Virgin Atlantic/Blue Exchange Programme.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin Atlantic/Blue Exchange Programme.
Any Virgin Atlantic crew out there that will be coming to Australia via the exchange programme. I just flew with one of our crew who will be joining the VS ranks in March. She found out she was successful during the trip and you couldn't wipe the smile off her face!!!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: AUSTRALIA
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
smile,
A friend of mine has announced she is leaving on 01MAR for the Virgin Atlantic exchange program - sounds like such fun. She has said that the pay will be less than what she earns with DJ but the destinations will be much better - JFK, NRT etc !
What are the conditions surrounding the exchange ? Is there a minimum time you have to serve ? Do you have to be interviewed for a position ? What type of numbers are we looking at here in terms of the number of flight attendants relocating ?
Sounds like such a great opportunity - good to see Virgin Blue is offering cabin crew such a one in a lifetime opportunity.
Love to hear some more info on this !
Regards
QF SKY
A friend of mine has announced she is leaving on 01MAR for the Virgin Atlantic exchange program - sounds like such fun. She has said that the pay will be less than what she earns with DJ but the destinations will be much better - JFK, NRT etc !
What are the conditions surrounding the exchange ? Is there a minimum time you have to serve ? Do you have to be interviewed for a position ? What type of numbers are we looking at here in terms of the number of flight attendants relocating ?
Sounds like such a great opportunity - good to see Virgin Blue is offering cabin crew such a one in a lifetime opportunity.
Love to hear some more info on this !
Regards
QF SKY
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey QF Skywalker,
Not sure on the exact terms of the exchange. I know that they needed to get an even swap of numbers between the two airlines. That they will be leaving in March. It is a 2 year contract (I think that if you break it without special approval you lose your original job).
I also believe that you start in a junior position with the other airline- even if you held a higher rank at your current one.
Not sure if there was a minimum requirement for employment before you could apply, all costs are covered at your own expense --although I heard a rumour that Virgin Atlantic will be supplying hotel accommodation for a small period of time to let our crew settle in.
I think that once your application was accepted your performance monitoring was used to assess your suitability, as well as other things such as passenger compliments and complaints, excessive sick leave, and i believe that there was a small interview. (not sure though)
Anyway I will try to find out the correct details and let you know.
SMILE
Not sure on the exact terms of the exchange. I know that they needed to get an even swap of numbers between the two airlines. That they will be leaving in March. It is a 2 year contract (I think that if you break it without special approval you lose your original job).
I also believe that you start in a junior position with the other airline- even if you held a higher rank at your current one.
Not sure if there was a minimum requirement for employment before you could apply, all costs are covered at your own expense --although I heard a rumour that Virgin Atlantic will be supplying hotel accommodation for a small period of time to let our crew settle in.
I think that once your application was accepted your performance monitoring was used to assess your suitability, as well as other things such as passenger compliments and complaints, excessive sick leave, and i believe that there was a small interview. (not sure though)
Anyway I will try to find out the correct details and let you know.
SMILE
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Folks
The exchange program is up and running again, succesful applicants to go across mid-january for an early feb training start... Anyone from VS able to PM me with details regarding avg monthly take home pay and perhaps a sample roster? I am happy to provide those details to any VS crew who are considering coming across to DJ. Any questions you have, please feel free to ask! I am applying for the exchange, hoping and praying that I get accepted! Possibly see some of you guys over in the UK very very soon...
The exchange program is up and running again, succesful applicants to go across mid-january for an early feb training start... Anyone from VS able to PM me with details regarding avg monthly take home pay and perhaps a sample roster? I am happy to provide those details to any VS crew who are considering coming across to DJ. Any questions you have, please feel free to ask! I am applying for the exchange, hoping and praying that I get accepted! Possibly see some of you guys over in the UK very very soon...
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what I hear, the VS crews work very hard with very little time off (2 days between trips???) and for not-so-brilliant money.
