The number 10 bus goes from the airport and stops outside of The Base. It's at the back of the airport, near Concorde House, but it's moved through the tunnel and across the road now. I think it's £1.30 to £1.40 each way and takes about ten minutes. Good luck.

Hi,
Virgin run their own small shuttle bus from outside Concorde House directly to the Base for staff or anyone visiting their offices. Just bring your letter indicating you have an interview. It is a small bus and runs approx. every 20 minutes and is FREE! It takes about 10 minutes to get there.
Best of luck to you.:)

VA assesment day 23 May
 

Dying to hear from anyone else who was on the VA cabin crew assesment day on 23 May to find out how yas got on???

Oh yeah I forgot about the shuttle bus! What time does it start running though? I seem to recall I wanted to use it once, but I was there too early so had to catch the bus. Something sticks in my mind that it was after 8am. It would be great for returning to the airport afterwards though. The one time I did use it, it was a plain white van as it had been swapped at the last minute, so it wasn't obvious it was the Virgin shuttle bus. The number 10 probably stops at other places outside the front of the airport, but I just don't know where, sorry.

For clarity, the Virgin bus is called Route 28 and it is a white van with a small Virgin sign in the window. It starts running from 0740am on a 20 minute loop stopping off at The Office first and then The Base at 0751 and then through to Concorde House again arriving 0800am. Hope it helps! The first few are quite busy though so plan ahead.

does anyone know how long the interview lasts? it starts at 9.30am, i need to book my train home and dont know what time ill be finished!

Ex Emirates crew with Virgin Atlantic
 

Hi,

I was wondering if there are any ex EK crew working at VS? Or anyone who can offer me advice?

I served just on 3 years with EK but had to return home just before my contract was renewed as my Mum was critically ill and needed caring for. Everything is fine now and back to normal. I have grown much closer to my family and would like to stay and fly in the UK. One problem is that with being a full time carer I haven't been able to work in the last six months. Will this go against me? I am now looking for customer service work and hope to start soon.

Can anyone tell me if EK experience is looked upon favorably? I understand that I will need to meet all of the Virgin requirements. How does the interview/ training and job experience differ to EK?

What sort of living costs are expected with relocating to London? Is there a facility for crew to hook up and share accommodation? I assume that you are posted to either LHR or LGW and don't fly from both? How does this affect your roster?

Thank you very much in advance!

Scott

Scott - you are most definitely contracted to fly from both LHR and LGW.

I don't think your time as a carer would matter, as long as you could get someone who isn't family to give you a reference to state why you weren't working and where you were etc.

I would also think that any airline experience is favoured...however, I have heard (on galley fm admittedly) that Virgin like 'Virgins' that they can mould to their way of thinking. But of course ex-flyers do get jobs with them, so can't be totally true lol!

Good luck!

Hi,

I had an interview with Virgin on 24th May and found out I had the position the following day. I found this forum as well as a couple of others a great help in answering questions. I have Copied what I have found on other forums and put it below. This is not a definitive list of questions at all but thought it may help a little :-)

How old do you have to be in order to be crew for Virgin?

To be crew with Virgin you need to be over 18

Are You just LGW based?

No, crew are based at LHR but also fly from LGW. MAN also became a permanent base in Jan 2007, but to get to MAN you have to complete your probation at LHR.

Where is the training held?

The training is conducted at The Base in Crawley - Virgin's own training centre

What do I need to do to apply?

You need to call Virgin Recruitment on 0870 190 4403 or go on the website at www.virgin-atlantic.com

Do you pay for your training?

No - You do not need to pay for any training

I live up North can I still apply?

Yes you can!

Do Crew commute with Virgin?

Yes they do! Virgin have crew who live all over the place including Europe and the States!

How does commuting work with Standby's?

It is now MONTHLY standby. You can try and get a flight through the Crew Service Centre before hand, but it is imperative that you are able to get to LHR/LGW/MAN within the call out time. (MAN is not on monthly standby at the moment)

How Many flights do you do a month???

This can vary, the average is between 3 and 7 dependant on hours

Do you fly with the same crew?

Not very often! Virgin have over 4500 crew so flying with the same each time is limited

Whats the pay like?

