30-40 Virgin Blue Cabin Crew Quit each month ?
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Cargo_joe,
Hi! Obviously you are a TAD confused so I will be a little darling and explain it to you.
No need to apologise for being so unfamiliar!
Yes, you are absolutely correct flying DOES require shift work. As far as I recall nobody here on this forum said that it is possible to formulate a schedule AND utilise aircraft AND meet the passengers needs by flying 9-5. Now, cargo, that would be just silly, wouldnt it? (Besides I just LOVE the shift work - it is just another added perk to an already great job!)
However, it is possible to break up these four day trips (which - if you remember before you jumped the gun - that is what I was referring to). If you actually took the time to LISTEN to a vast majority of VB Flight Attendants they would like to see this take place. (Even if it was eventually) When an airline as large as VB, (with the amount of crew that they employ, combined with the amount of destinations that they fly to, with a fleet as large as theirs) cant provide their staff with some shorter trips away then their is something wrong here. PERHAPS, they are just happy to see their staff walk away exhausted and frustrated (which is what is happening in droves)?
I fly for a regional carrier. One of the reasons that I chose to do regional flying over domestic or long haul is because the scheduling is so much more suited to my life at this point in time. Usually we dont do 'trips', as such. We tend to do 'overnights'. It goes a little like this.....
We all hop in this little plane and fly to a far away place. At the end of (an extremely busy) day we all hop off (quite late at night) and go to sleep (in a hotel room somewhere quite exotic). In the morning we wake up at about 0400 (not 0700 when the sun is up) then go to work and fly the little plane back to where we came from. So, fundamentally, yes we do have to do trips away. But just not necessarily FOUR day trips EVERY time we go to sign on.
Oh gosh! Look at the time - it is 10 to 5 already! I must go now - time to knock off!
PS Hi QT, about time you started posting here!
Hi! Obviously you are a TAD confused so I will be a little darling and explain it to you.
No need to apologise for being so unfamiliar!Yes, you are absolutely correct flying DOES require shift work. As far as I recall nobody here on this forum said that it is possible to formulate a schedule AND utilise aircraft AND meet the passengers needs by flying 9-5. Now, cargo, that would be just silly, wouldnt it? (Besides I just LOVE the shift work - it is just another added perk to an already great job!)
However, it is possible to break up these four day trips (which - if you remember before you jumped the gun - that is what I was referring to). If you actually took the time to LISTEN to a vast majority of VB Flight Attendants they would like to see this take place. (Even if it was eventually) When an airline as large as VB, (with the amount of crew that they employ, combined with the amount of destinations that they fly to, with a fleet as large as theirs) cant provide their staff with some shorter trips away then their is something wrong here. PERHAPS, they are just happy to see their staff walk away exhausted and frustrated (which is what is happening in droves)?
I fly for a regional carrier. One of the reasons that I chose to do regional flying over domestic or long haul is because the scheduling is so much more suited to my life at this point in time. Usually we dont do 'trips', as such. We tend to do 'overnights'. It goes a little like this.....
We all hop in this little plane and fly to a far away place. At the end of (an extremely busy) day we all hop off (quite late at night) and go to sleep (in a hotel room somewhere quite exotic). In the morning we wake up at about 0400 (not 0700 when the sun is up) then go to work and fly the little plane back to where we came from. So, fundamentally, yes we do have to do trips away. But just not necessarily FOUR day trips EVERY time we go to sign on.
Oh gosh! Look at the time - it is 10 to 5 already! I must go now - time to knock off!
PS Hi QT, about time you started posting here!
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hi everyone,i'm a newy here and about to start with vb in @4 weeks!i'm very excited as i'm ex AN and feel very lucky to have another chance to do what i think is the best job in the world.having to do another jobwhilst waiting for this opportunity has made me realise even more how pretty good it is.like all jobs,it has it's moments but the good outweigh the bad.for me anyway.i'm worried i may have developed fear of flying as i haven't flown for so long!will keep you postered and dispel some rumours as i go!starting to get excited now!!good luck to any others in the process!i just hope i look good in beige!
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Almost 150 resignations last month at Dj from cabin crew.Who in there right mind would agree to an EBA that allows crews to be drafted on days off etc.As for sickness,sure theres always a percentage who are sincerely ill,but theres also a high % going sick each weekend due to partys on or partners wanting them at home.This has an effect on others being called in on days off etc. and so it goes round! The lesson is read the EBA before u sign it!
