greigok

V-Flyer only covers a small % of passengers.

Plus if it is so bad for passengers...it's bizarre they keep winning all the passenger awards for a british carrier, so they must be doing something right.

virgin6670

Thankyou for your comments its very kind of you.
I would like to say first the Reps are still committed to finding a resolve to this problem and are committed 100%. The problem is the damage this has had on relationships between the crew and the company.
These bridges will be hard to mend but I am confident that over time both sides will find common ground.
The company have taken the onboard the feeling out on line. Bothsides have made mistakes and have learnt harsh lessons from this. At the end of the day the Reps are crew and put in alot of effort to try and improve the conditions and pay for the crew regardless of their membership status everyone benefits from the reps commitment and persistence. As they said Rome was not built in a day. I know that the crew feel that there was a lack of communication from the Union and this maybe true. but the crew must put their full trust in their elected Reps or stand for election themselves.
It is a thankless task when thing are going great no one comments but when they go wrong the blame game starts.I am happy to talk to anyone about thing at any time.I do not like to take part in these forums on line as I feel they can be counter productive.
My hope is that we can all move on from this and continue to improve thing for the crew through open and honest talking.
regards
Paul
P.S please forgive any spelling or grammer mistakes

greigok

Hi Paul,

Can i just ask, if the first strike fails to make an impact on the first two days then does the next one still go ahead?

Cheers

vs_lhr

greigok, we're normally batting for the same side on here, but on this one I have to disagree. Yes, V-Flyer is a small % of passengers, but it is our frequent flyers (not necessarily just 5 star ones), and certainly the largest passenger voice we have anywhere - so we ignore them at our peril.

I have found that V-Flyer visitors complain only when there is justification. When you see a passenger just having a moan (we see them everywhere - normally first time posters who want to complain because they had to pay for an exit row, or an aircraft went tech and they want to know why they shouldn't be upgraded from Y to J on the very next flight plus compensation). Those posters get short shrift from their peers on V-Flyer. Yes, they can be picky at times, but I think for the most part, they are just identifying one of our biggest problems - consistency in service delivery.

Unlike most of us, who are posting here because our common interest is our employer, on V-Flyer they are bothering to post through brand loyalty. That would suggest they are more inclined to champion our product rather than complain about it. They want VS to succeed, and they want VS to improve. I wouldn't say they are perfect, but they are our passengers and if we are savvy we should be embracing their thoughts (rather than slagging them off, which I've noticed occasionally on cc.com)

greigok

Cheers VS LHR

virgin6670

I am not sure what will happen but I do hope things get sorted out soon.

regards
Paul

vs_lhr

Sorry to say, I think that may be naïve. I doubt VS just writes a cheque when they acquire new aircraft, in fact, I think most are leased, aren't they? The money that pays for aircraft comes from the revenue that aircraft generates. If you have one less aircraft, that's less money coming in. None of our aircraft are spares, afterall.

regularpassenger

I think you only buy an aircraft if you can make money out if it, therefore adding to the profitability of the company. If you don't buy the aircraft, less profit in the pot for salaries.

I read v-flyer (although not a frequent flyer and I always go Y) but just to echo what vs_lhr said, I think its all pretty constructive over there and they are all brand loyal to VS. Good experiences are also discussed.

Anyways...thread creep!

RP

VCCM

halllooohhahhhh !!! Yes the prodcut is good and we win awards, and what makes up a large portion of the product and experience. The company employees.

"Employee relations" !?

I agree with VSLHR, dont brand v-flyers users, of the most the majoity of them seem very level headed and rational and pay ALL OUR wages and sympathise with our conditions.

back2front

greigok - well BA long haul crew get paid far more than we do. My BF works for them and clears up to £2500 per month. And he only does long haul so we do have something to compare with as VS crew only do long haul. He also works less trips than I do as they get at 3 least days off after an east coast trip. Same job but more than double the pay.

greigok

How many aircraft and crew do BA have at lhr and how many routes do they fly.

Then compare that to Virgin...look at th profits BA make..oh and then you can see why they get more money.

I have a friend that does long haul lhr and they get at least 5 trips minimum and most just two days off afterwards.

If you joined your bf at BA then you would have a great combined take home pay.

back2front

Greigok-
I have a friend that does long haul lhr and they get at least 5 trips minimum and most just two days off afterwards.

Your friend must just be going back and forward ro DXB, BOM and DEL then because they are the only trips that I know of that generate a 2 day MBTR. East coast US trips always 3 day MBTR, West coast 4 day MBTE.

And if Branson didn't use dodgy accounting to hide profits then VS would be shown to be making a huge profit. I was told this by a union rep and believe what he said. Maybe thats why SQ want out of the deal?

greigok

Nope they do east coast alot of the time.

My question is to you then...why not join ur bf at BA?

greigok

Also you have not answered how many aircraft BA have compared to Virgin and also the amount of routes...if there the same as Virgin ....then ur right you be on equal amounts of pay.

So please compare them.

Btw im not having a go.

Cheers

back2front

Not going to bother arguing with you anymore.

BA AGREEMENTS STATE EAST COAST TRIPS ALWAYS GENERATE 3 DAY MBTR

greigok

Was not arguing..but you avoided the main question.

Thanx

back2front

BA approx 118 long haul aircraft

VS approx 38 long range aircraft


BA profit £438m net thats including a $300m fine = approx £3.5m net profit per aircraft

VS profit less than £10m = approx £263,157 per aircraft.

I haven't included BA's short haul operation as I don't have the figures but its a massive discrepenancy in per aircraft profits. Why is this so when VS pay its staff far, far less and the onboard is generally inferior (cheaper)?

Someone should be taking a very close look at the current management at VS.

greigok - maybe should not have used the word arguing but I know the MBTR is correct as I see his roster every month (its next to mine on the fridge!!)

greigok

We are not arguing just debating..thanx for finding that out.

All i was getting at is that's the reason BA pay there crew more and if your bf gets about 2500 after tax then thats over 30,000 grand a year and more than most office managers.

I do agree VS need to pay there crew more money and 8.9% into total was a good start all be it over two years. The next pay rise would of been debated this April anyway.

But thanx for replying!

back2front

Its not £2500 every month, usually around the £1900 mark including allowances, long range box payments etc. Still alot more than me. Thats why we have a couple of properties and 2 nice cars.

I'm starting to feel the company could self implode. In the past Virgin staff have always been proud to work for the company and defended it rigorously.

I'm now seeing crew onboard bagging the company and especially RB, that never happened a few years ago and if the workforce is so disengaged there is definatley major problems ahead.

Shanwick Shanwick

Is there an alternative cabin crew union to Unite for those who wish to tend their resignation before this shambles begins?