Ex Thomas Cook, ex TUI, now ground ops at Manchester, and the person who keeps writing about contracts and collapses
-
#1 Kate, Manchester, fifteen years of flying across two airlines, one of which collapsed under me, three years of ground operations, and the person on this forum who keeps writing threads about contracts, grievances and what happens when the airline fails. Time to say why.
The flying
Thomas Cook from 22, leisure short and long haul from Manchester, ten years. The last flight was the last flight, as I wrote: the airline collapsed the week after and a crew who did not know it was the end did a Tenerife with a full service. Then TUI, five years, the same base, a different uniform, the same 5am shuttle. Then ground ops, by choice, at 42.
Why the contracts
Because I watched three contract types on the same aircraft get three different outcomes on the day the airline failed, and because I signed my first contract at 22 without asking a single question, and got lucky, and watched colleagues who signed the same way not get lucky. The questions in my threads are the ones I wish someone had made me ask. Nobody did. I am doing it here.
Why the ground
Because I wanted a job that did not depend on one airline, and because the body had started the conversation about the 3:30 alarms, and because the airport was full of ex crew who had made the move and were fine. Turnaround coordination, then a supervisor step. Home every night. I miss the doors closing. I do not miss much else.
What I am like on the forum
The one who says read it before you sign it. The one who says do not sign anything in the room. The one who says keep the payslips. The one who has been through the collapse and will describe it without drama because the drama is not useful and the checklist is.
Ask me
About agency contracts, about grievances, about ground operations as an exit, about what a collapse actually looks like from the crew room, and about Manchester, which is the best base in the north and I will not be taking questions on that.
Hello, properly, from the ground.
-
#2 Melbourne, training department, and Kate and I are the two ground exits on this forum and we have said in each other's threads that they suit different people. Hello properly, from the other exit.
-
#3 In training, agency contract, and I asked four of your questions at the assessment because of you, and I have kept the answers, and I will not sign anything in a room. Hello from the person you already helped.
-
#4 Ex SAS, and the collapse without drama is the version that helps, and you are the one who writes it. Scandinavian aviation in 2020 was our version. Hello from Oslo, from the ground.
-
#5 @grettaosl the version without drama is the only version that anyone can use on the day. Hello back.
-
#6 easyJet Manchester, and I will accept the claim that Manchester is the best base in the north because it is my base and I am biased in the same direction. Hello, Kate. The northern crew know your name.
-
#7 Bergamo, and I have sent your contract thread to every new joiner at my base for a year, and I did not know it was written by someone who had been through the collapse until now. It reads differently. Thank you.