Summer Intern

Tell us a bit about your background.

I am originally from the UK but currently study Human Geography and Commerce at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Before joining British Airways, I gained experience as an Operations Intern at Amazon and worked as a Project Assistant in my university’s sustainability department. Aviation has always been my long-term career goal, and I have been fortunate to engage with the industry through university societies and part-time work at Vancouver Airport.

What is your role at British Airways?

I am currently a Summer Intern at British Airways, working in the Reward department. This small but impactful team manages a wide range of people-related functions across the business, specifically focusing on pay, pensions, and benefits. My role predominantly involves the first two, meaning I get to work on important projects such as pay reviews, financial empowerment workshops, and pension benchmarking.

Interns at BA are encouraged to explore different areas outside of their own departments. In just three months, I have had the opportunity to shadow teams across the business, including our global operations centre, dispatch at Heathrow, and in-flight customer excellence, which manages the cabin crew.

What does a day look like in your role?

No two days are the same in Reward, and hybrid working is standard. I typically spend 3 to 4 days per week in the office and the remainder working remotely. My team also offers flexibility with start and finish times, so early starters often leave earlier in the afternoon. Below is a snapshot of a typical Tuesday in August:

08:30 – 09:30

I typically arrive to work around 08:30 and spend the first hours going through emails and projects from the day before. As an international airline, many colleagues are based overseas, so they often respond much later at night. There is never any expectation or pressure to reply outside of your normal working hours.

09:30 – 10:15

My team holds a weekly team huddle where we discuss ongoing projects, set objectives, and receive updates from the leadership team, which help us align our work with broader business goals and understand the wider industry picture.

10:15 – 12:00

My morning continues with updating a slide deck for our cabin crew benefits and pension presentation. The benefits space is always evolving, so these slides require frequent updates to remain accurate and informative.

12:00 – 12:30

Lunch! In my team we rarely eat at our desks, often having lunch together by the lake just next to our canteen.

12:30 – 15:00

On this particular Tuesday, I shadowed the revenue management team, who make commercial decisions regarding cancellations and disruption. It was fascinating and only possible because I proactively asked to learn more about their work.

15:00 – 16:30

I spend the rest of the afternoon in meetings focused on our financial empowerment strategy for employees based overseas. British Airways has over 1,000 employees outside the UK, and we are working to ensure they have the same access to financial empowerment programmes as their UK-based colleagues.

What is your favourite thing about your role?

The people. Everyone I have met at British Airways has been incredibly approachable and generous with their time. I have been pleasantly surprised by how willing senior leaders are to engage with us and share their work. My team in Reward is also extremely supportive, knowledgeable, and filled with positive energy, making it a genuinely enjoyable place to work.