to think it is good that supermarkets/express/garages are all closed christmas day

[WillowTit]

i am sure in previous years shops would open for a couple of hours
discovered that we dont have enough wine but apart from premium overpriced stores shops are shut
and major garages too
i have enough petrol,
we will manage without the extra wine
i am glad the shops are shut
aibu

Same.

It’s not as if it was dropped on them last minute or not known before applying.

Jobs literally say on job boards, weekends/holidays are a must or will need to be worked every other week, etc. Many professions are known for working such days and holidays. Understandable it is annoying yet a bit silly to moan and blame others because you chose to go into such professions in the first place with full knowledge that the likelihood of working holidays that are important to you are high.

Exactly. I mean, my parents both worked for the NHS and regularly worked weekends, evenings and holidays - yes, it sucked, but it was just part of the job description and we celebrated Christmas etc. on other days if necessary? It certainly never turned into some big drama

Sorry for the lack of a reply, I was too busy e joying a day with my kids and parents, as our shop is thankfully closed 😁 Merry Christmas

It's a bit like being a teacher and complaining that you can't go on a cheap holiday in term time.

lol, exactly. I get having the odd moan, but it's hardly like it's something that's been sprung upon you at the last minute.

I did my fair share of weekends and bank holidays and while I did have the odd moan, I also knew full-well it was what I signed up for!

Don't be so ridiculous. You clearly have no idea! I've been flying for over 20 years now and Christmas day flights are a fairly new concept. It's not something we signed up for. 🙄

No one NEEDS to fly on Christmas day. Why not fly the day before or the day after? This allow others (that don't want to be working) enjoy some time with their families when the majority of the country are also doing so.

Changing your travel plans by a day or two shouldn't make any difference to your family time over the festive period however, it can have a massive impact of the mental and physical wellbeing of those of us that are 'forced' to work when we really don't want or need to. It's pure greed.

And to answer pp, no we DON'T get paid any extra, there's no incentives, nothing. Meanwhile our overpaid management are all cosy and snug at home, enjoying their Christmas break.

If management want us out on the front line keeping the profits rolling in, then they should be out there doing it with us.

No one NEEDS to fly, it's not an essential service, it's a luxury. Why not fly the day before or the day after Christmas?

With a UK based airline, the vast majority of our staff celebrate Christmas and want the day with our families. Flying on Christmas day is a fairly new thing that's been brought in by greedy management that are unwilling to do the work themselves.

No we don't! Absolutely nothing, not even a box of chocolates.

As there's limited/no public transport in some areas. A lot of us are paying more in taxis to get to/from the airport, than what we are earning.

Just because your airline is British, doesn't mean your customers are Christian and care about celebrating Christmas

Christmas Day flights have been going on for a lot longer than 20 years too - I remember flying back from visiting family on Christmas Day as a very little child - at least 30 years ago now.

I get that it feels a bit shit to work on Christmas Day but honestly, it's hardly unexpected in aviation!

When I "went out of my way to train for a 24/7 type career" working Christmas day was not part of the contract.

So maybe wind your neck in with the sarcasm when you are absolutely clueless on the "facts" you are dishing out "lol" 🤣

@phoenixrosehere
"Same.

It’s not as if it was dropped on them last minute or not known before applying."

Oh it definitely was dropped on us. It wasn't part of the deal when we signed up. But do continue to educate others with your opinions because you obviously know more than I do...

It's weird that working over 20 years as cabin crew you have no concept of people flying for other reasons than pleasure & holidays. You have not confirmed whether you get Sunday / Bank Holiday pay on Christmas Day? If yes, you do get paid more than on a normal weekday of course.

Definitely didn't sign up for it as my pp mentions.

You all seem very confident in telling us this when it's not even remotely true.

You have no idea the reason people go out for lunch Xmas day. We went out the year my dad died as he used to cook and host and it was all too much for us that year - so a meal out was the best thing for us. Nothing about being lazy or selfish

What hogwash. I've been flying as a passenger since 1973 and there have always been Christmas Day flights. And long before then, too.

Dec 25 is just another day as far as many people are concerned. Getting petulant and angry about it is pointless. People aren't going to change travel plans because cabin crew want the day off. How absurd to even suggest it!

We all are responsible for our choice of occupation.

I grew weary of the demands of daily journalism, so I found a different type of job. I didn't demand that the industry and its patrons change to suit my preferences.

@Rabinroo well - Christmas Day flying certainly isn't a new thing 🤷‍♀️

There are also plenty of reasons to fly that have nothing to do with being selfish.

It's weird that you can't read my other posts as I've mentioned multiple times that we don't get anything extra for public holidays or weekends. In sure if the companies offered more pay then people would happily volunteer to work, but they don't.

Of course I understand that people fly for other reasons, we don't all work charter you know?

Flying is a luxury and not an essential service. I have mentioned previously that Flying at Christmas is a relatively new concept for most UK airlines and the VAST majority of our staff celebrate this holiday, so being forced to work it for no extra pay and with no incentives to do so makes us angry, upset, and resentful. Can you see why we're all a bit bitter now?

If people need to travel by air, surely they can do it they day before or day after, after all, most other public transport in the uk is closed down on the 25th.

If management want flights to run so badly then why don't they do them instead of forcing their minions to leave their families and reluctantly put on a smile for the passengers, that can't possibly wait a day or to to get to tenerife. (That's right, they enjoy the holidays relaxing at home too much)

The small mindedness on this post is baffling. Just because YOU would be okay to travel as you don't care about a major public holiday, and YOUR needs are met, screw everyone else eh? We're only waitresses in the sky after all.

I am sorry for your loss but grief doesn’t mean your actions have no impact.

For all you know you took someone away from someone else who was also bereaved.

That's a rotten thing to say. Uncalled for.

I have never travelled on Christmas Day, so 🤷‍♀️. What I can see is that you have a chip on your shoulder about your job and your employer. Perhaps look for a new one?

Why?

Bereavement happens to all of us. Including those who work for minimum wage often in shitty conditions.

Do you not think it’s possible someone might suffer a bereavement and then have to go back to work, away from their family over Christmas because they can’t afford to make another choice, even if it was possible to do so.

I am not unsympathetic to the fact bereavement can make you feel not very festive but we can all say ‘oh well this is why I needed to go out / go to the shops / fill my car with petrol / get on a plane.’ It still impacts those around you. I don’t think there’s any getting away from that.

@BettyBardMacDonald Because as a passenger, you must know more than me eh? "Laughs"

@biscuitsandbooks As long as other people's needs are met, who cares about the skivvies that are forced to serve those holier than thou. All in the name of profit and greed.

The appeal of flying on Christmas day in the uk has only recently gained popularity in the past few years. This ISN'T something that most cabin crew/ pilots and ground staff signed up for. It's been forced on us.

But of course you "passengers" clearly appear to know more than someone that's spent their life working in the industry.

What you are saying that our needs/wants don't matter because your needs/ wants trump ours. It's one day fs. No one NEEDS to fly when the rest of the country is essentially shut down for a major public holiday.

You do you

I’ve worked in hospitality before and I knew that part of that was working on occasions where a lot of people would usually be off (Xmas, New Year’s Eve, Mother’s Day etc.) Did I moan it? No because I made that choice to work in that sector.

Thankfully the people who were in the restaurant that day made us feel welcome and were actually sorry for our loss.

So you are paid the same as a normal day? What does your union say about this?

Tbh I don't really get the point of this post but popped on to say thank you very much to my local garage being open so I could buy some washing up liquid. If they had been closed I would have been washing up with Radox de-stress all day which would obviously have been destressing but peculiar.