Virgin Australia - Wannabes & Recruitment
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dubai
Age: 50
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Read your contract carefully...
Hi guys,
I know how excited you must be as you receive your calls about start dates etc...and might I add, well done!!
I have a friend who has received their contract and all I can say is you MUST have someone who is in the industry already and knows what sort of conditions and rules that should apply to a position like this read over it for you BEFORE you sign it!
Having flown for many years, I can honestly say it is NOT something that I would be signing without some serious changes (both to conditions and salary).
Some of the more interesting points include;
*Your base salary is it - nothing more (no overtime, flying/sector pay) no matter how many hours your duty blows out to.
*The company can provide you with an actual meal INSTEAD of your overnight allowances (so you can only bank on only receiving your base salary - ever!)
*10 sick days per year(no URTI days)
Just to name a few......
It is an individual contract, however, so you are within your rights to 'negotiate' these terms and conditions.
Good luck all.
I know how excited you must be as you receive your calls about start dates etc...and might I add, well done!!
I have a friend who has received their contract and all I can say is you MUST have someone who is in the industry already and knows what sort of conditions and rules that should apply to a position like this read over it for you BEFORE you sign it!
Having flown for many years, I can honestly say it is NOT something that I would be signing without some serious changes (both to conditions and salary).
Some of the more interesting points include;
*Your base salary is it - nothing more (no overtime, flying/sector pay) no matter how many hours your duty blows out to.
*The company can provide you with an actual meal INSTEAD of your overnight allowances (so you can only bank on only receiving your base salary - ever!)
*10 sick days per year(no URTI days)
Just to name a few......
It is an individual contract, however, so you are within your rights to 'negotiate' these terms and conditions.
Good luck all.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the clouds
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No overnight allowances? It better be a very nice meal then...what about breakfast? 
The more I hear about this the more I think better of short haul. You can always visit exotic destinations on your holidays...
The more I hear about this the more I think better of short haul. You can always visit exotic destinations on your holidays...
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Australia
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*The company can provide you with an actual meal INSTEAD of your overnight allowances (so you can only bank on only receiving your base salary - ever!)
What other crazy conditions are written into this contract? Will be interesting to see the minimum layover times, and also crew rest times onboard - no doubt they will rob us with that too!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney
Age: 45
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anyone know re passports?
I got an email from V Australia today to confirm I have a passport with 42 months validity before they will send me the letter of offer..... I am about to apply for a new passport and was wondering do they stamp in LA for cabin crew? Should I get standard passport or the one with the extra pages?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney
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Re: RSA Question
Yes you need to provide proof of these on the day. A friend of mine enrolled and took the letter that it was within 2 weeks. Then when she did not make it through she cancelled it. There are some companies that allow you to pay on the day foor RSA and first aid.... try and book one of these that way you can get out of it without any money spent shall you not get through.
Good luck
Good luck
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I know the newbies to flying are all very excited to get any job at all, but seriously after a couple of sectors you'll understand how hard these conditions will be and satisfaction will wane very quickly. Overnight allowances are there for a reason, you need the money to ensure you are rested and fed well. It's not a bonus. And it's not as if you can take your own meals with you to have at the other end. Airline meals (no matter how "healthy") just aren't a replacement for real food. Do you want to be living on curry and rice for your entire career? I wouldn't.
And if you are vego or gluten intolerant watch out because they may not load enough of these special diet meals onboard.
And if you are vego or gluten intolerant watch out because they may not load enough of these special diet meals onboard.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
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I agree but...
I agree 100% with what you are saying Airbourne soon....but the post by DBXGIRL3194 states they are "a friend" so maybe they just heard the V "conditions" via the grapevine (lets hope so...lol).
I was told during the VRD that we would be getting a $10,000 - $12,000 allowance....they even stated "crew will also receive a subsistence allowance for each night spent away from home".When Dixsons-son posted the allowance example it added up to this amount.
Dixsons-son may also be correct when they state that it may just be a meal on board plus your allowance and DBXGIRL3194 may have got the information mixed up....(lets hope so)
DBXGIRL3194....We'd love to see a copy of the document....It will be very intresting reading for all of us.
I was told during the VRD that we would be getting a $10,000 - $12,000 allowance....they even stated "crew will also receive a subsistence allowance for each night spent away from home".When Dixsons-son posted the allowance example it added up to this amount.
Dixsons-son may also be correct when they state that it may just be a meal on board plus your allowance and DBXGIRL3194 may have got the information mixed up....(lets hope so)
DBXGIRL3194....We'd love to see a copy of the document....It will be very intresting reading for all of us.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Above 5L
Age: 43
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passports
iwannafly:
Everyone will need to obtain a crew visa. the company will(should) sort this out.
The crew visa will include an entry slip (like the old fashioned library card that used to be in the back of books), US immigration stamp the date upon each entry. this slip is stapled with your crew visa inside your passport, and means that you don't have to get an actual big stamp, and therefore saves your pages. They don't always stamp it though. depends on who you get. I have operated at least 50 times to the US, and today I only count 11 US date stamps from US immigration.
None of the countries I have operated have ever stamped my passport at all, some don't even look at your passport, simply the Gen Dec and your ID. The only stamps I got whilst working was if I dead headed outbound, and operated inbound.
Even the US often doesn't stamp the slip. .
