long-haul BA/Virgin

[goofy2]

Can anyone help me out from either or both of these companies. I currently work for one of the UK low cost carriers.

My Wife has just taken an exellent job abroad. Obviously this has certain family logistical problems, I was wondering of applying to either/both of these companies as the extra time off would be benifitial for travelling to our new home and back.

Could anyone enlighten me as to the sort of roster patterns that would be available to me with these companies, there would be little chance of a job in the new country.


thank you for any help you could give me

[expedite_climb]

Goofy,

I think it is simple enough to say that many many people 'commute' from abroad while working long haul for BA & Virgin. BA even have an FO who lives in Oz!

It really depends which fleet you get offered, as both operators have 2 longhaul fleets.

[Hand Solo]

Also bear in mind that the fleet BA say they'll send you to may bear no relation to the fleet you end up on. If you end up on 777 expect up to five reports per month. If they promise you long haul and send you to the airbus...........!

[scroggs]

Search for 'Virgin'and 'BA' in this forum and you will find threads which discuss rosters, commuting from abroad, time off, and more for both of these airlines.

[Spearing Britney]

Hand solo refers to pilots employed after signing a contract pre September 11th but who started after it. These guys had fleet switches, it has not happened since. Bear in mind Virgin sacked regular line pilots after 9/11 while BA honored contracts of those who had signed but not been actually taken on before it.

Both are good companies and things change on each fleet in each company quickly. For my money a commuter right now would be best on a Virgin 340, a BA 744, a Virgin 744 and a BA 777 in that order but ask me again in the winter season or even next year and it will probably be different.

As for up to 5 reports on the 777 hand solo, try 7 (and it only just makes CAP) but then you can get away with 4 too...

[B767-300]

Hi everybody!,

Just a question. How much "take home" money a new joiner as a F/O in BA long haul fleet can expect to earn (as an average) on a monthly basis?

Thanks for your help.:ok:

[tarjet fixated]

I'm joining B763 on that question....moreover 4 to 7 reports per month make it almost impossible to commute me thinks... am i wrong?
One last question:time to command?

[Human Factor]

One last question:time to command?

As discussed elsewhere, for anyone joining today expect a short-haul command in seventeen to twenty years at LHR, a little less at LGW. It's all to do with seniority (dead man's shoes). You will need a seniority of approximately (before anyone starts flaming me with exact numbers :rolleyes: ) of around 2100 for a LGW short-haul command, 1800 for a LHR short-haul command and getting on for 1200 for a long-haul command. You will join with a seniority number of about 3050 and retirements have reduced to approximately :rolleyes: 70 per year.

On that basis:

LGW Shorthaul command = 13-14 years

LHR Shorthaul command = 17-18 years

Longhaul command (744, 777) = 26-27 years

Generally speaking, the 757/767 is slightly less than pure Longhaul, although this year it was about the same as the 777.

Having said that, this doesn't take into account increasing the retirement age from 55 to (probably) 60, so there's potentially a couple of years to add to the above totals, and any expansion (which won't happen in a hurry), which will shorten the times by a certain amount. Keep in mind they are approximations.

What this means is that if you are over 30 and want a long haul command, you'll have to look elsewhere.

[Riker]

You heard Hotel Hopper - go for Virgin! BA stands for "Bites A$$."

Capt. PPrune had a great post recently about life on the 747-400 at Virgin. If we could all be so lucky....

[justinzider]

As a Year 1 LH co-pilot at BA expect to be taking home between £3200 and £3500 a month once you are on line. You will get less when you have leave in the month.

[Airbus Girl]

Speaing Britney, a friend of mine with an A320 rating went to BA for an A320 job, was told at interview that he would definitely be on the A320. So he signed up and when his course started it was on the B777. That was this year. So presumably it IS possible for fleet switches to be made by BA. I also know someone who left a company where he was flying A320 to go to fly longhaul at BA. He was promised B777 and was sent to the Airbus fleet.

[Spearing Britney]

Sorry, but I will believe it when I see it, a direct communication from someone who was switched without their consent this year. I know most of the new joiners directly or with one degree of separation and I know of no one who was swithced - please PM me to let me know if I am wrong...

[expedite_climb]

I'm with SB on this one.

Anyone who is Zero Flight Time qualified and has ATPL is going on the triple..... end of ! No way they would switch you off as they are so short of crews.