It'll be a fantastic experience though!
I used to work for DJ in the BNE res centre while I was in Aussie for a year. Had a ball!!! Great company to work for.
It'll be a fantastic experience though!
I used to work for DJ in the BNE res centre while I was in Aussie for a year. Had a ball!!! Great company to work for.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey Guys!
Gee....been a long time since I've posted.....
Yes, it is great to see the opportunity being offered to we DJ crew....as far as I am aware, you must be employed at VB for somewhere in the vicinity of 6-9 months. 22 is the number being thrown around who will exchange - and this time around MANY more ppl are keen and applying!
The money isn't as good as what we earn here, however the trips and days between are larger.
Great to be able to participate for 12 months and then return home to your previous position.
I do find it strange that ANYONE would know they had been accepted as yet - applications only close on-line tomorrow (17th).....
Good luck to all.....
Bvb
Gee....been a long time since I've posted.....
Yes, it is great to see the opportunity being offered to we DJ crew....as far as I am aware, you must be employed at VB for somewhere in the vicinity of 6-9 months. 22 is the number being thrown around who will exchange - and this time around MANY more ppl are keen and applying!
The money isn't as good as what we earn here, however the trips and days between are larger.
Great to be able to participate for 12 months and then return home to your previous position.
I do find it strange that ANYONE would know they had been accepted as yet - applications only close on-line tomorrow (17th).....
Good luck to all.....
Bvb
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Woooohooooo!!!!! Got the call this morning, I have been accepted for the exchange program! At this stage still waiting for confirmation of the training commencement date, but I am definately part of it!!
I have wanted long haul for such a long time, and flying for Virgin Atlantic is going to be awesome - I look forward to meeting some of you guys in the near future!!!!!! 
I have wanted long haul for such a long time, and flying for Virgin Atlantic is going to be awesome - I look forward to meeting some of you guys in the near future!!!!!!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: AUSTRALIA
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sinala !
Got back from o/s and found some missed calls on my phone from you !!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!
SO PROUD OF YOU.
A340-6000000000000000000000000000000000000 !!
I reckon we have one last celebration in CNS before you go - this is the best news ever !
QF SKY
ps. - Brisvegas boy - if you scroll up you will see my post was from earlier on in the year so that is why I knew what date my other friend was leaving for VS from DJ. I was referring to the first ever DJ f/a's to join VS in 01 MARCH 2004.
Got back from o/s and found some missed calls on my phone from you !!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!
SO PROUD OF YOU.
A340-6000000000000000000000000000000000000 !!
I reckon we have one last celebration in CNS before you go - this is the best news ever !
QF SKY
ps. - Brisvegas boy - if you scroll up you will see my post was from earlier on in the year so that is why I knew what date my other friend was leaving for VS from DJ. I was referring to the first ever DJ f/a's to join VS in 01 MARCH 2004.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Runway 21
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Congrats Sinala!!!
It's a cool program - lets you guys get a taste of the LH life while being able to come back.
You may even get to do Oz trips now VS are flying into Syd!!
Enjoy it mate and let us know how it goes!!!
Best of luck!!!!
Sky
It's a cool program - lets you guys get a taste of the LH life while being able to come back.
You may even get to do Oz trips now VS are flying into Syd!!
Enjoy it mate and let us know how it goes!!!
Best of luck!!!!
Sky
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well folks I have officially finished flying for DJ, and in 5 days time will be boarding a (few!) jet planes to fly BNE-SYD-HKG-LHR... thanks to all that I have flown with over the past 3 years with DJ, and very much looking forward to playing with all the funky characters at VS!
QfSkyWalker thanks for a great send off in CNS, what a night! My crew loved you - you charmer you! Hope to catch up with you on some asian overnights... Too bad that smile did not join us in CNS!!! Ha ha ha ha ha....
