A job with QF, VA, JQ or AB? Which would be better.

[thatAVguy]

This is not a trick question! I see a number of Australian carriers hiring recently; weighing up my options. I've flown internationally with CX for many years and planning on returning home to start to wind down a little, get more time with family etc. I know VA is hiring ATM but to be honest, having been an ex-pat for so long, not sure which way to go. What are the pro's and con's of each?
Has anyone been through any of the recruitment processes with any of them?

[Lookleft]

I've flown internationally with CX for many years and planning on returning home to start to wind down a little, get more time with family etc.

If you want to wind down and spend more time with family then I would suggest that you get a job in an airline office. You are not going to find that particular lifestyle balance being an F/O with any Australian airline.

[thatAVguy]

If you want to wind down and spend more time with family then I would suggest that you get a job in an airline office. You are not going to find that particular lifestyle balance being an F/O with any Australian airline.

Wash your mouth out 😂 I love flying, not really interested in being office based but I should add that this 'wind down' period is more of a 10 year plan. Being based in Australia is the first step and would be a major difference in my life vs living abroad. But as I get a little further on would consider moving to part time or taking on office duties.

[dctPub]

If you want to wind down and spend more time with family then I would suggest that you get a job in an airline office.


Uh oh looks like somebody hasn't spent much time in the real world recently!

Enjoy your couple of hours free in the evening after the commute and 8 days off a month I suppose.

[Lookleft]

Enjoy your couple of hours free in the evening after the commute and 8 days off a month I suppose.

You have just described the lifestyle of a domestic airline pilot. At least office workers get weekends and public holidays off. They also don't have to request leave 12 months in advance and can go to the bathroom anytime they want.

[PoppaJo]

You will be winding up not down, that’s a given. The most lifestyle friendly, as in no overnights, no trips, home every night, shorter missions, would be AB. With that comes questionable new startup job security, and a low ball pay offer. Positives are obviously faster command opportunities. Likely a nicer place to work with less management, but you must be prepared that it could fall over in a year or two. Tiger was also a good place to work when it kicked off, fell apart soon after.

Jetstar roster is tough if you’re looking at winding down, especially if you’re dealing with Melbourne and Sydney traffic. It’s truly horrendous these days.

I know many like Virgin because they get the option to take a 3/4/5 day trip, so not dealing with the commute daily. The others don’t offer multi day trips to the level Virgin does. Uncertainty again in the medium term with a new market listing, culture likely not that great at the moment, but has a good reputation on the check and training front. QF 737 might be tough, you would have many Virgin and Rex pilots trying to get out at the moment.

[HEALY]

Have a look at NJE, expansion plans for the Q400 FIFO ops in BNE ADL and PER. Home every night , most weekends off.

[kjvmw]

Also the Cobham ( or Leidos now I think) search and rescue job. Perth Essendon and Cairns bases. Best aviation lifestyle roster and they are currently recruiting DEC. Plenty of ex CX guys there.

[Biggles24]

If you want to wind down and spend more time with family then I would suggest that you get a job in an airline office. You are not going to find that particular lifestyle balance being an F/O with any Australian airline.

If you're an expat and you are chasing lifestyle consider Bonza. A few guys have returned from the Middle East, HK and alike and taken a punt on them. Some claim that Bonza is the best airline that they have ever worked for. Obviously who knows what it could be like in a few years, but commands are quick, pay rises keep coming, HR is a pleasure to deal with, and it's not a SOP to have one's head up one's own ****.
Imagine landing at OOL after a three-sector day and going for a quick surf at Currumbin on the way home. Unreal.