Scroggs, I have to disagree with you.
You stated time to command is 5 years minimum.
F/O's currently employed by Virgin who are at, or near the bottom of the seniority list, will have to wait for the company to expand by 35 aircraft before they even get a sniff of a command.
Do the maths; to get a command in 5 years:
35 aircraft divided by 5 = 7
7 new B747’s or A340’s per year; Feasible? I think not.
F/O’s Basic salary.
The real F/O’s Basic salary is 38k, not the 40k you were estimating. Some £86 per month (net) less than your indication.
Easy lifestyle.
Beware all you short haulers - Virgin’s rosters are neither easy or stable. On the B744 you will fly around 85 hours per month. This might look a walk in the park, but do not underestimate the effects of jetlag, combined with losing a nights sleep on each trip.
Scroggs, looking at your profile, I see that your previous career was with the RAF (22 years)… So I guess that your pension, from Her Majesty, is around £10,000 per year - this probably helps you to afford the smug air of comfort you exude. There is also more than a faint whiff of management about you, so, perhaps a management salary as well?
Whilst flying my exhausting roster, I have the pleasure of flying with many colleagues. Not once in the last three years have I flown with anybody that shares your opinion of Virgin.
Finally, we all have a responsibility to our colleagues across the industry to tell the truth. Seniority is a precious thing, so think very carefully before you throw it away.