Have a great weekend all 
QfSkyWalker thanks for a great send off in CNS, what a night! My crew loved you - you charmer you! Hope to catch up with you on some asian overnights... Too bad that smile did not join us in CNS!!! Ha ha ha ha ha....
Have a great weekend all
Last edited by sinala1; 27th Jan 2005 at 04:39.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sinala, are you still mad at me for my no-show the other night?
Will miss you for the next year... especially your group emails at work
.
I will message you if I'm over your way in March.
Don't forget to wear your hi-viz vest or no-one will see you
SMILE
Will miss you for the next year... especially your group emails at work
. I will message you if I'm over your way in March.
Don't forget to wear your hi-viz vest or no-one will see you
SMILE
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Smile you shall never be forgiven, and have been removed from the christmas list!
Ah......... 
yes we shant be doing anymore of those shall we 
they seem to "upset management" to say the least!!!!
(Note to self - be less outspoken!)
Will miss you for the next year... especially your group emails at work
yes we shant be doing anymore of those shall we they seem to "upset management" to say the least!!!!(Note to self - be less outspoken!)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: AUSTRALIA
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sinala ,
You will be missed at DJ by everyone, your crew love you and it just goes to show why you have been chosen for this fantastic oppurtunity.
Good Luck at Virgin Atlantic. Make sure you keep posting on here with details of your new adventures. Good luck remembering emer equip locations on the A340-600 ...hehe
Your send off was a great night. I was a DJ boy for just one special night
TAKE CARE
QF SKY
"Keeping the Air Fare "
You will be missed at DJ by everyone, your crew love you and it just goes to show why you have been chosen for this fantastic oppurtunity.
Good Luck at Virgin Atlantic. Make sure you keep posting on here with details of your new adventures. Good luck remembering emer equip locations on the A340-600 ...hehe
Your send off was a great night. I was a DJ boy for just one special night
TAKE CARE
QF SKY
"Keeping the Air Fare "
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: In my own little world
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was doing a flight at VS the other day and it was the FSM's last flight as he was going in the other direction to DJ. He said he was going for 4 years though !!!.
The LHR station manager is looking into the exchange program (at my request) as it does not seem fair for the rest of the airline that this opportunity exists purely for cabin crew. The HR department are now looking to see if it can be extended to other areas of the company too.
Fingers x'd.
The LHR station manager is looking into the exchange program (at my request) as it does not seem fair for the rest of the airline that this opportunity exists purely for cabin crew. The HR department are now looking to see if it can be extended to other areas of the company too.
Fingers x'd.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Howdy All
An update for you... VS training is going well, just completed the 3rd week today (1st week all warm and fluffy stuff like inductions, CRM, cultural awareness etc; 2nd week AVMED - whoa!!! Quite difficult in some parts I found - its difficult to try and unlearn your Aussie stuff and then relearn a different type of logic here in the UK; Week 3 SEP - same as avmed - relatively easy, however some logic points are quite difficult to grasp!). A week and a bit left of SEP, then Service training, then the B747 conversion (from A340), with a few airport visits and ditching drills all strewn about too. Loving it - been snowing here south of London for the past week or so - very nice (except when trains get cancelled
)
Really looking forward to getting out on line and experiencing it. I have to say (and other fliers who have changed airlines may agree with me) that coming from an airline background is not necessarily an advantage (especially when its a different country!) as the logic you have ingrained into you unfortunately is not always the same!
Anyway folks just a quick update, can't wait for the first roster!
Cheers for now all
Sinala1 (the UK edition )
An update for you... VS training is going well, just completed the 3rd week today (1st week all warm and fluffy stuff like inductions, CRM, cultural awareness etc; 2nd week AVMED - whoa!!! Quite difficult in some parts I found - its difficult to try and unlearn your Aussie stuff and then relearn a different type of logic here in the UK; Week 3 SEP - same as avmed - relatively easy, however some logic points are quite difficult to grasp!). A week and a bit left of SEP, then Service training, then the B747 conversion (from A340), with a few airport visits and ditching drills all strewn about too. Loving it - been snowing here south of London for the past week or so - very nice (except when trains get cancelled
)Really looking forward to getting out on line and experiencing it. I have to say (and other fliers who have changed airlines may agree with me) that coming from an airline background is not necessarily an advantage (especially when its a different country!) as the logic you have ingrained into you unfortunately is not always the same!
