Where have all the BA staffers gone?
#91
Join Date: May 2006
Location: London Heathrow
Programs: British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 719
My situation was fairly similar, if perhaps maybe not quite as bleak as the one that BA.MF.CSM describes. I joined BA nearly seven years ago after a career largely working for regional and charter airlines, mostly flying, as well as some stints on the ground working for handling agents.
Like BA.MF.CSM, I was incredibly proud to have been offered the job at Mixed Fleet. I thought that I knew what I was letting myself in for. It was a new contract with worse terms and conditions, but brushed off too much negativity from friends who were already at BA and put it down to being a bit battle weary from the strikes.
I don’t regret my time at BA at all. I’ve made life-long friends, was the senior cabin crew member for an iconic brand on an iconic aircraft - the 747 - and the memories of that as well as the trips to some of the world’s key cities, I will always cherish.
What I certainly won’t cherish, is BA themselves. Having spent many years at charter airlines looking across the tarmac at the splendid Landor livery of the late 80’s and 90’s, I really thought that BA would be an incredible company to work for. Sadly, especially since the arrival of Mr Cruz, I found myself at dinner parties always mumbling “BA” if someone asked me where I worked because you’d just get a tirade from guests about how it’s all gone downhill or be regaled with their latest travel mishap. Also, with the poor industrial relations and the way in which strikers were treated on their return to work, I knew by the beginning of the summer that I wanted to leave. This was cemented when I saw not only how many of my colleagues of my era were going, but also when we returned from the industrial action and saw some of the recruitment that had taken place in our absence.
It was about that time that I started visiting the forum less. Some people started getting very personal, especially considering the industrial action which didn’t have any effect on them but did on my family, and rather than attempting reasonable debate and discussion, were just out to bait and argue. At one point, I was convinced that they might have been BA stooges.
I will always enjoy the friendships that I made on this forum and certainly the customers that I’ve bumped into, but am excited by the next challenge. I’m going into 2018 trying to feel better not bitter and wish all the best to my former colleagues and customers, but will continue reading from afar as a lurker, as I doubt that I’d have much to add once I’ve left.
Like BA.MF.CSM, I was incredibly proud to have been offered the job at Mixed Fleet. I thought that I knew what I was letting myself in for. It was a new contract with worse terms and conditions, but brushed off too much negativity from friends who were already at BA and put it down to being a bit battle weary from the strikes.
I don’t regret my time at BA at all. I’ve made life-long friends, was the senior cabin crew member for an iconic brand on an iconic aircraft - the 747 - and the memories of that as well as the trips to some of the world’s key cities, I will always cherish.
What I certainly won’t cherish, is BA themselves. Having spent many years at charter airlines looking across the tarmac at the splendid Landor livery of the late 80’s and 90’s, I really thought that BA would be an incredible company to work for. Sadly, especially since the arrival of Mr Cruz, I found myself at dinner parties always mumbling “BA” if someone asked me where I worked because you’d just get a tirade from guests about how it’s all gone downhill or be regaled with their latest travel mishap. Also, with the poor industrial relations and the way in which strikers were treated on their return to work, I knew by the beginning of the summer that I wanted to leave. This was cemented when I saw not only how many of my colleagues of my era were going, but also when we returned from the industrial action and saw some of the recruitment that had taken place in our absence.
It was about that time that I started visiting the forum less. Some people started getting very personal, especially considering the industrial action which didn’t have any effect on them but did on my family, and rather than attempting reasonable debate and discussion, were just out to bait and argue. At one point, I was convinced that they might have been BA stooges.
I will always enjoy the friendships that I made on this forum and certainly the customers that I’ve bumped into, but am excited by the next challenge. I’m going into 2018 trying to feel better not bitter and wish all the best to my former colleagues and customers, but will continue reading from afar as a lurker, as I doubt that I’d have much to add once I’ve left.
#92
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
@Lite, thank you too for your great contributions on FlyerTalk. Hopefully you'll continue to join in even after your departure from BA. I wish you well for your future and hope you enjoy the challenges ahead.
If you're flying over the next couple of weeks, I have a few MF flights coming up - LAS-LHR in a fews days followed by a few MAN-LHRs.
If you're flying over the next couple of weeks, I have a few MF flights coming up - LAS-LHR in a fews days followed by a few MAN-LHRs.
Last edited by Tobias-UK; Dec 31, 2017 at 5:13 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
These latest posts from people leaving are very sad to read... Very sad indeed.
All have elements that ring true with me and echo reasons for my departure too.
All I can do is assure you that, there is a big wide world outside BA, and BA are not the be all and end all of everything. As someone who was, in the beginning a very pro-company, positive person, getting over my decision to leave the company was a massive thing... But, the day I handed in my Uniform and my ID, and pretty much drifted in and out of WaterWorld basement without hardly being acknowledged just proved to me what a disassociated, uncaring, unfeeling and anonymous company it had become.
I almost felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when I drove out of WaterWorld car park that day, and that was with no job to go to and what could have been an immense amount of worry ahead. But being out of BA was such a relief, it paled the rest of it into insignificance.
Very, very best of luck to all those making the decision to get on with life and leave BA well behind you.
All have elements that ring true with me and echo reasons for my departure too.
All I can do is assure you that, there is a big wide world outside BA, and BA are not the be all and end all of everything. As someone who was, in the beginning a very pro-company, positive person, getting over my decision to leave the company was a massive thing... But, the day I handed in my Uniform and my ID, and pretty much drifted in and out of WaterWorld basement without hardly being acknowledged just proved to me what a disassociated, uncaring, unfeeling and anonymous company it had become.
I almost felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when I drove out of WaterWorld car park that day, and that was with no job to go to and what could have been an immense amount of worry ahead. But being out of BA was such a relief, it paled the rest of it into insignificance.
Very, very best of luck to all those making the decision to get on with life and leave BA well behind you.
#98
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Heathrow
Posts: 218
Tongue-in-cheek though I’m wondering what you were expecting in the basement :-P
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
#101
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 582
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,095