Virgin Blue Cabin Crew Conditions
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Virgin Blue Cabin Crew Conditions
Hi!
only new to this site so not sure if i am even doing this thread thing properly, or if anyone will see it!! hehe. the reason im starting this is just to try and find out some advice regarding VB. Im currently an FA with jetstar, and am almost through the virgin blue recruitment process (references have been called and waiting to maybe hear about medical). Anywho i was just wondering if there was any VB flighties, or anyone who might know some info about virgins rosters etc for Melb. Some questions i have is do melb flighties often have overnights, how many day trips do you generally do and what sort of trips are they? etc etc. a pretty big decision to make leaving JQ, nearly been there for two years, but feel that virgin blue would be an exciting change! if anyone out there would like to share their knowledge, id much appreciate it!!
Thanks guys
only new to this site so not sure if i am even doing this thread thing properly, or if anyone will see it!! hehe. the reason im starting this is just to try and find out some advice regarding VB. Im currently an FA with jetstar, and am almost through the virgin blue recruitment process (references have been called and waiting to maybe hear about medical). Anywho i was just wondering if there was any VB flighties, or anyone who might know some info about virgins rosters etc for Melb. Some questions i have is do melb flighties often have overnights, how many day trips do you generally do and what sort of trips are they? etc etc. a pretty big decision to make leaving JQ, nearly been there for two years, but feel that virgin blue would be an exciting change! if anyone out there would like to share their knowledge, id much appreciate it!!
Thanks guys
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overnights
I just got my roster for july and i have 9 overnights with lots apt and avl days so prob get more.. i been on line 6 weeks and i have only done 3 single day trips.. i guess it depends on what u bid for and what ya luck is like...I definitely think u would love DJ beats Jetstar
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Hi there
Thanks so much for the reply, great to hear that you have been online six weeks, hope its all going great for you! wow nine overnights, its such a funny thing to hear. at JQ it is just drilled into you that you will never have overnights. in 2 years, never had a rostered one, been on about six, on my own, when ive been paxed to sydney haha. if you dont mind me asking, what sort of staff travel do you get over at DJ? there is just so much going on in my little head at the moment, with JQ international starting soon, and DJ maybe accepting me, my little head is all confused about what to do. in relation to your overnights, what sort of rest do you have, is it enough to actually have some fun with the crew you are staying with, or more just to sleep then get up and go? so many questions, so little time. hehe. thanks heaps, 
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HI Airconn,
I am based in BNE so the only things I know about MEL base I have heard in the back galley.
When MEL first opened a couple of years ago they got next to no o/nights (maybe 3 or 4 a month). From what I have heard the current average is about 7-9. There still are a couple of day trips and lots of availables (like home reserve but you get paid an hourly rate -above your salary- to work on those days), and airport reserves (no penalty rates).
MEL is now the bigger of the two bases (by about one third), and are slowly getting more and more of the flying (not fast enough in my opinion- my roster is regularily maxed out).
Virgin is also currently in the middle of feasibility studies for setting up an airline from AUS to USA. At this stage we are being looked at to do the flying (straight from the horses mouth), however when I see it on my roster I will believe it.
good luck
love SMILE
ps our EBA ran out last September and we are currentlly being told that it should be up for voting in about August
, anything could happen after that. But check out our current EBA on the union website.
I am based in BNE so the only things I know about MEL base I have heard in the back galley.
When MEL first opened a couple of years ago they got next to no o/nights (maybe 3 or 4 a month). From what I have heard the current average is about 7-9. There still are a couple of day trips and lots of availables (like home reserve but you get paid an hourly rate -above your salary- to work on those days), and airport reserves (no penalty rates).
MEL is now the bigger of the two bases (by about one third), and are slowly getting more and more of the flying (not fast enough in my opinion- my roster is regularily maxed out).
Virgin is also currently in the middle of feasibility studies for setting up an airline from AUS to USA. At this stage we are being looked at to do the flying (straight from the horses mouth), however when I see it on my roster I will believe it.
good luck
love SMILE
ps our EBA ran out last September and we are currentlly being told that it should be up for voting in about August
, anything could happen after that. But check out our current EBA on the union website.
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Airconn,
If you want to join VB just for overnights then I think you are making the wrong decision.
JQ and VB are virtually the same product but different uniforms and approaches to operating.
Overnighting and living out of a suitcase is fun for maybe 1 night a month. But trust me it can be very tiring. (been a flight attendant for MANY years now)
You need to look at how JQ has grown over the last 2 years and how it will grow over the next 2.
We have great staff travel benefits at JQ not to mention a growth projectory and the backing and security of QF as a parent company....
Just pop yourself on career progression and before you know it you will have all the overnights you want + the additional benefit of having many years seniority to back you up .....
But if you are here for a good time and not a long time then VB will be a great place to go
If you want to join VB just for overnights then I think you are making the wrong decision.
JQ and VB are virtually the same product but different uniforms and approaches to operating.
Overnighting and living out of a suitcase is fun for maybe 1 night a month. But trust me it can be very tiring. (been a flight attendant for MANY years now)
You need to look at how JQ has grown over the last 2 years and how it will grow over the next 2.
