I came from a low cost small charter company, and thougt the same as you. New Labour learnt all of it's spin from Virgin Atlantic, just remember that. Branson can sell **** to anybody. The free flights and all the rest sound fantastic, try and use them and the novelty soon wears off. However, there is only one way to find it out, as I did. Good luck!
As to Leave, when they get around to allocating it, you need it! You will probably have been rostered to death just before it. There is no seasonal work load as with charter, it's full on 365 days of the year. This now includes Christmas away without your family as the anti morale unit have decided it's standby companion tickets only, and NOBODY got to L.A. last year.