Anyway folks just a quick update, can't wait for the first roster!
Cheers for now all
Sinala1 (the UK edition
)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Info Required PLEASE
Hey Guys....
Just have a few questions regarding the exchange - due to happen again in November.....
I know there have been several posts on this - but could someone please give me an UPDATED figure of take home pay (including allowances, trip pay etc) for a Junior FA at the moment? I am trying to do the sums for send-back cash for morgatages etc.
ALSO.....if there is someone in the know (maybe a VB person over there now??) about what TYPE of visa we Aussies are issued with for the exchange - can we work a second job or are we only entitled to work for VS?
Would REALLY appreciate any info - thanks in advance.
Oz
Just have a few questions regarding the exchange - due to happen again in November.....
I know there have been several posts on this - but could someone please give me an UPDATED figure of take home pay (including allowances, trip pay etc) for a Junior FA at the moment? I am trying to do the sums for send-back cash for morgatages etc.
ALSO.....if there is someone in the know (maybe a VB person over there now??) about what TYPE of visa we Aussies are issued with for the exchange - can we work a second job or are we only entitled to work for VS?
Would REALLY appreciate any info - thanks in advance.
Oz
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Howdy...
I would like to strongly recommend that you apply for this exchange - its a total laugh! I will post a copy of an email that I sent to a few mates who asked me similar questions... sorry to the Mod's if its a bit long!
If it is, I will PM it to those concerned...
1) Do you always fly out of the same airport in London or no?
No, you fly mainly out of London Heathrow, and sometimes out of London Gatwick (LGW mainly to leisure destinations such as the Carribean, Orlando, Las Vegas etc). You will tend to get mainly LHR flights and sometimes an LGW one. A lot of crew who live closer to either airport tend to try and swap their flights with other crew who live close to the opposing airport.
2) How far away from the airport do you live?
I live about an hour or so from LGW and about 2 hours from LHR (on public transport). You need to live within 3 hours of LGW and 2 hours of LHR for standby purposes...
3) Do you know a few of the suburbs around there I could look into?
A lot of crew live in areas that are close to LGW - Horley, Gatwick, Crawley, Three Bridges, Redhill...The FAQ's from last year had a lot of suburbs listed in it... I recommend a visit to a few websites: www.findaproperty.co.uk ; www.gumtree.com ; www.findaflat.co.uk are all good websites that list rental and share properties. Just be careful that the price is correct - findaproperty.co.uk inparticular often show a price that is per week as a per month price!
4) Overall though, do you think I should apply??
In a word, YES! I am not going to lie, some things have been tough, however I am having the time of my life and if I had my time over I would definately do it again.
Here are a few points from me...
The allowances in general are much higher than Virgin Blue. For example, a bad allowance would be the USD$124 that you recieve in Orlando for one night, whereas a good one is the USD$245 you recieve for one night on certain JFK flights. In Narita for 2 nights you get about 30,000 Yen (about GBP150), Hong Kong for 2 nights is HKD$2538 (around GBP180), Sydney you currently get AUD$212 for one night (and thats about to go up by about AUD$50!) and so on... the pay you get in your bank at this stage I cant give you an average really, guessing as a senior its between GBP900 to GBP1000 or so. As a junior, its closer to GBP750-GBP800 I think.... The allowances are quite high, but a lot of crew take as much home from their trips as they can, so that they have spending money for their days off!
The work is different - you can't compare it to Virgin Blue. It truly is like apples and oranges.... as a junior, we have been in the economy cabins and I tell ya its a lot different shelling out 380 meals to a planeload of drunks going to Las Vegas for 10 hours than it is selling muffins and coffee to a plane full of suits on a 1 hour sector!