We have great staff travel benefits at JQ not to mention a growth projectory and the backing and security of QF as a parent company....
Just pop yourself on career progression and before you know it you will have all the overnights you want + the additional benefit of having many years seniority to back you up .....
But if you are here for a good time and not a long time then VB will be a great place to go
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Also don't forget JQ Interntional.
With the demise of AO, JQ will be taking over many of their routes together with all the other QF routes that just aren't profitable engough. HKT, HNL, DPS etc
In the long run maybe more long haul type flying with JQ, which is what many people want. And I am sure many of the JQ intl crew will be sourced from current QF Group staff.
Good luck to you whatever you decide!
With the demise of AO, JQ will be taking over many of their routes together with all the other QF routes that just aren't profitable engough. HKT, HNL, DPS etc
In the long run maybe more long haul type flying with JQ, which is what many people want. And I am sure many of the JQ intl crew will be sourced from current QF Group staff.
Good luck to you whatever you decide!
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Have you ever considered going for a job with MAM? You would be casual but you would get the overnights and have VERY well trained pax... ha ha
I think that JQ are the safe mans bet at the moment though...
Staff travel at virgin... $500 a year free travel on DJ plus interline travel deals with Virgin Atlantic and Emirates.
What do JQ get BTW? Is it just QF Group or is it One World too?
I think that JQ are the safe mans bet at the moment though...
Staff travel at virgin... $500 a year free travel on DJ plus interline travel deals with Virgin Atlantic and Emirates.
What do JQ get BTW? Is it just QF Group or is it One World too?
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Originally Posted by I Just Want To Fly
Also don't forget JQ Interntional.
With the demise of AO, JQ will be taking over many of their routes
With the demise of AO, JQ will be taking over many of their routes
I'm not to say that in the future others may not be taken over, though for current facts, it is only the one destination at this stage.
Hope this clarifies things a little
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JQ Crew and ground staff have the same benefits
UNLIMITED
ID 90% on all QF and oneworld partner airlines
ID 75% on the rest but the taxes aren't as expensive
Taxes are the many bone of contention but I have travelled the world 4 times on my staff travel and it cost me under $2000..... I have flown Japan Airlines, Northwest , Cathay, Qantas British Airways and Emirates to name a few.... Many more to come.
All the QF group have great benefits and Staff travel can usually get you a great deal....
AND its UNLIMITED.....
I fly Business class all around australia when seats are available
Thats one great benefit of being a Jetstar Employee
UNLIMITED
ID 90% on all QF and oneworld partner airlines
ID 75% on the rest but the taxes aren't as expensive
Taxes are the many bone of contention but I have travelled the world 4 times on my staff travel and it cost me under $2000..... I have flown Japan Airlines, Northwest , Cathay, Qantas British Airways and Emirates to name a few.... Many more to come.
All the QF group have great benefits and Staff travel can usually get you a great deal....
AND its UNLIMITED.....
I fly Business class all around australia when seats are available
Thats one great benefit of being a Jetstar Employee
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I just want to fly...
You are obviously out of the loop. AO is still a company operating on routes under the AO conditions for QF Int.
JQI has plans to operate bali as of November for the group, however the Indonesian government is making that a little difficult granted it's not allowing LCC landing rights.. hence the reason JQAsia dosen't even fly there.
Also, Aircon, JQI, Im not sure if you have seen through eQ, are looking for ep trainers to go over to BKK. So if you ask me it will mainly be two stage flying anywhere which kinda ruins the whole overnight idea. Aus base crew could well be doing day trips to DPS (if they can), with BKK and SIN crews taking over from there.
Also, belive the JQI conditions will be worse then the domestic EBA..
If I were you, stick with JQ where you are. The staff travel is fantastic, and at the end of the day, QF is big brother, which makes us all feel fuzzy. Your still getting some years behind you if intergration of any group companies occur, and i personally dont think virgin is all it cracks up to be. Harder work, and some really dumb...
If you want international, keep your eyes open for AO. (QF CNS base as of 1st july) Great group of people, fantastic flying and nice package all up..
Good luck
You are obviously out of the loop. AO is still a company operating on routes under the AO conditions for QF Int.
JQI has plans to operate bali as of November for the group, however the Indonesian government is making that a little difficult granted it's not allowing LCC landing rights.. hence the reason JQAsia dosen't even fly there.
Also, Aircon, JQI, Im not sure if you have seen through eQ, are looking for ep trainers to go over to BKK. So if you ask me it will mainly be two stage flying anywhere which kinda ruins the whole overnight idea. Aus base crew could well be doing day trips to DPS (if they can), with BKK and SIN crews taking over from there.
Also, belive the JQI conditions will be worse then the domestic EBA..
If I were you, stick with JQ where you are. The staff travel is fantastic, and at the end of the day, QF is big brother, which makes us all feel fuzzy. Your still getting some years behind you if intergration of any group companies occur, and i personally dont think virgin is all it cracks up to be. Harder work, and some really dumb...
