Richard's a bit outta touch these days!! He thinks we all still work for Virgin because it so much fun and the money is irrelevant!!
We used to be a small fun company up to about 10 - 12 years ago where everyone knew everyone, virtually. Now it's really no longer like that, the days of RB turning up to present the crew with their wings soon after they finish training has long gone and it's rare to fly with anyone anymore that you actually know! There's loads of back stabbing amongst some crew and many wouldn't think twice about reporting you to the office if it meant a browny point for them, so no, the company is no longer as small and friendly as it once was!
If the company can't afford to pay their existing crew a decent wage, then maybe they should stop expanding like crazy like they have done for the past 5 years and recruiting hundreds of new cabin crew! Look after the ones that already work for you instead of just replacing them because they're not happy!!!! He says we have such wonderful perks and benefits, we have the same benefits as all other personnel who work for airlines worldwide, both on the ground and as crew, but that's part of the package which comes with working for an airline. Most companies offer their staff perks or benefits of some kind but they don't compromise their salaries in return for these!!!
We do have an excellent package of discounts available to fly worldwide, but unfortunately, because most of us are struggling so much to live on the salaries that we earn, the last thing we can afford to do is take advantage of all these perks. Most of us take one holiday a year if that and when we go, it's stand by, so if the plane is full as it so oten is, we don't go anywhere! Try planning a holiday not knowing whether you'll get on the flight or not and likewise getting home as well, especially when you only have 7 days leave! Many crew end up booking a confirmed holiday elsewhere as opposed to going through the stress of trying to go on holiday and get home on stand by! It's meants to be a holiday to relax not worrying about whether you'll get on the aircraft and whether you'll be able to get home!!
Last edited by 016FSM; 1st Jan 2008 at 12:47.