I wont lie - it has been tough! Training was intense and I found some parts difficult to understand. AVMED was one week and some of the things you learn (for eg the hiemlich manouvre, and the UK version of DRABC/CPR/EAR) will have you scratching your head at the logic! You learn 3 aircraft types (A340-300, 8 doors, minimum required crew 9, usually operates with 13 I think?; A340-600, 8 doors, 2 Overwing Exits, minimum required crew 11, usually operates with 16 crew; and Boeing 747-400, 12 doors, minimum required crew 12, usually operates with 17 or 18, depending on which airport you fly out of). Equipment maps are very difficult, particularly when you have to learn different configurations for the 747's based out of LHR to those based out of LGW... the equipment maps are an exam of their own, and the airbus ones had over 200 pieces of equipment to put in! However they do teach you a helpful way to learn, even though you really only learn it parrot fashion for the exam...
Life in the UK is different to oz, extremely different. If you want to do it, start saving NOW. Cost of living here is outrageous! For example, fuel is currently 83pence a litre (thats 83pence, not 83 cents! A meal at Maccas will cost you about GBP3.50-4.00, a bus ticket usually around GBP1.20, trains outside the greater London zones are extortionate (for me to travel from Purley to LGW, which is around the same distance as say Brisbane Airport to Southbank, costs GBP5.40 - whereas a travelcard that takes in all of the greater London travel options within zones 1-6 costs GBP6 offpeak, or GBP12 peak...for more info visit www.tfl.gov.uk and have a look at the maps - they will give you a clearer explanation of what I mean by the Greater London zones.
In rent, you can expect to pay between GBP250 and GBP400 for a room in a share house per month. This sometimes includes bills (council tax - similar to rates, but paid by renters; your TV licence - required for anyone who has a tv in their home; electricity; gas etc) and sometimes doesnt.
Longer layovers are great! Layovers vary from 12 hours in Lagos to sometimes 5 or 6 nights in destinations like Shanghai, Las Vegas, Cape Town etc... In general, east coast USA is one night (although Boston can be 4 nights), west coast USA is 2 nights, carribean destinations vary from 1 to 3 nights...
The aircraft are great to work on, you will have a ball. The entertainment system on the A340-600 is awesome - its called V:Port and has over 50 channels of on-demand movies at your fingertips. There are a total of 4 different IFE systems that are on VA aircraft, with V:Port being the newest and best. Most flights you will get crew rest on - this can vary from 1 hour to 4 hours or so if you are lucky on long flights! Sometimes you wont get it, and really are only entitled to it on long flights anyway (eg longer than 11 hours or something), but more often than not the FSM's do the best they can to let everyone get a lay-down.
If you are considering applying, definately do your research! Go to www.virgin-atlantic.com and read about the company. Their values and behavioural competencies are similar to Virgin Blues obviously, however still know the company history etc. Be prepared to answer questions similar to the ones in your initial interview (tell me a time when you dealt with a difficult customer, tell me a time when you went out of your way to help a customer, tell me what you can bring to virgin atlantic, tell me why you want to work for virgin atlantic, tell me how you feel about going into a junior position etc). Sit down with a list of questions and have practice answers! Don't know them off by heart, but have examples ready in your mind.
A typical roster generally will have 5 trips - usually 1 or 2 nighters, and sometimes a 4 day block of standby. Swapping trips is very easy, and encouraged - this is because crew who are working trips they want to be on are less likely to call in sick! They also have this department called Pre-Ops which is great. Pre-Ops basically deal with anything outside the 24 hours before the day of operation. You can call them up and say "hi, I have a JFK trip on wednesday that I dont want, is there any chance of a Narita trip instead?" and basically if what you want is available, and will fit your roster, they will give it to you! A lot of crew request longer/shorter trips, non-usa trips etc...