If you want international, keep your eyes open for AO. (QF CNS base as of 1st july) Great group of people, fantastic flying and nice package all up..
Good luck
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DAY TRIPS to DPS
A crew member I chatted to the other day confirmed that JQI will do Bali returns... No overnights....Just like Ansett did....
This was confirmed by senior senior senior JQ management
This was confirmed by senior senior senior JQ management
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Wasn't his thread about VB?
Its funny how I click on a thread about VB and the whole discussion is a debate on the future of the Qantas Group. To add insult to injury, someone has the cheek to say VB has some dumb cabin crew. Whatever happened to being nice and friendly and sharing our experiences in a positive way?
VB isn't perfect. Yes we clean planes and wish we didn't have to. Yes we sell food on board. Yes our tickets are cheap and attract some interesting sorts. No we don't have movies or nice magazines or pillows and we wish we did. Yes there are times I want to pull my hair out. Yes some of the onboard antics are inappropriate. No our staff travel is not as good as yours. Yes our marketing often falls into the poor taste/cheap shot catagory.
Is everyone happy now? VB may not be everyones cup of tea, but if provides 1500 of us the opportunity to do a job that we love and would not have otherwise in this country.
Love,
Adam xoxo
VB isn't perfect. Yes we clean planes and wish we didn't have to. Yes we sell food on board. Yes our tickets are cheap and attract some interesting sorts. No we don't have movies or nice magazines or pillows and we wish we did. Yes there are times I want to pull my hair out. Yes some of the onboard antics are inappropriate. No our staff travel is not as good as yours. Yes our marketing often falls into the poor taste/cheap shot catagory.
Is everyone happy now? VB may not be everyones cup of tea, but if provides 1500 of us the opportunity to do a job that we love and would not have otherwise in this country.
Love,
Adam xoxo
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Ship Jumpers
Just did recruitment sessions a few months ago and there were about 6 VB crew who had called in sick and flown to the seminars.
Basically the grass is not always greener on the other side... VB and JQ all will jump ship with the promise of bigger better and more $$$$...at the blink of an eye and we all want to fly Long Haul and be treated like Princesses and make $1.3mil a year.... WRONG
The old boilers like myself that have about 9+ years up our sleeves all know, that at the end of the day the world of flying is cutting costs and beating the opposition.
I personally know that it is all about lifestyle and I love coming home to my family every night....
Long gone are the days of loyalty and dedication to your job... Its crew # enetered into a system to get Plane from A to B....
If I am a Red (VB) or an Orange (JQ) I still get paid ......
It might take the ship jumpers a couple of years to realise that
If a I fly in a plane or work in a shop it doesn't matter ... We all go to the toilet the same way ???
Basically the grass is not always greener on the other side... VB and JQ all will jump ship with the promise of bigger better and more $$$$...at the blink of an eye and we all want to fly Long Haul and be treated like Princesses and make $1.3mil a year.... WRONG
The old boilers like myself that have about 9+ years up our sleeves all know, that at the end of the day the world of flying is cutting costs and beating the opposition.
I personally know that it is all about lifestyle and I love coming home to my family every night....
Long gone are the days of loyalty and dedication to your job... Its crew # enetered into a system to get Plane from A to B....
If I am a Red (VB) or an Orange (JQ) I still get paid ......
It might take the ship jumpers a couple of years to realise that
If a I fly in a plane or work in a shop it doesn't matter ... We all go to the toilet the same way ???
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Originally Posted by jetstarFA
We all go to the toilet the same way
I often will chat with crew of our major competition in this country and sometimes there is a look of surprise that I am not afraid to 'cross the enemy line' so to speak - but as per above, we all do the same job at the end of the day
And the grass is not always greener folks - no matter which side of the fence you are on - thats something to really consider when making decisions re jumping ship...
I used to get that too - that strange look and apprehensive attitude crew of other airlines sometimes initially give off until they realise you are just a normal person in a different uniform.
We used to have long turnarounds in one port, where our crew would normally eat the crew meals. It was not uncommon to have crew from 2-3 other aircraft come join us for a chat, something to drink, and perhaps some food if there was enough to spare.
For most, the only difference is a lifestyle choice.
DJ - plenty of opportunities to do overnights
JQ - limited/no opportunities to do overnights
It all comes down to the individual - lots of overnights suit some, being home every night suits others. There will ALWAYS be those who would rather the lifestyle the other airline presents, as such there will always be those jumping to the other team. Single digit numbers of crew applying to jump across at an interview is far from anything major!
We used to have long turnarounds in one port, where our crew would normally eat the crew meals. It was not uncommon to have crew from 2-3 other aircraft come join us for a chat, something to drink, and perhaps some food if there was enough to spare.
For most, the only difference is a lifestyle choice.
DJ - plenty of opportunities to do overnights
JQ - limited/no opportunities to do overnights
It all comes down to the individual - lots of overnights suit some, being home every night suits others. There will ALWAYS be those who would rather the lifestyle the other airline presents, as such there will always be those jumping to the other team. Single digit numbers of crew applying to jump across at an interview is far from anything major!
