VS Cabin Crew roster Changes

[AmarokGTI]

Starting in October, VS Crew rosters will be revamped.

The new HKG flight will be a 1 night stop, and the LHR-HKG-SYD-HKG-LHR will reduce from 9 to 7 days, (2 night in HKG, 1 in SYD, 1 in HKG).

South African trips will also be 1 night stops, as will NYC and Caribbean trips.

This was announced yesterday.

Flight Deck rosters will not be affected.

Early indication is that Cabin Crew are not happy with the changes, and many are contacting the Union to complain. Strikes have already been mentioned.

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Discuss...

[Carnage Matey!]

Looks like the only change is the single night in HKG. Whenever I've met the VS crews in the other destinations they've only been on a single nightstop anyway. Hardly a striking issue.

[AmarokGTI]

:ugh:

it may "look like the only change is the hkg" but actually that's not the case.

[Carnage Matey!]

In that case perhaps you'd like to tell us what the other changes are?

[AmarokGTI]

1) New HKG flight will be a 1 night stop.

2) Existing LHR-SYD via HKG will reduce from 9 to 7 days (2 night in HKG, 1 in SYD, 1 in HKG)

3) All South Africa trips will be 1 night stops (JNB was already, CPT joins it)

4) VS17 goes from 2 night stop to 1 night stop in line with the rest of the New York flights.

5) Caribbean trips are also reducing number of nights downroute.

6) More positioning such as LGW-TAB-GND-TAB-BGI-MAN-LHR

[Crew_Girl_2]

Can't believe it when i was there we had the fab long caribbeans HAV, ANU, MJB and the lovely 2 night EWR 17.

I can imagine the crew will be upset as it's such a huge change in a short period of time. It's not like they've phased it in it's all being doing at the same time!

The allowances are gonna have to be changed to reflect this and let's face it they we're never that great to begin with. I wonder how they think you will survive with this drop of income? Are the west coast flights staying the same SFO, LAS and LAX? and is the MRU staying?

Aviation is not a great place to be at the moment let's face it. Let's see what happens i don't think they want a strike on their hands!

[Spongebobsquarepants]

The trips are all still LEGAL so i dont really see your argument. The company are reducing your time in destination as it will save them money. Something all airlines are doing at present. I dont see why you seem to think that the crew at virgin have the ability to dictate to the company how long they want downroute. Definatly no reason to strike. Why are some crew so quick to pull the "strike" thing out the bag. Really gets on my t*ts.

[1000 to go]

They will take another cheap pay off anyway:ugh:

[AmarokGTI]

Spongebob, likewise it gets on my tits that you have read this post as a "complaint" by "me"

:=

I am not VS Cabin Crew, I am simply reporting a known set of changes.

:ugh:

[Virginfun]

I dont see why the general public are gonna be that concerned that
you will now only have 20 hours in NY instead of 48.

I understand why they are changing the New York patterns and dont see the big deal, CPT changes bring it in line with JNB so no big problem either with regards to South African trips.

With regards to HKG, I think the one night thing is a bit of a joke to be honest and the inbound sector from SYD to LHR is gonna be a bit of a nightmare, but quite simply if you dont like the trip then just swap off it.

No one is being forced to do trips they dont want to do, luckily we are able to swap our flights to pretty much anything we like thanks to the various ways the company have implemented.

Instead of moaning on public forums why dont you act like adults and raise your concerns directly with management who are ALL very approachable.

Just be constructive and give valid reasons..

Sadly you may have to accept that you can no longer go for two nights of partying in CPT and yes your companions wont find the VS17 as popular anymore...

Welcome to 2008!! like Willie Walsh of BA said its worse than 9/11 this time round.

Anyway I know your all gonna say that I am from the office which I am not, so bring on the attacks!

Happy Flying!!

[Newdolly]

Virginfun you are obviously not crew and your tone smacks of jealousy and lack of respect.

Our cabin crew are an extremely hard working, professional bunch of people who go out of their way to make sure our passengers (the people who pay your wages) have a brilliant experience in the face of the cutbacks the Managers keep throwing at us.