There is a free bus which operates more or less hourly during the day between LHR and LGW. Its great and is available only to VA employees & their companions - so you can live near LGW and still fairly easily get to LHR.
That is really all I can think of for now, however below I will list a typical flight for you...
Sign On (2 hours before STD), briefing lasts generally for a half hour. Each person required to individually answer either an EP or AVMED question (each month a scenario is issued to the FSM's, and its the same one all month - so once you have heard it once you are generally in the clear!) Once you have finished briefing its off through crew security screening and onto the bus to the aircraft. We dont enter the terminals at LHR/LGW at all - our 'check-in' is in a different building altogether. The bus then takes us to the aircraft, where we dump our wheelie bags and get onboard...
Once onboard, everyone does their safety and security checks (security checks done EVERY flight before take off and after landing), and the cabin service supervisors check their catering etc. Boarding commences at -55, 2 crew at the door boarding pax. Doors close, safety demo done usually by video with crew only pointing out exits, however the last week of the month its always done manually - same as virgin blue. Take-off, then its all action stations... hand out headsets, amenity kits, immigration documentation, then into the galley to set up for drinks service. Drinks service conducted then cleared in, followed by meal service. The meal service can take up to 1 1/2 to 2 hours sometimes! 3 meal choices, generally someone will get the meal they dont want (always fun to deal with!). Tea and coffee is next, followed straight up by refills of tea & coffee. Then its time to clear in everyone's trays! Once that is done, the crew can usually have something to eat. Ice creams follow about a half hour later, and oj/water is served throughout the flight. If its a long flight there is a mid-flight snack served, which is usually a hot item of some sort - a cajun chicken panini, or a cheese and onion tart etc... More OJ/water, then 1 hr 45mins before landing the breakfast/afternoon tea service is done. Very similar to the main meal... Then we secure for landing, collect headsets etc, land, say goodbye to pax, then do security checks again before disembarking. We then proceed through customs/immigration (usually the crew channel which is good!), collect bags, and head to the bus to the hotel, where you check in, recieve your allowance, then whatever.....
The visa we got was an ALE Business Visa, and you need to go to the british high commission in CBR (literally 5 mins walk from the DJ terminal at CBR) if you want to get the Visa Entry Clearance sorted in one day - or you can do it by post, probably takes about 6 weeks...
A long post, but I hope its managed to answer your questions. Again I strongly recommend you apply - however, START SAVING NOW!!!!! I cannot stress this enough - because you will realise just how expensive things are here. For eg, I bought a car yesterday - for GBP1250 (quite the bargain for what it is) however the insurance cost me GBP800 - and thats only for third party fire & theft insurance!
Good luck in your application, and please feel free to ask me any more questions...
I would like to strongly recommend that you apply for this exchange - its a total laugh! I will post a copy of an email that I sent to a few mates who asked me similar questions... sorry to the Mod's if its a bit long!
If it is, I will PM it to those concerned...1) Do you always fly out of the same airport in London or no?
No, you fly mainly out of London Heathrow, and sometimes out of London Gatwick (LGW mainly to leisure destinations such as the Carribean, Orlando, Las Vegas etc). You will tend to get mainly LHR flights and sometimes an LGW one. A lot of crew who live closer to either airport tend to try and swap their flights with other crew who live close to the opposing airport.
2) How far away from the airport do you live?
I live about an hour or so from LGW and about 2 hours from LHR (on public transport). You need to live within 3 hours of LGW and 2 hours of LHR for standby purposes...
3) Do you know a few of the suburbs around there I could look into?
A lot of crew live in areas that are close to LGW - Horley, Gatwick, Crawley, Three Bridges, Redhill...The FAQ's from last year had a lot of suburbs listed in it... I recommend a visit to a few websites: www.findaproperty.co.uk ; www.gumtree.com ; www.findaflat.co.uk are all good websites that list rental and share properties. Just be careful that the price is correct - findaproperty.co.uk inparticular often show a price that is per week as a per month price!
