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#1 Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 17/02/2012 at 15:16 |
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Hi,
I got a job with BA on MF, however I'm from Belfast and would have to move. There seems to be a lot of night stops and I'm just wondering is it going to be worthwhile renting a room in someones house or will it be cheaper to stay in a hotel on the days off? Do any hotels offer BA staff rates? If so, how much?
Any help/advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
xxx |
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| To Fly. To Serve. Almost ;) |
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#2 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 17/02/2012 at 16:04 |
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| In reply to post #1... |
You would need to have a house to live in. Most crew seem to be getting a house or flat share as this is the cheapest way and when you are young it is a really nice way to make friends and have a nice social life.
People are trying to commute but finding it very hard. You could try a combination of hotels and grouping days off together and heading home for days off but it would be very tiring.
You would find it very expensive to live from a hotel all the time because although you will be doing both Shorthaul and Longhaul trips, you will be doing lots of short there and back trips and this would mean lots of nights in hotels some months.
So I personally would advise initially sharing a house with some other new crew and then seeing how you feel. |
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#3 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 18/02/2012 at 13:23 |
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| In reply to post #2... |
Yeah you're right. I've found another girl looking to house share, we are both MF so it would be good. Im also going to look into grouping days off as well. I think I need to explore all options.
I've also realised that I would need to have somewhere that felt like a home on my days off.
Thanks for your help.
xxx |
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#4 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 21/02/2012 at 14:35 |
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| In reply to post #2... |
Originally posted by Little minxYou would need to have a house to live in. Most crew seem to be getting a house or flat share as this is the cheapest way and when you are young it is a really nice way to make friends and have a nice social life.
People are trying to commute but finding it very hard. You could try a combination of hotels and grouping days off together and heading home for days off but it would be very tiring.
You would find it very expensive to live from a hotel all the time because although you will be doing both Shorthaul and Longhaul trips, you will be doing lots of short there and back trips and this would mean lots of nights in hotels some months.
So I personally would advise initially sharing a house with some other new crew and then seeing how you feel.
This is the best advice possible
MF is mixed flying so some months you will be lucky with you bid and get the days off grouped together but more often than not you will have home standbyes, there and backs etc. So will need to be within a short drive or bus journey to LHR.
Also you do not have travel concessions for the first 6 months so commuting by air is not really realistic. Also don't forget that standbye does not necessarily mean you will get on as onload is in order of joining BA and if you live where alot of crew live then you will be adding alot of stress on yourself.
It is best to move near to LHR in a flat share with fellow crew and experiance the life of being crew and of living in London or places like Reading which has good links to LHR
Good luck |
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| Edited 21/02/2012 @ 14:39 Revision #1 |
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| "The postings on this site are my own and not my employers position and opinions. I am giving my own time to try and give support to our new entrants, would be recruits and help move things forward" |
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#5 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 22/02/2012 at 11:17 |
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| In reply to post #4... |
Agree with LM and BJ
As a mixed fleeter, I can tell you that in February and now in March I've had an average of 8 home standbys and other people I know have 11 home standbys in march! Some people are only rostered 1 or 2 trips which makes commuting out of the question.
Definitely get a house share. For as little as a few hundred pounds a month (plus utilities) you can have your very own place to rest your head. Well worth it. |
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#6 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 22/02/2012 at 16:11 |
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| In reply to post #5... |
I agree with what everyone else is saying, commuting long distances is not really viable on mixed fleet due to the nature of the schedule.
There are many people with between 8 & 14 home standbys this month which would make commuting an impossibility and cost you a fortune on hotels, b&b's.
The last few months have been strange with the amount of standbys, but that should calm dowm once the Boston route transfers next month which goes 3 times a day, same when the new LAX transfers over which again is 3 a day, hence people getting loads of standbys to ensure coverage for these routes. |
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| British Airways Forum Moderator - My comments are my own and do not represent British Airways opinions or strategies. |
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#7 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 22/02/2012 at 16:24 |
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| In reply to post #6... |
Originally posted by BA_moderatorI agree with what everyone else is saying, commuting long distances is not really viable on mixed fleet due to the nature of the schedule.
There are many people with between 8 & 14 home standbys this month which would make commuting an impossibility and cost you a fortune on hotels, b&b's.
The last few months have been strange with the amount of standbys, but that should calm dowm once the Boston route transfers next month which goes 3 times a day, same when the new LAX transfers over which again is 3 a day, hence people getting loads of standbys to ensure coverage for these routes.
It seems lots of people are sat on standbyes on all fleets. The summer schedule will bring increased frequencies on HKG, MIA, LAX, JFK so that will mean more work from April and for MF the movement over of BOS whilst PHX moves to Worldwide and to be followed by San Diego in July.
I think people need to really think hard about commuting as yes it is possible but 10-14 days of standbyes could make it a nightmare especially if called for there and backs or airport sbys.
Hotels are ok for adhoc stays but long term can prove expensive and with the Olympics just months away hotels will be maximising their room rates. |
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| "The postings on this site are my own and not my employers position and opinions. I am giving my own time to try and give support to our new entrants, would be recruits and help move things forward" |
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#8 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 22/02/2012 at 16:35 |
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| In reply to post #7... |
Originally posted by Baby Jack
Hotels are ok for adhoc stays but long term can prove expensive and with the Olympics just months away hotels will be maximising their room rates.
I never thought about that either to be honest.
We do seem to get the same question quite regularly, is it possible to commute from Manchester, Glasgow ect.....? but like a colleague I was speaking to the other day who is from Lancashire and commutes is finding petrol is £80 return plus wear and tear on your car, not to mention the danger of driving that distance after a long flight, or paying roughly the same amount to commute by air now the government taxes are ridiculous in the UK, which soon munches through any allowances you earn, which will leave you living on your basic salary.
If you are serious about joining Mixed Fleet and you don't live within an hours drive of Heathrow (which allows for traffic too) I really would recommend getting a flat share or at least a room in a shared house which you can use on work days, or within a few months you will be looking at other jobs, because the novelty will soon wear off the job with what you are paying out just to get to work.
The mixed fleet forum on FB, is always full of crew trying to swap standbys and there and backs for long haul trips, because otherwise by the time they pay to commute, they are actually paying to work. On the other hand, people like myself that have relocated to be closer have higher rents (especially if you have a flat or house and dont house share) than the commuters and hence are reluctant to swap trips.
Not trying to put anyone off joining, just putting the facts out there for you to fully consider before even applying, let alone getting the job, going through your training, just to find out you are spending all your allowances just travelling to work. |
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| Edited 22/02/2012 @ 16:41 Revision #2 |
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| British Airways Forum Moderator - My comments are my own and do not represent British Airways opinions or strategies. |
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#9 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 22/02/2012 at 18:43 |
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| In reply to post #8... |
Thanks for all of your help guys.
Have started looking for a house share in London around heathrow.
The help is so much appreciated. |
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#10 Re: Staying in hotel, cheaper than renting? MF Posted 23/02/2012 at 10:38 |
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| In reply to post #8... |
Hi
I am due to start my training on 31 May, I was planning to stay with family in Aylesbury at least until I am on my feet. Is this a commutable distance/time from Heathrow? I have only ever driven it either very late/early or in the middle of the day. I know I can go 3 ways - M25; through High Wycombe and M4; or through Old Amersham and M40 - but I really don't know the area well enough to make any real decisions. Obviously if it is going to cost more in fuel etc to commute I would be better off renting a room in a shared house.
Any advice would be great  |
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| Starting Mixed Fleet 31/5/12 |
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