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heypilut,
150 resignations ? that is a HUGE amount. I thought VB had around 500 cabin crew ? is that correct ? that is more than 1/5th of the cabin crew gone.
It's good to hear on the grapevine though that more mature people are being hired...now.....not having a stab at VB here but...at the foodcourt last week at the qantas BNE terminal we had 10 virginblue cabin crew trainees looking us up and down in our new uniforms asking which airline we fly for ! We got chatting and 5 of them had only just turned 18 this year or late last year and the others were up to the age of 24 - where is the mature ones among that lot ?
The younger ones had moved up here from places like Adelaide etc so no wonder there may be a high level of sick leave. If you are that young and never worked full-time before ( hang on - what about previous cust serv experience ?)and most notably in a job that gives you a high exposure to sickness then there is bound to be problems.
I know I wasn't ready to move to another city and take a full-time job at the age of 18 ! But maybe these girls were considered mature for their age ?
QF Skywalker
150 resignations ? that is a HUGE amount. I thought VB had around 500 cabin crew ? is that correct ? that is more than 1/5th of the cabin crew gone.
It's good to hear on the grapevine though that more mature people are being hired...now.....not having a stab at VB here but...at the foodcourt last week at the qantas BNE terminal we had 10 virginblue cabin crew trainees looking us up and down in our new uniforms asking which airline we fly for ! We got chatting and 5 of them had only just turned 18 this year or late last year and the others were up to the age of 24 - where is the mature ones among that lot ?
The younger ones had moved up here from places like Adelaide etc so no wonder there may be a high level of sick leave. If you are that young and never worked full-time before ( hang on - what about previous cust serv experience ?)and most notably in a job that gives you a high exposure to sickness then there is bound to be problems.
I know I wasn't ready to move to another city and take a full-time job at the age of 18 ! But maybe these girls were considered mature for their age ?
QF Skywalker
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It's-a-changin at DJ
Qf skywalker,
I can absolutely guarantee to you from VERY first hand experience (as I am training right now) that Virgin Blue are most definitetly altering the type of crew they recruit.
Out of two groups going through currently, there is a fantastic mix of ages, personalities, gender and 'looks'. Yes, there are a few younger ones (certainly NOT the majority), however these people have customer service experience - even if only a little - and the majority of us are from backgrounds with LOADS of life experience/other airline experience or many years in a profession.
Clearly, it is obvious that the type of employee is changing for the better at DJ, and that the company is only going to continue to grow at the rapid rate it currently is!
I can also clarify that the number quoted of 150 resigning last month is completely incorrect.
As I have said before, great to see an airline recruiting FULL-TIME PERMANENT crew at the moment.......
Cheers guys!
Bvb
I can absolutely guarantee to you from VERY first hand experience (as I am training right now) that Virgin Blue are most definitetly altering the type of crew they recruit.
Out of two groups going through currently, there is a fantastic mix of ages, personalities, gender and 'looks'. Yes, there are a few younger ones (certainly NOT the majority), however these people have customer service experience - even if only a little - and the majority of us are from backgrounds with LOADS of life experience/other airline experience or many years in a profession.
Clearly, it is obvious that the type of employee is changing for the better at DJ, and that the company is only going to continue to grow at the rapid rate it currently is!
I can also clarify that the number quoted of 150 resigning last month is completely incorrect.
As I have said before, great to see an airline recruiting FULL-TIME PERMANENT crew at the moment.......
Cheers guys!
Bvb
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Older F/As at Virgin Blue
I'm not so sure on that 150 figure....could be a bit extreme. I heard Brett Godfrey speaking about the company today and he certainly didn't let on that he has staff quiting in droves like that. He did say he is highly aware of the daily operations at Virgin Blue and how many crew call in sick etc. He certainly didn't seem stressed about it.
On a different note he said they recently recruited a 49 year old woman for flight attendant!
Cheers
vdd
On a different note he said they recently recruited a 49 year old woman for flight attendant!
Cheers
vdd
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Perth Applicants
If VB are doing interviews in Brisbane or in Melbourne, do they only interview people from that state? Do they consider Perth applicants for say Brisbane interviews etc or do Perth applicants have to wait until they interview in Perth?
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HeyPulit Wrote:
Heypulit, your post is absolute Bull**** the facts are that 7, yes
SEVEN F/a's resigned in August, you must have been knocked
back for the job to write such dribble.