4) Overall though, do you think I should apply??
In a word, YES! I am not going to lie, some things have been tough, however I am having the time of my life and if I had my time over I would definately do it again.
Here are a few points from me...
The allowances in general are much higher than Virgin Blue. For example, a bad allowance would be the USD$124 that you recieve in Orlando for one night, whereas a good one is the USD$245 you recieve for one night on certain JFK flights. In Narita for 2 nights you get about 30,000 Yen (about GBP150), Hong Kong for 2 nights is HKD$2538 (around GBP180), Sydney you currently get AUD$212 for one night (and thats about to go up by about AUD$50!) and so on... the pay you get in your bank at this stage I cant give you an average really, guessing as a senior its between GBP900 to GBP1000 or so. As a junior, its closer to GBP750-GBP800 I think.... The allowances are quite high, but a lot of crew take as much home from their trips as they can, so that they have spending money for their days off!
The work is different - you can't compare it to Virgin Blue. It truly is like apples and oranges.... as a junior, we have been in the economy cabins and I tell ya its a lot different shelling out 380 meals to a planeload of drunks going to Las Vegas for 10 hours than it is selling muffins and coffee to a plane full of suits on a 1 hour sector!
I wont lie - it has been tough! Training was intense and I found some parts difficult to understand. AVMED was one week and some of the things you learn (for eg the hiemlich manouvre, and the UK version of DRABC/CPR/EAR) will have you scratching your head at the logic! You learn 3 aircraft types (A340-300, 8 doors, minimum required crew 9, usually operates with 13 I think?; A340-600, 8 doors, 2 Overwing Exits, minimum required crew 11, usually operates with 16 crew; and Boeing 747-400, 12 doors, minimum required crew 12, usually operates with 17 or 18, depending on which airport you fly out of). Equipment maps are very difficult, particularly when you have to learn different configurations for the 747's based out of LHR to those based out of LGW... the equipment maps are an exam of their own, and the airbus ones had over 200 pieces of equipment to put in! However they do teach you a helpful way to learn, even though you really only learn it parrot fashion for the exam...
Life in the UK is different to oz, extremely different. If you want to do it, start saving NOW. Cost of living here is outrageous! For example, fuel is currently 83pence a litre (thats 83pence, not 83 cents! A meal at Maccas will cost you about GBP3.50-4.00, a bus ticket usually around GBP1.20, trains outside the greater London zones are extortionate (for me to travel from Purley to LGW, which is around the same distance as say Brisbane Airport to Southbank, costs GBP5.40 - whereas a travelcard that takes in all of the greater London travel options within zones 1-6 costs GBP6 offpeak, or GBP12 peak...for more info visit www.tfl.gov.uk and have a look at the maps - they will give you a clearer explanation of what I mean by the Greater London zones.
In rent, you can expect to pay between GBP250 and GBP400 for a room in a share house per month. This sometimes includes bills (council tax - similar to rates, but paid by renters; your TV licence - required for anyone who has a tv in their home; electricity; gas etc) and sometimes doesnt.
Longer layovers are great! Layovers vary from 12 hours in Lagos to sometimes 5 or 6 nights in destinations like Shanghai, Las Vegas, Cape Town etc... In general, east coast USA is one night (although Boston can be 4 nights), west coast USA is 2 nights, carribean destinations vary from 1 to 3 nights...
The aircraft are great to work on, you will have a ball. The entertainment system on the A340-600 is awesome - its called V:Port and has over 50 channels of on-demand movies at your fingertips. There are a total of 4 different IFE systems that are on VA aircraft, with V:Port being the newest and best. Most flights you will get crew rest on - this can vary from 1 hour to 4 hours or so if you are lucky on long flights! Sometimes you wont get it, and really are only entitled to it on long flights anyway (eg longer than 11 hours or something), but more often than not the FSM's do the best they can to let everyone get a lay-down.
