EK pilots going to Virgin America
 

Interested if anyone has any friends working for Virgin America that have previously worked at EK. How's it really going there? Would like to hear if this is just Virgin PR or are they really satisfied with the move back.

Full circle - a pilot's journey home - Virgin.com

While in many ways sounds good....the returning home part for sure, a Fo on the 320 is paid 40,000???? The commute from FT Lauderdale to San Francisco is probably not as much fun as the blogger made it sound!

My former company leased 4 320's to VX; these were all well used about 4 years old, hardly new as claimed "all new fleet".... I was sent out to ferry and support operations with additions to fleet for 4 months.

I can tell you then that the T/C's is just only slightly above the regionals throughout the US. Nor do I think they have improved since then.

Most come for time and experience and desire to move on to a Legacy carrier as soon as practical. The company has only recently come out of the red with a long tough competitive row to hoe.

With most if not all major's now hiring I cannot fathom anyone with experience going to work for Virgin.

So…if I read this correctly, it's going back to the bottom of a seniority list, a serious cut in pay, and an admission that he couldn't handle the pressure and hard work in DXB. (Why on earth was he out surfing at 50 C anyway…all the while feeling like a zombie…and that heat will cook anyone's innards. Sounds a bit thick if you ask me!) Taxes, a three hour commute to work, and I'm guessing a cost involved there…maybe a crash pad? He's lucky his wife got her old job back as well. The whole article is all sweetness and light and very Pro VAmerica…is there anyone out there who might have a different experience? I bet there is...

I struggle to believe something like this gets posted on an official airline's web page...apart from personal experiences and opinions about living abroad, I can't believe how it's given for granted that living in the U.S. is such a superior lifestyle and how it should be everybody's dream! -and just before someone argues, I love San Francisco and would move to California tomorrow-

Actually, I think he is being perfectly reasonable- He came, did his bit at EK, then decided he and his family were better off at home.

It's not for everyone, and each to his own WRT how long he/she stays or what they go home too.

He didn't slag EK, and was perfectly reasonable in the reasons he decided it was time.

Best of luck to him and anyone else who makes a respectful, reasoned exit.

Nobody blames him for leaving, I think everyone in these parts would ultimately like to go home.....but funny how they made his new life, low seniority, low pay and probably a 6-8 hour commute look so joyful.....his wife will be lucky to see him more than 1 day per week.

What a load if trash journalism.

I've been a vocal critic of pilots leaving EK join one of the US3. To leave EK for VX is absolutely insane. A lot of our new hires at the legacies are from VX.

Comments about the heat are true - bloody hot and that heat is not for everyone. I have experienced it first hand.

Wonder if he looked at Spirit and JetBlue which have hubs in Ft. Lauderdale?

I think many of us understand some of the issues, but back to commuting? And across the country to do it? Sounds like Zombie to me, and a stressful one. Good luck to them.

Too much in the article to deconstruct.

A transcon commute, $40k before taxes - for what is considered a regional package with slightly larger equipment - completely fcukn nuts.

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apparently the expat life just doesn't suit this fellow after all....for some folks, it's all about home, for others, it's getting back into the pipeline to pursue better opportunities at a later date...to each his own...I liked the bit about the walking zombie...don't any of his critics here relate to that?

Good luck to anyone who leaves. We all have our reasons. One thing is for sure. We all came one day and we will all leave one day. When we find a job that suits us we will leave...or retire to somewhere else. Dont slag the guy. He made a choice not to stay for a command and move to the US for another job. Hope it works out.

The gut left for what many here are saying is crap job.

Perhaps that says more about EK then it says about VA or this fellows decision.

Bingo. I was wondering how long it would take for that observation to coalesce.

Which airline??

Speaking of "pain", he made it out before the Meydan crisis hit.

If only he mentioned the standard of driving these "chauffeurs" display and the fact that if they didn't drive us to work we'd only show up on time.

Oman is good..... and where else?? Saudi I guess. Nice!

Local culture. They make it sound amazing.

All in all a bull**** report in the vein of the great pud-pulling by Captain America some years back but despite depth of the BS I do support the thinly-veiled strategy behind it.

Bravo to the guy.

We all sit on here and complain about EK and its idiotic policy. This guy voted with his feet.

If I could find an operator in the US paying me what I make right now, I would leave right now even if it was going back to fly a Cessna.

No grooming checks, no command upgrade interview, no worrying about your job every day when you fly, not being scared of sim checks and prick instructors, much less illogical thinking overall, information in one easy place rather then scattered in 5 books, no unpaid online training, and no notes in the books telling you that everywhere in the US has "nonstandard phraseology"

............oh yeah, but here we get a chauffeur drive to work and no respect from the company.

I read Delta will be hiring 90+ pilots per month for the next 5 years to replace something like 3,000 retiring pilots. Is that true?

Well I have a lot of buddy's at DAL and the latest number they were given was 65 per month.

2007 joiners can now hold NYC B717 Capt. as a result of this months 'award'

Another big equipment 'bid' due January and 717 Capt slots will go more junior due many 7- year guys wanting 777/764/330 intl - last hurrah before they go NB LHS.

If you're young...Go home, AA & UAL similar situ's developing.

Virgin - not even on the plantation.

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