Almost 150 resignations last month at Dj from cabin crew.Who in there right mind would agree to an EBA that allows crews to be drafted on days off etc.As for sickness,sure theres always a percentage who are sincerely ill,but theres also a high % going sick each weekend due to partys on or partners wanting them at home.This has an effect on others being called in on days off etc. and so it goes round! The lesson is read the EBA before u sign it!
SEVEN F/a's resigned in August, you must have been knocked
back for the job to write such dribble.
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I'm interested about that too OZcabincrew! I hope they come to Perth soon!!!
I applied to them a few weeks ago, but have heard nothing back as of yet. At the moment I just want to be flying, while I'm waiting on the QF shortlist, and Virgin Blue sound like they're a really fun airline, even if the work load is hard. The more I'm in the air the better I say, so I don't care about signing on for 4 day trips etc! I get excited just thinking about it!
And hey, I want them to keep recruiting the young ones...I'm a young one.
But anyway, if anybody has any info on when DJ are recruiting in Perth, I'm sure both myself and OZcabincrew would appreciate it muchly!
I applied to them a few weeks ago, but have heard nothing back as of yet. At the moment I just want to be flying, while I'm waiting on the QF shortlist, and Virgin Blue sound like they're a really fun airline, even if the work load is hard. The more I'm in the air the better I say, so I don't care about signing on for 4 day trips etc! I get excited just thinking about it!
And hey, I want them to keep recruiting the young ones...I'm a young one.
But anyway, if anybody has any info on when DJ are recruiting in Perth, I'm sure both myself and OZcabincrew would appreciate it muchly!
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QF Skywalker
Will try and find out what resignations for preceding months,
remember many would not be able to get DJ type pay if they gave
it away, as for numbers employed as F/As, it must be about 600+
now, here is an url on where the DJ fleet stands at present, you
should be able to work out the number of F/As required.
http://www.anthonytubbs.com/fleet.htm
Will try and find out what resignations for preceding months,
remember many would not be able to get DJ type pay if they gave
it away, as for numbers employed as F/As, it must be about 600+
now, here is an url on where the DJ fleet stands at present, you
should be able to work out the number of F/As required.
http://www.anthonytubbs.com/fleet.htm
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I don't know what heypilut is so upset about - they earn heaps more than Impulse crew now with International Ops, will be getting a bidding system soon, and he/she's worried about drafting on days off that even existed in the OLD EBA!
At least you kids used to get $500 per day off draft (maximum 2 per month!)...we get $250.
You have a pretty good EBA heypilut. Whilst you may have lower rest provisions, etc. you guys still earn a nice paypacket for the job you do (single aircraft type, multi crew, single class operation with a basic inflight service).
I'm sure most 20 year olds would be thrilled to earn as much as they are with VB!
At least you kids used to get $500 per day off draft (maximum 2 per month!)...we get $250.
You have a pretty good EBA heypilut. Whilst you may have lower rest provisions, etc. you guys still earn a nice paypacket for the job you do (single aircraft type, multi crew, single class operation with a basic inflight service).
I'm sure most 20 year olds would be thrilled to earn as much as they are with VB!
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Numbers.....
QF,
We currently have 900+ crew at DJ, with plans for expansion to 1400-odd by end of 2004.
Yes, 7 is the correct number of resignations last month.
As I've previously posted, with the nice balance of age/gender/life experience and also a more encouraged balance of seriousness/fun, it is a gr8 airline to work for!
Bvb
We currently have 900+ crew at DJ, with plans for expansion to 1400-odd by end of 2004.
Yes, 7 is the correct number of resignations last month.
As I've previously posted, with the nice balance of age/gender/life experience and also a more encouraged balance of seriousness/fun, it is a gr8 airline to work for!
Bvb
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Good luck to all who have been chosen for a new position with vb! From the ex AN guys (and girls) that i know there you'll work hard but you'll have alot of fun doing it!!!
Ive spent most of the last few years in the sharp end of a boeing in asia and had a ball!! From the sound of some of the posts here i am not surprised to see the the QF attitude hasent changed!!
Maybe they should change there name to the flying OSTRICH!!!
Ive spent most of the last few years in the sharp end of a boeing in asia and had a ball!! From the sound of some of the posts here i am not surprised to see the the QF attitude hasent changed!!
Maybe they should change there name to the flying OSTRICH!!!