[Virginfun]

Well lets not start the debate am I crew or not.

I can assure you that I am crew with Virgin and have been for a vvvvveerrrryyyyy long time!!!!!!!!

Thank you!

The changes to New York and Cape Town make perfect sense, I do accept that the HKG/SYD trip pattern is crazy to be polite!!

However if we can do a nightstop JNB then we can also do a night stop CPT!!

Whilst time downroute is important to me I am an adult and accept that these changes will help ensure I have a job in six months time!

and yes once again I am crew...............................

hope we ALL stick together next month when the HMRC exercise begins! ;)

[funkydrumming]

Virgin'Fun' i dare you to post your previous post on i-fly under your real name.I will be interested to see what kind of replies you would get?!?

Anyway for anyone interested,here is some of the reason why crew are not happy.Not taking into account delays(4 hours taxi in jfk sometimes more:mad:),and the fact that nobody was consulted about this change,the waiting for rooms,less allowances,decline in health,fatigue.Lets put it this way,how would you feel if something happened on board and it involved someone you loved and the crew didnt deal with it efficiently because of fatigue.As some of you may know BA changed their Beijing from a 1 night to 2 nights after the accident.Need i say more....?

[Crew_Girl_2]

What happened to freedom of speech? No need to get angry in here it's just to disscuss thought on the new changes.

I no longer work for virgin but have a lot of friends that are still there they are simply worried about changes in allowances and paying the bills which i think is a valid point!

[TightSlot]

Freedom of speech exists here too: It would be a huge mistake to pillory somebody for having an opinion that is unpopular or a point of view that is unfashionable.

Virginfun makes some serious and considered points. You would all be much better served by attempting to answer each one of those points (because were there to be industrial action of any kind, exactly those points would be raised by the public) than by throwing accusations, and other rocks, at the person posting.

[VS-LHRCSA]

Having worn the lilac waistcoat, I can see the business sense of reducing CPT to a night stop. It would be a shame but necessary if costs are critical.

The 7 day HKG/SYD concerns me. Fatiguewise, I'm not convinced it would be safe, given the timezones. My solution would be to compromise with an 8 day trip, with 2 local nights in SYD, with one night in HKG either side. But since I no longer work for the company, my opinion is neither here nor there.

[I Just Want To Fly]

I am leaving at the end of September, so none of this effects me, but it is still sad.

Everyone talks about how flying is not a job, it's a lifestyle. It is fast turning into a job! Which is fine.... BUT...

Virgin salaries are at the lower end of the spectrum, we all know that! Not saying that we should get into that debate now, but it was always just accepted that the money was pretty bad. BUT, we had so many fantastic trips (with good allowances), great staff travel plus our swapping systems, that it all made up made up for the peanuts.

I am sure that the swapping system costs money, and it's withdrawal has already been considered. No one can say that this will defiantely be in place forever. Tick Tock.

I am concerned that the only thing virgin crew will be left with is 7 free flights per year, but no money or energy to use them!

RIP: UVF - I will always love you.

[stowaway]

Dear Virginfun,
I know that this post is really a waste of time as from your attitude you would walk across burning coals for your employer.
Yes of course the roster changes are legal, and no doubt when they are brought in and eventually forced through, the next change will be one night Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francsico trips too. That way Virgin will be able to cram in 7 trips per month rather than the 6 they now do.
You are obviously happy to be the hardest worked crew in the U.K., (if not the world) yet be the lowest paid (aprt from BMI). I bet Richard loves you for it, !!!
You may have been in VS for ages, it is a pity that the conditions mean that the turnover of crew at VS are the highest in the industry. Have you ever wondered why?

Regards

[disappointed]

Noone has asked how this will affect the 900 hours rule. May I ask how this is managed at vs and if you think these changes will have an effect?

[exvicar]

900 hour rule is a CAA maximum so will not be affected. That said, it is down to the crew member to ensure that it is not exceeded!

[MONK757]

Maybe the goaty bearded whinger should address the issue of staff moral which could have a more detrimental affect on VS than the propsed BA/AA merger.