BA Cabin Crew Vote 96% In Favour Of Strike Action
Jan 28, 2007, 4:43 pm
#526
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Even if this were to happen amongst any BA crew, hopefully it would be balanced by the longer experience and greater maturity of the older members of the cabin crew. I vote for that mix, even if john11111111111 would prefer to have only the girlies.
Jan 28, 2007, 5:00 pm
#527
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Jan 28, 2007, 5:24 pm
#528
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I do believe there are marginal safety benefits to an elderly crew. But other than BA and some American airlines most of the world's airlines in so-called less sophisticated countries think these are outweighed by the benefits for customers and the economic benefits to the airline of a more youthful crew who will move on after a few years.
Jan 29, 2007, 12:50 am
#529
Join Date: Jan 2001
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To be an air hostess is a job that is most appropriate for women (men) in their twenties before they settle down. On most airlines I travel (Czech, Thai, Singapore etc) this is clearly what happens. The idea of making it a 40-year career to keep getting promoted to the stage where you get Ł54000 is just ridiculous. However good the elderly women (and sometimes men) on BA are at their jobs, that is not what passengers or the company need or want.
Believe it or not, FAs are not there to look good, they are not there to fulfil the subconscious fetishistic desires of dirty old men and women. They are there to ensure that passengers are safe and comfortable and well-taken-care-of in the event of an emergency.
Trust me, just because an FA is 28 does not mean s/he makes the flight any more comfortable. I have been served by plenty of younger useless FAs who believe they are God's gift to humanity and plenty of older extremely competent FAs who have made the experience wonderful.
Why should FAs not expect to be promoted through the ranks and make a decent living? Because you don't believe their job to be important enough? Because you don't believe they deserve it? You're really going to have to explain yourself on this one.
I would compare it to working behind the bar in a nightclub - an enjoyable and glamorous job when you're young, for a few years, but your body's not going to be able to take it your whole working life, nor should it. Often I get on board a BA flight and look around quite shocked at the age profile of crew, which is completely inappropriate for the job.
And who are you to tell people that they are only suited to work in a certain job for a set number of years? By the way, that's illegal in the EU, the US and many other countries round the world.
I'm not saying they should all be in their twenties, there should still be one or two senior ones on each flight in case of a crisis (I've seen one crisis - which was medical - since I started flying -probably 500-ish flights). But in general it should not be regarded by default as a life-long career.
I do believe there are marginal safety benefits to an elderly crew. But other than BA and some American airlines most of the world's airlines in so-called less sophisticated countries think these are outweighed by the benefits for customers and the economic benefits to the airline of a more youthful crew who will move on after a few years.
Jan 29, 2007, 1:28 am
#530
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Interesting thing about being 'jaded'. The CEO of Silverjet (ex BA) has publicly stated that he will refuse to hire anyone with more than 18 months experience of being cabin crew at another airline. Reason? Doesn't want people "set in their ways."
Jan 29, 2007, 1:52 am
#531
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I'm not saying they should all be in their twenties, there should still be one or two senior ones on each flight in case of a crisis (I've seen one crisis - which was medical - since I started flying -probably 500-ish flights). But in general it should not be regarded by default as a life-long career.
Jan 29, 2007, 2:05 am
#532
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The "'we' want 'hotties' serving our flight" and its complement "no, 'we' don't" soliloquies are often enough cheap entertainment, but BA and the union's engaging in like kinds of (non-result-yielding) "talks" won't be cheap:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070128/...ZuBHNlYwMxNjk0
Analysts said the strike action could cost the airline between 10 million pounds and 15 million pounds ($20 million and $30 million) a day.
Jan 29, 2007, 2:41 am
#533
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,402
Your comment is extremely out of line. I suggest you obtain a copy of the accident report before making such accusatory comments about the actions of the Cabin Crew on this flight.
Jan 29, 2007, 4:40 am
#534
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The "'we' want 'hotties' serving our flight" and its complement "no, 'we' don't" soliloquies are often enough cheap entertainment, but BA and the union's engaging in like kinds of (non-result-yielding) "talks" won't be cheap:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070128/...ZuBHNlYwMxNjk0
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070128/...ZuBHNlYwMxNjk0