Strike: British Airways has $250-an-hour Flight Attendants?

March 30, 2010 | Posted in: Europe, Flight Attendants, News, Pilots

Guess who might be offering you a Diet Coke on your next British Airways flight? A pilot. Maybe.

While the strike continues (the latest segment ends tonight), the union representing striking cabin crew members accuses British Airways of using some of its pilots to fill in – and the union claims these subs get their regular salary which works out to about $250 an hour. Regular flight attendants with five years experience, says the union, make about $25 an hour.

Understandably, the union delights in pointing out the irony: the carrier is trying to save money by imposing a pay freeze on its cabin crews. All British Airways will say is, a “number of crew [are] reporting for duty”.

Meanwhile, both sides say they are open to further talks, but that’s sort of up in the air at this point (sorry).

I will note that British Airways is doing an excellent job at keeping its customers informed of all developments during this difficult time – its website is constantly updated with information about flights and options for fliers.

4 Responses to “Strike: British Airways has $250-an-hour Flight Attendants?”

1. Jan says:

   March 31, 2010 at 10:35 am

   I am a Gold Executive Club BA Member and have supported BA for many years. This has been due to its professionalism and service. The current cabin crew strike makes me believe that many of them, but not all, especially their union leadership, are living in another world. They continually ignore what many of us are subjected to, job changes and pay cuts. Do they really have the interest of the travelling public at heart. I doubt it! Thank you to the flight crew who continue to assist us travellers. Bravo to them.
2. Rick Seaney says:

   March 31, 2010 at 1:44 pm

   And thank you, Jan, for writing.

   Regards,
   Rick
3. and says:

   May 8, 2010 at 11:42 am

   I think $25 an hour is a fair wage. Am I wrong?
4. Rick Seaney says:

   May 9, 2010 at 7:19 am

   and,

   I guess you’d have to ask the crews at British Airways…

   Regards,
   Rick