You get paid each month, on the 20th - into your bank account you will get between 800-1100 a month - this does not include your allowances from downroute that you may not have spent. Allowances can range between £70- £300 depending on the trip. People often say Virgin money is not very good due to the fact that people do not pay their allowances into the bank (like happens with most Charter airlines). Remember even doing 4 of the lowest paid trips you would still receive £280 allowances downroute tax free. That means on a bad month you would get around £1100. For the amount of hours that are completed compared to many of the charters it does seem a very reasonable wage.

What part of the aircraft do Cabin Crew work?

Cabin Crew work in Premium Economy and Economy Cabins

What aircraft do you get trained on?

You get trained on Boeing 747 and Airbus A340

Is it true Virgin look for a certain flare???

Virgin want to see the real you, and see how you interact with people and how you have fun!

Is it true you get assessed on every flight?

Yes - You get performance monitoring on every flight. This also is how promotions are worked out, although from Cabin Crew to Senior Cabin Crew, this is going to be incorporated into a new system of points although no-one actually knows the points you need! For CSS & FSM, you are invited from your performance (IE- SCC- CSS and CSS-FSM)

Is Virgin Seasonal?

No Virgin is Permanent - subject to a probation period

Where can I find out more information on Virgin?

You can find more information here Virgin


Do you need to be able to drive in order to work for Virgin?

No - but you do need to remember that you are responsible to ensure you can get to the airport in time!

How long are the trips?

Trips are anything from 1 night to 9 days away from base

Is it true that you only get MCO and JFK as a new starter??

No - you get a good mixture of destinations

What should I wear for my Interview??

You should wear smart business attire - not jeans!

What is the assessment day like??

The assessment day is great fun! It is nothing to worry about!

Is it true you have to sing??

Depends on the task that is assigned to you, or unless you just break out into random song!

I've heard there is a maths test is there??

Indeed there is, and an English test

I've had my interview and not heard anything what should I do??

Virgin will let you know the outcome of your interview within 7-14 day's. So do allow this before contacting them. Please remember that this is WORKING days and this is Monday-Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)

nb- I and others that were at my interview heard within 24 hours


When do you get your staff travel benefits???

You get these after you have passed your probation (generally 6 months)

I want to be Manchester based can I?

Once you have passed your probation and depending on if there is availability at the MAN base.

Who is the person who wears the white uniform??

This is the IFBT (Inflight Beauty Therapist )

I've seen someone wearing a black blouse who is it??

This is the FSM (Flight Service Manager) The male FSM's wear a grey shirt

What do you have to do an the assessment day???

The day is structured, you have varies tasks, including a group discussion, introduce yourself and read a short paragraph of info. If successful you then have to complete the Maths and English test and then the 2-2-1 interview.

I've heard only a few people get offered a job with Virgin each day??

If you meet the criteria that Virgin look for on your assessment day, and in your interview then you will get offered a position, if no one meets it on that day then no one will get the job, they do not have a set number to interview or to offer jobs!

What are the trips like, are they like a holiday??

Each trip is differnt, some trips you may do lots and some you may just want to stay in your room, there is no pressure on doing anything!


I also have a couple of questions if somebody can help-

What is the dress code for training?
Can you park at the base for training?
Is anybody else starting the same time as me?
Are you able to contact the reference centre to check on the progress of your references?

Thanks for your help
;)

What is the dress code for training?
There are three dress codes during training. Business Attire, Smart Casual and Full Uniform. It depends on the day, and you will be advised what you need to wear on each day. On all Practical Days, you will be required to wear trainers, shoes that you would wear at the gym. If you do not have them, you are not able to complete the practical excercise, and therefore fail that day. Grooming standards are explained on the first day, and are expected to be 100% from day two.

Can you park at the base for training?

Yes. Heaps of parking available.

Are you able to contact the reference centre to check on the progress of your references?

VS uses a company called AIM to conduct it's referencing. You are able to and should contact them regularly to check on the progress of your references. I called them two weeks before I even started training.

Well helllooo there! I just thought i'd say hey and let you guys know that I too have succumbed to the high side, the red side - the virgin side!! After working in clothing shops for the last 2 and a bit years I have decided that maybe there is more to the world than topshop and have given Virgin a good old online applicaiton haha.

I sent mine off on Thursday 24th May 07 and haven't heard anything yet (although to be fair, it's been a bank holiday weekend haha :}).

It's good to see loads of the pprune membersa re getting through though, seems to be a nice atmosphere about the place haha.