If you are considering applying, definately do your research! Go to www.virgin-atlantic.com and read about the company. Their values and behavioural competencies are similar to Virgin Blues obviously, however still know the company history etc. Be prepared to answer questions similar to the ones in your initial interview (tell me a time when you dealt with a difficult customer, tell me a time when you went out of your way to help a customer, tell me what you can bring to virgin atlantic, tell me why you want to work for virgin atlantic, tell me how you feel about going into a junior position etc). Sit down with a list of questions and have practice answers! Don't know them off by heart, but have examples ready in your mind.
A typical roster generally will have 5 trips - usually 1 or 2 nighters, and sometimes a 4 day block of standby. Swapping trips is very easy, and encouraged - this is because crew who are working trips they want to be on are less likely to call in sick! They also have this department called Pre-Ops which is great. Pre-Ops basically deal with anything outside the 24 hours before the day of operation. You can call them up and say "hi, I have a JFK trip on wednesday that I dont want, is there any chance of a Narita trip instead?" and basically if what you want is available, and will fit your roster, they will give it to you! A lot of crew request longer/shorter trips, non-usa trips etc...
There is a free bus which operates more or less hourly during the day between LHR and LGW. Its great and is available only to VA employees & their companions - so you can live near LGW and still fairly easily get to LHR.
That is really all I can think of for now, however below I will list a typical flight for you...
Sign On (2 hours before STD), briefing lasts generally for a half hour. Each person required to individually answer either an EP or AVMED question (each month a scenario is issued to the FSM's, and its the same one all month - so once you have heard it once you are generally in the clear!) Once you have finished briefing its off through crew security screening and onto the bus to the aircraft. We dont enter the terminals at LHR/LGW at all - our 'check-in' is in a different building altogether. The bus then takes us to the aircraft, where we dump our wheelie bags and get onboard...
Once onboard, everyone does their safety and security checks (security checks done EVERY flight before take off and after landing), and the cabin service supervisors check their catering etc. Boarding commences at -55, 2 crew at the door boarding pax. Doors close, safety demo done usually by video with crew only pointing out exits, however the last week of the month its always done manually - same as virgin blue. Take-off, then its all action stations... hand out headsets, amenity kits, immigration documentation, then into the galley to set up for drinks service. Drinks service conducted then cleared in, followed by meal service. The meal service can take up to 1 1/2 to 2 hours sometimes! 3 meal choices, generally someone will get the meal they dont want (always fun to deal with!). Tea and coffee is next, followed straight up by refills of tea & coffee. Then its time to clear in everyone's trays! Once that is done, the crew can usually have something to eat. Ice creams follow about a half hour later, and oj/water is served throughout the flight. If its a long flight there is a mid-flight snack served, which is usually a hot item of some sort - a cajun chicken panini, or a cheese and onion tart etc... More OJ/water, then 1 hr 45mins before landing the breakfast/afternoon tea service is done. Very similar to the main meal... Then we secure for landing, collect headsets etc, land, say goodbye to pax, then do security checks again before disembarking. We then proceed through customs/immigration (usually the crew channel which is good!), collect bags, and head to the bus to the hotel, where you check in, recieve your allowance, then whatever.....
The visa we got was an ALE Business Visa, and you need to go to the british high commission in CBR (literally 5 mins walk from the DJ terminal at CBR) if you want to get the Visa Entry Clearance sorted in one day - or you can do it by post, probably takes about 6 weeks...
A long post, but I hope its managed to answer your questions. Again I strongly recommend you apply - however, START SAVING NOW!!!!! I cannot stress this enough - because you will realise just how expensive things are here. For eg, I bought a car yesterday - for GBP1250 (quite the bargain for what it is) however the insurance cost me GBP800 - and thats only for third party fire & theft insurance!
Good luck in your application, and please feel free to ask me any more questions...