British Airways Hiring Cabin Crew
Oct 26, 2017, 1:56 am
#48
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
Basically what I was getting at. Job cuts are often roundly applauded by the folks in those locations (with apologies to the folks posting here who spend a lot of time in those locations, and the handful I met flying BA 1 a while back, my intent was not to put you in a box and do not take offence as the characterisation does not apply to every individual), no matter whether it is actually a smart move to do so or not. Sometimes wage/job cuts are best for business, sometimes they aren't. Some wage/job cuts cut the fat, some cut the bone. But many of the trader types act as though most wage/job cuts are cutting only fat no matter the underlying realities. As noted, there is a major cost involved with recruiting, and then training new employees. There will always be a natural turnover of employees with any business, from BA to M&S to the corner pub, but creating artificial turnover can drive these less visible costs up significantly. Paying people the rates BA is advertising here, considering the cost of living anywhere near London, is unlikely to engender loyalty. BA has clearly decided that these rates make sense for their business model, and that the job market replies favorably enough to these rates. Whether it is shortsighted or not only time will tell.
I have a family and a mortgage and I pay all my taxes, and that is the same for the people around me. And in my firm for example, the cost cutting has a huge impact on the quality of product I can deliver. Which irks. And in my industry what we're seeing is a 'juniorisation' of the skill base. Who do you cut? an MD? or 10 jnr employees for the same saving?
Given the fact that this latest seal cull effectively started in 2008, I think we are long past cutting the 'fat'. And so I appreciate the fact that this is true of other industries also.
But the applications to join don't seem to be drying up. So there is one less natural brake on this trend. And I guess we get to find out whether that's still true for airlines too. See what the CC and Pilot applications look like in a few weeks time.
Oct 26, 2017, 2:27 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,870
I went once to the open day and managed to pass all the tests etc apart from the final interview (i was not going to take the job anyway as i had a better job offer the same week). The majority of people are either young females who things being a FA is like 20 years ago or males (usually LGBT) that like the idea of flying abroad. The salary is quite low unless you live close to the airports etc but of course they make a big presentation when you get there. You know working for BA blah blah etc. The really sad thing is that after all the assesments and before the final interview we were a bunch of 20 people or so left and they said they will provide lunch ( bear in mind the whole assesment was about 8 hours!). The lunch was a small bag of crisps and a ham and cheese tesco sandwich. That was during 2015. I will not be shocked if they dont provide any lunch nowadays or maybe just the crisps....
Oct 26, 2017, 2:30 am
#50
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
In the words of Austin Powers.... "Ouch Baby, very ouch!"
Oct 26, 2017, 2:43 am
#51
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Latinpass Million Miler. BA Gold.
Posts: 3,544
BA didn't provide a ticket for the interview? Things are going down
Oct 26, 2017, 2:45 am
#52
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: I don't fly enough
Posts: 204
I'd like to throw out that as a supervisor in a Central London pub I only get Ł8.25. I have to pay Zone 2 rent prices etc, whereas I suspect staff at LHR would be paying cheaper prices associated with areas around the airport. So, it's ok for hospitality but not great.
Oct 26, 2017, 2:49 am
#53
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland
Programs: not a lot
Posts: 1,774
FTFY
Oct 26, 2017, 3:02 am
#54
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sussex by the Sea
Programs: BA Silver, for now at least...
Posts: 577
So much for London Living Wage...
Oct 26, 2017, 4:48 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 83
This made me laugh.
Taken from the BA site: https://jobs.ba.com/jobs/applicationprocess/
Before submitting your application review what you’ve written to make sure it accurate and error-free.
Oct 26, 2017, 5:11 am
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
At a maximum of about US$27,000, I can see why. You could make more money as a bartender or waiter at a restaurant or hotel. McDonald's around where I live pays $11 an hour.
Then again, being a flight attendant shouldn't really be a career.
Then again, being a flight attendant shouldn't really be a career.
Oct 26, 2017, 5:13 am
#57
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,597
Oct 26, 2017, 7:37 am
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I remember staying at the fabulous [mod: hotel name redacted] in downtown San Francisco for a week. It's the hotel also used by the British Airways crew. Every day for seven days there was a new crew coming in.
I remember overhearing some of the younger flight attendants complain at the pool about passengers in business-class on the flight they just serviced. None of them seemed to understand (1) how much business-class costs and (2) that people who pay that much money have certain expectations.
Part of the problem, of course, is the pay for these flight attendants is so low that few of them probably have ever been in a position where they could afford international travel in business-class, let alone first-class. Thus, they have no idea.
I remember reading about the famed Peninsula chain of hotels. They give each of their new hires a free weekend stay at one of their hotels, all of which are five-star hotels (often in the top five hotels in every market). They do this because they want their staff, across every department, to understand what their guests expect.
I remember overhearing some of the younger flight attendants complain at the pool about passengers in business-class on the flight they just serviced. None of them seemed to understand (1) how much business-class costs and (2) that people who pay that much money have certain expectations.
Part of the problem, of course, is the pay for these flight attendants is so low that few of them probably have ever been in a position where they could afford international travel in business-class, let alone first-class. Thus, they have no idea.
I remember reading about the famed Peninsula chain of hotels. They give each of their new hires a free weekend stay at one of their hotels, all of which are five-star hotels (often in the top five hotels in every market). They do this because they want their staff, across every department, to understand what their guests expect.
Last edited by NWIFlyer; Oct 30, 2017 at 4:25 pm Reason: Remove CC hotel name for privacy
Oct 26, 2017, 7:49 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
Surely that, although a valid point, can be addressed with the right training. But I agree that actually it's not a bad idea. Pick a lightly loaded route and send them out and back. CIHY - what do you think? I have no idea of sheer numbers of candidates they'd need to do this for.
But alternatively, there are cabin sims just like there are flight deck sims aren't there? So it's do-able on the ground too.
But alternatively, there are cabin sims just like there are flight deck sims aren't there? So it's do-able on the ground too.