I just want to fly
 

Thanks for that- I was going to wear shirt and trousers for the first day. Do you have to wear a tie as well? :)

Your standard of dress counts a lot - making the effort demonstrates that you are focused on succeeding. As part of your uniform, you will wear a tie and waistcoat so give your interviewers an opportunity to see what you look like in smart attire. Give it your best shot and good luck to you;)

This goes for most airlines...

If the crew wear ties, wear one. If the crew wear jackets, wear one.

Grooming is so important! Clean Shaven, neat hair, no outrageous hair styles (spikes to be shorter than 1 inch), no unnatural colouring. Girls, your hair should be above the bottom of your collar, no long pony tails or all over your shoulders. A nice bun or french roll would be great. Soft subtle make up which matches your outfit. Don't bother with the bright red virgin lipstick, if you are wearing green!

Virgin used to make you try on the uniform at your recruitment day in the old days, and if you didn't look the part, you didn't get the job. Now the company has gotten alot better when it comes to equal opportunity, but why not make an effort to give them what they want, and show them how you intend to look at work.

Hello everyone,

I have just been called today by VS and have been invited for an interview on 18 June ...

I've read this thread with attention and wanted to thank averyone for their contribution... I'm sure it will help.

If anyone has an interview the same day feel free to PM me.... I'll be flying the day before from Spain and will stay somewhere near LGW.

Cheers

frustrated with recruitment!!
 

I've just had my second application rejected and I'm clueless? What do you have to do to get seen? I know everyone thinks they have done a great application but I know I really did. I have loads of customer service experience and put that into my answers using all the 'buzz' words possible. I even used a cabin crew guide book (sad) this time as I was determined to get seen. They don't know this but I've been accepted in the past for a short haul company but didn't take it as it was too far to travel every day so I know I'm right for the role. They send you a standard 'how to do better' next time guide but everything thats there, I did.
Guess I'm just venting a little frustration, I feel they should give you individual feedback and feel like contacting them for some?? Has anyone done that? The other day my application for Air NZ came back saying that they couldn't take me any further as I didn't have NZ residency, when I replied and asked how this can affect the London based applications they came back to me straight away and said they had made a mistake in the office!!!

Seems loads of mixed things going on now. I got invited to an assessment day on June 11th which i'm really nervous about now haha. Didn't expect to hear anything for months so i'm shocked!!

I suppose one of their techniques could be to get the people who're keen and show interest/brand dedication by re-applying? who knows!!

Hello everybody,
i will have a phone interview with Virgin , does anybody know which question do they ask?.
I am very excited and nervous in the same time. Thanks

Hey people, im starting my training on the 18th June and be sooooooooo grateful if anybody can give some tips re: dress codes or even short term accomodation!!! im a bit lost!!! :ugh: But sooo excited!! Thanks!

Hi M4R1AH, i too am starting training with Virgin on the 18th:) Quite scarred! Not too sure what to expect myself, from what i understand it's smart business attire for the first week and then casual but smart clothes after that. Im staying in a crew share place for the training period in Maidenbower (10 mins from The Base) which i booked through Shortstay.co.uk, seems really nice but quite pricey. Hope this helps.

What date did u have ur interview on?

I got the job!
 

Hi

I found out this morning I have the job. Wooho!

I had the interview yesterday and at the end they said if you were successful you'd get an email within the next few hours. I presumed that meant if you weren't successful there would be no email at all and just an official letter. So I thought no news wasn't good news and by 6pm I was balling my eyes out. But turns out the crocodile tears were unnecessary and I had the offer by email this morning!

I'm so excited but they said yesterday that they aren't actually taking on any crew for immediate training and we will be going into a holding pool?! I'm a bit bemused about it as I thought they were constantly training. So apparently will have to wait until around September:(

x

Was just at "The Base" last week, and one of the trainers said they are scaling back the training courses. We are close to achieving our desired crew levels, and in addition to this, there are still a number of things that need to be done to finish off the Aircraft Training Simulators at "The Base". This can't be done with 25 trainees coming through every week. She seemed to think it would be for about two weeks.

Congrats to everyone, look forward to seeing you out online.

Well done!! that's really good news!!

I have my interview on monday now, really nervous haha. staying down at the ibis on sunday night so i'm not in mad rush on Monday morning haha.

Application Form
 

Hi all! Just about to do my application form for Virgin, just wondering if any one could offer n e tips etc..???

