like the back of my hand.

You're very early on at Ezy. Take some perspective from all those that been there a long while. Some will be happy. Some will regret not moving.

the being home every night is a bit of a misnomer these days. Most duty days are 8hrs+, probably a third 10hrs+. You may be home but you're not there in spirit after a while. Earlies your on the floor by the time you get home. Kate's split with 12 hrs rest and your out the door. Your 5 days on your like ships in the night with the family.

BALPA is running the smarter healthier campaign. There's a historic reason.

BA is by no means perfect. But you get far fewer 30 year olds craving part time contracts because they can't hack full time. Long term health wise personally at 20 I would say BA is the better option.