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Good to hear Virgin is now hiring both younger and older F/A's. Has anyone been to a recent Interview session? Just wondered if they had also changed the format? From what I have heard you are asked to do some pretty childish stuff????
I do hope this format has changed as I know of alot of people that have decided not to attend, as they have felt uncomfortable with the antics.. I think Virgin has a good product, and is perhaps is targeting a differant market to the red rat, however Virgin may be missing out on some good new recruits....
Any info on this would be appreciated....
Thanks.
I do hope this format has changed as I know of alot of people that have decided not to attend, as they have felt uncomfortable with the antics.. I think Virgin has a good product, and is perhaps is targeting a differant market to the red rat, however Virgin may be missing out on some good new recruits....
Any info on this would be appreciated....
Thanks.
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I dont think people waiting on interviews etc would be worried about the high turn over .Hey ,more of a chance to get in.
Being a F/A has always had glamour associated with it. Maybe the younger ones change their mind after a while and think its not what they thought it would be.
Every occupation in the world is the same.Unlike some countries where you have the one job for life ,Aussies have always changed.Give up a good job to travel ,get sick of one and try another ,thats life.
For what ever reason,for each one leaving there are many times more wanting there job---------i think its great.
If it upsets VB or its costing them money ,then they will sort it out.
But as i see it ,Vb is in its infantsy,and given time the numbers will drop as the ones that really wanted to be F/A,s grow in percentage,at which stage the turnover will be no more than any other mob.
Being a F/A has always had glamour associated with it. Maybe the younger ones change their mind after a while and think its not what they thought it would be.
Every occupation in the world is the same.Unlike some countries where you have the one job for life ,Aussies have always changed.Give up a good job to travel ,get sick of one and try another ,thats life.
For what ever reason,for each one leaving there are many times more wanting there job---------i think its great.
If it upsets VB or its costing them money ,then they will sort it out.
But as i see it ,Vb is in its infantsy,and given time the numbers will drop as the ones that really wanted to be F/A,s grow in percentage,at which stage the turnover will be no more than any other mob.
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I dont think people waiting on interviews etc would be worried about the high turn over .Hey ,more of a chance to get in.
Being a F/A has always had glamour associated with it. Maybe the younger ones change their mind after a while and think its not what they thought it would be.
The reality is you have to accept a huge amount of responsibility and work your arse off for sub-standard wages. Most of the people I work with take a pay cut to become an F/A, because that's what they want to do. Once they find out what's involved responsibility-wise, they don't think the job is worth what they earn. They vote with their feet...
I know of F/A's who are forced to live in Sydney's over-inflated rental market that regularly have no money left to buy food towards the end of their pay cycle.
However, they have a light at the end of the tunnel (well, at the moment), that gives them the opportunity for the cabin crew I work with to earn what they deserve as a Shorthaul F/A.
Good luck with your job hunting.
I dont think people waiting on interviews etc would be worried about the high turn over .Hey ,more of a chance to get in.
Being a F/A has always had glamour associated with it. Maybe the younger ones change their mind after a while and think its not what they thought it would be.
The reality is you have to accept a huge amount of responsibility and work your arse off for sub-standard wages. Most of the people I work with take a pay cut to become an F/A, because that's what they want to do. The reality is they don't think the reponsibility of the job is worth what they earn. They vote with their feet...
I know of F/A's who are forced to live in Sydney's over-inflated rental market that regularly have no money left to buy food towards the end of their pay cycle.
However, they have a light at the end of the tunnel (well, at the moment), that gives them the opportunity for the cabin crew I work with to earn what they deserve as a Shorthaul F/A.
good luck with your job hunting.
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They are changing at DJ
I have a friend who started with DJ in July and she is 34, married and has a five year old daughter. My sister who is 30 and married has just finished her training as well. In her group there were a few young ones but also a fair few in their 30s and at least one in her 40s.
For the person asking about the process - it is quite similar to a QF interview now. It was at a hotel with the regular group excercises. The only difference than other airlines is that you have to get up to an advertisemdent, other than that it is pretty standard.
For the person asking about the process - it is quite similar to a QF interview now. It was at a hotel with the regular group excercises. The only difference than other airlines is that you have to get up to an advertisemdent, other than that it is pretty standard.
Last edited by Katt; 26th Jan 2004 at 15:27.
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Katt
Do they still have the "props" that you have to use during the interview, such as Mickey Mouse ears, wigs, cheer leading pom poms ect?
Goodluck and let us know how you went.
Goodluck and let us know how you went.