Beauty Therapists, Any1 Work For Virgin?or Just Got Job
 

Hi all! Just wondering if anyone on here works as a beauty therapist for virgin or just applied/ got job/ had interview etc. Plz pm me

thanks:)

Hey, im new on here,just wondered if anyone is on the assessment day this Tuesday (12th) and staying in Ibis tmrw night? Im travelling down from MAN tmrw and am very excited!

Good Luck!!!!
 

Hey Guys

Good luck with your interviews. Keep us posted on how you get on.:D

hey all!!
the interview went really well on Monday, had a really fun time and met some new people. especially one girl on my interview that i swapped numbers with.

we did some group exercises, like reading and discussion work etc. that was quite fun and then after that we got told about the job, how things worked and then had to do our english/maths tests. i passed those thankfully!

so, i got through to the final 2-1 interview and that went well. i thought i put my foot in my mouth at some bits and went off onto a ramble but yeah, it was generally quite good. i walked away from it neutral, so i didn't have any high or low hopes just... wanted to enjoy that 2hr 30 drive home!!
anyhow, left at about 1.30, got home about 4pm, didn't have any emails so i thought no news is good news, told my mom all about the day and then went back to my laptop and had an e-mail from virgin saying i got the job!!
i am completely over the moon and in total shock also, the girl i met on the day also got the job which is really cool!
i told my family all about it and they're over the moon aswell. I can't believe that i've just left college, 18 and have worked at topshop for a while and hey presto!! i am soo just woooo!! haha, that's all i can say!! :D:D
good luck everyone else!!

Just a quick question for you guys who have been to recent assessment days. Virgin always used to have the reputation for only hiring pretty skinny blondes and am aware they've moved away from that now, but was just wondering about the height/weight issue. It is no longer one of their requirements that height and weight be in proportion but was just wondering if there was anyone at your assessments that weren't the perfect size ten!? And did any of them get the job.
Thanks for any assistance, feel free to PM if you would rather.

yuh, there was a few girls from my interview that weren't a perfect size 10 but they got the job too :D

they only measure height and if you look fit and weight appears in proportion - it's all okay :)

Thanks, puts my mind at rest a bit! I have an interview coming up in the enxt ouple of weeks and m a bit nervous as you can imagine, just working on getting the reference form filled in and preparing customer service examples!

V-Swap and trip requests
 

How soon after training are you eligible to use V-Swap or trip requests?

you can use vswap straight away but u have to wait a year before u can request a trip ;)

Ok cool. So when do you get your first roster, is it before graduation or after? And just to clarify, with V-swap, does it allow you to swap days you are rostered or just trips rostered on a particular day?

thanks

Beauty Therapist
 

Hi,
I have worked as an IFBT for a few years now and I understand the recuitment day has just changed. You now carryout a group interview, then you will sit a written exam of anatomy and physiology (pass mark 88%) then 121 interview and then practical exam of both massage and manicure.
I hope this helps, and good luck if you go for it, I understand they are recruiting for approx another 100 IFBTS before the end of the year.

Rosters are published around the 15th of every month. You will normally only have one day off after training before your first flight. V-Swap is great. You can swap pretty much anything, as long as both crew remain within legal limits with regards to minimum days off, 900 hours etc... You can swap days off for flights too! or Flights for days off!

So this "monthly standby" is basically, you being on standby for an entire month?? Is it airport standby and what are the windows of duration?

Thanks

Yes it's for a full month, but can run from say 5th to 5th etc. You get four day blocks with two days off in between, but if you are called on the second or third day of standby, you have to work into your days off which knocks the rest of the roster. In your standby month, you only get two guaranteed days off that month that can't change, so forget any plans you want to make. I've worked every standby I've ever done. It's not airport standby, but as you know, you need to be at the crew room within two hours of the call.

Virgin recruitment
 

Hi,

I also have recently been accepted by Virgin Atlantic but unfortunately i have to wait until October to start training :{.

I live in Norwich therefore am going to move to Crawley so have been looking at accomodation.
It's not too badly priced to be honest, just Google 'accomodation for cabin crew in Crawley' and loads come up'. I've heard that how Brighton is for students, Crawley is for cabin crew therefore are lots of cheap hotels, B & B and rooms to accomodate us.

My friend works for Virgin and stayed somewhere for £70 per week (i can get a number if you need it).

As for the dress code, i think someone else has asked and has been answered in the posts above.