Everyone will need to obtain a crew visa. the company will(should) sort this out.
The crew visa will include an entry slip (like the old fashioned library card that used to be in the back of books), US immigration stamp the date upon each entry. this slip is stapled with your crew visa inside your passport, and means that you don't have to get an actual big stamp, and therefore saves your pages. They don't always stamp it though. depends on who you get. I have operated at least 50 times to the US, and today I only count 11 US date stamps from US immigration.
None of the countries I have operated have ever stamped my passport at all, some don't even look at your passport, simply the Gen Dec and your ID. The only stamps I got whilst working was if I dead headed outbound, and operated inbound.
Even the US often doesn't stamp the slip. .
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Above 5L
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friend from Virgin emailed this to me to keep my spirits high during this long wait...
hope it lifts yours too...
YouTube - V-Australia
hope it lifts yours too...
YouTube - V-Australia
Last edited by I Just Want To Fly; 5th Aug 2008 at 16:53.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
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New information!
Just found this information for V Australia pilots (on the recruitment website) so cabin crew should be similar (fingers crossed) for number 4, 6 and 7...
4. What will the overnight allowances be and in what currency?
Overnight and meal allowances will be determined by the People department, using criteria specific to the hotel and its location, in combination with the Australian Tax Office guidelines. It is envisaged that allowances will be paid in Australian dollars to your nominated bank account, fortnightly in arrears, based on actual duties performed and at the prevailing applicable exchange rates.
6. What will be the length of patterns to West Coast USA?
Estimated pattern lengths to LAX are initially expected to be of 5 days duration. i.e. departing late on Day 1, and arriving back in Sydney early on Day 5, with 2 local nights off in LA.
7. What is the payment frequency of the 5% individual incentive bonus and the company profit share bonus?
The bonuses will be paid annually, on a date to be advised.
Did anyone hear anything today??
4. What will the overnight allowances be and in what currency?
Overnight and meal allowances will be determined by the People department, using criteria specific to the hotel and its location, in combination with the Australian Tax Office guidelines. It is envisaged that allowances will be paid in Australian dollars to your nominated bank account, fortnightly in arrears, based on actual duties performed and at the prevailing applicable exchange rates.
6. What will be the length of patterns to West Coast USA?
Estimated pattern lengths to LAX are initially expected to be of 5 days duration. i.e. departing late on Day 1, and arriving back in Sydney early on Day 5, with 2 local nights off in LA.
7. What is the payment frequency of the 5% individual incentive bonus and the company profit share bonus?
The bonuses will be paid annually, on a date to be advised.
Did anyone hear anything today??
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
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awww C or F... I saw you had posted and thought you might of been telling us that you had got the 'yes' email....
I'm sure it wont be far away guys....
Bree.
I'm sure it wont be far away guys....
Bree.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
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No news
No news is good news (I hope)....I read your "good news" post yesterday Breeza...congratulations on getting through to the next stage with VB....you must be really happy.....we may bump into each other during training...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney
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I had my medical today and all went well..... no to waiting game again!
I hope you all hear soon.... I don't think it will be long now.....
Good luck to those that have made it this far.....
I hope you all hear soon.... I don't think it will be long now.....
Good luck to those that have made it this far.....
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
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Well done Iwannaflyla
That's great news Iwannaflyla....you should hear very very soon....I'm so excited for you...you must be on cloud 9...lol...It only took Jimmyroo 2 weeks from the medical to the "yes" phone call so you won't be waiting much longer.
I can't wait to hear from them....my heart skips a beat every time the phone rings...
I can't wait to hear from them....my heart skips a beat every time the phone rings...
Join Date: Jun 2008
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I felt like that last week.... it was a relief to hear from them in the end! You will hear soon.... They might be doing them in alphabetical order or something! Who knows!
Thank you to everyone that replied re the passport! I am going to apply for the smaller one! Saves me around $100!!
Thank you to everyone that replied re the passport! I am going to apply for the smaller one! Saves me around $100!!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sydney
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allowances
QF used to work out the allowances based on what food costs in the restaurant of the nominated crew hotel.
So if breakfast costs $30
a club sandwich and salad $25
and a steak salad for dinner is $65
your daily allowance would be $120 per day.
The secret is not to eat in the hotel.
But go out to a cheaper eatery , thai, mexican, salad bar etc.
Where crew make huge amounts of money is when the hotels are really expensive to live in, or the local economy is booming.
EG: Japan - where dinner steak etc cost $350 AUD - hence a huge allowance.
Wander down the st eat in a sushi bar - or grab some yakatori sticks in a street stall. $10. Then head to the shops for fashion bargain.
Len
So if breakfast costs $30
a club sandwich and salad $25
and a steak salad for dinner is $65
your daily allowance would be $120 per day.
The secret is not to eat in the hotel.
But go out to a cheaper eatery , thai, mexican, salad bar etc.
Where crew make huge amounts of money is when the hotels are really expensive to live in, or the local economy is booming.
EG: Japan - where dinner steak etc cost $350 AUD - hence a huge allowance.
Wander down the st eat in a sushi bar - or grab some yakatori sticks in a street stall. $10. Then head to the shops for fashion bargain.
Len
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Australia
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Some of the internals have got their individual contracts, and the general word is they are not good - infact many internals are now considering staying put. I belive there is a group getting together to go back to them and ask for the conditions to be changed...