Virgin Atlantic Questions - the Master Thread! (Merged)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CWL
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin Atlantic Questions - the Master Thread! (Merged)
Hello All.
I'm considering putting in the application to Virgin, and wondering if anyone could help with some questions. I have seen the previous threads, but hoped for some new up to date info.
Firstly, I would hope to stay living in the Manchester area, and wondered how people get on with commuting?
What is the average take hope pay in the first couple of years, and what is the bond like?
I understand that Virgin is growing rapidly, with lots of new a/c on order - with this in mind, what is the anticipated time to command?
So far, I have only flown short/medium haul (I should be starting long haul this winter). How do you generally find long/ultra long-haul flying, and do you get used to the lack of handling? Also, do you get to know your peers, or is it a new face every time?
I would be interested to hear any other points that you may feel are relevant - good and bad.
Thanks for any help you can give me, I will appreciate it.
I'm considering putting in the application to Virgin, and wondering if anyone could help with some questions. I have seen the previous threads, but hoped for some new up to date info.
Firstly, I would hope to stay living in the Manchester area, and wondered how people get on with commuting?
What is the average take hope pay in the first couple of years, and what is the bond like?
I understand that Virgin is growing rapidly, with lots of new a/c on order - with this in mind, what is the anticipated time to command?
So far, I have only flown short/medium haul (I should be starting long haul this winter). How do you generally find long/ultra long-haul flying, and do you get used to the lack of handling? Also, do you get to know your peers, or is it a new face every time?
I would be interested to hear any other points that you may feel are relevant - good and bad.
Thanks for any help you can give me, I will appreciate it.
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nothing much has changed since the threads linked to below, but I'll try and answer some of your points:
Commuting: people commute froma good deal further away than Manchester. I think Cape Town is the furthest anyone commutes from. It's a bit of a pain, but it can be done.
The bond is 20k for, I think, three years. Pay starts at approximately 41k basic (incremented), plus 7.5k productivity pay plus around 6k allowances. Loss of licence (90k), Permanent Health Insurance (like critical illness cover), private medical cover, death in service benefit, and a defined contribution pension scheme (15% from the company so long as you cointribute a minimum of 6%) are all included. Take home pay will depend on how much you put into your pension, but you should start at around 2500 quid.
Time to command is difficult to assess. For new joiners I would anticipate somewhere around 8-10 years. It's unlikely to be more, and it could be less, depending on how long the airline continues to expand. The orders envisaged now will not quite soak up all the current FOs.
Long haul flying has been debated at length elsewhere in this forum; I'm not going to attempt to reiterate it all here! You do get to see mates from time to time, but expansion will make that less and less so.
Links:
Virgin Commands
Virgin Pay
BA vs Virgin
Virgin Recruiting
Virgin Atlantic Orders for 26 A340-600s
Hope this helps!
Commuting: people commute froma good deal further away than Manchester. I think Cape Town is the furthest anyone commutes from. It's a bit of a pain, but it can be done.
The bond is 20k for, I think, three years. Pay starts at approximately 41k basic (incremented), plus 7.5k productivity pay plus around 6k allowances. Loss of licence (90k), Permanent Health Insurance (like critical illness cover), private medical cover, death in service benefit, and a defined contribution pension scheme (15% from the company so long as you cointribute a minimum of 6%) are all included. Take home pay will depend on how much you put into your pension, but you should start at around 2500 quid.
Time to command is difficult to assess. For new joiners I would anticipate somewhere around 8-10 years. It's unlikely to be more, and it could be less, depending on how long the airline continues to expand. The orders envisaged now will not quite soak up all the current FOs.
Long haul flying has been debated at length elsewhere in this forum; I'm not going to attempt to reiterate it all here! You do get to see mates from time to time, but expansion will make that less and less so.
Links:
Virgin Commands
Virgin Pay
BA vs Virgin
Virgin Recruiting
Virgin Atlantic Orders for 26 A340-600s
Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CWL
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Scroggs,
Your info and links were helpful. I am suprised at the take home pay. I am on a considerably lower salary, and come away with pretty much the same. Is that amount of £2500 based on the standard pension contribution (6%) with flight pay included, or are there other factors here?
Thanks again for the help.
FD
Your info and links were helpful. I am suprised at the take home pay. I am on a considerably lower salary, and come away with pretty much the same. Is that amount of £2500 based on the standard pension contribution (6%) with flight pay included, or are there other factors here?
Thanks again for the help.
FD
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess if you make no pension contribution, the take-home will be higher. If you make the maximum 15% contribution (age and fund dependent) it'll be less. I'm sure you could stick the gross figures into TaxCalc and see what you come out with; there are no 'hidden' company deductions! I should point out the allowances are not paid as salary, they are paid in cash down route. A net of 2.5k from a gross of around 4k per month seems about right for a UK tax payer.
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is what it says on the website:
This is the link to the application:
Virgin app
Most applicants have more than 2500, for sure, as you would expect when most of them currently possess A330, 340 or B744 experience. But there are plenty with 'only' A320 or B737 time. What have you got to lose by applying?
Our minimum requirements vary according to the fleet we are recruiting for. Candidates should have at least (my italics) 2,500 hours (depending on the aircraft type and nature of previous experience). You should also have either a UK ATPL or JAR licence, the right of abode in the UK and finally, you should be MCC qualified.
Virgin app
Most applicants have more than 2500, for sure, as you would expect when most of them currently possess A330, 340 or B744 experience. But there are plenty with 'only' A320 or B737 time. What have you got to lose by applying?
Short Blunt Shock
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scroggs,
Will command time on Military transport ac reduce your time to command with Virgin? Is there a general policy on this in the Civ world? I have an option coming up and need to make a decision!
Thanks
16B
Will command time on Military transport ac reduce your time to command with Virgin? Is there a general policy on this in the Civ world? I have an option coming up and need to make a decision!
Thanks
16B
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FD Standby
You might want to ask Scroggs about Standby Duties, because if your commuting then you might have to think about where you will do them, and you might have to pay for B+B etc.
These are the sort of things that Pilots to forget about at interview then moan about the first time they see one!
You might want to ask Scroggs about Standby Duties, because if your commuting then you might have to think about where you will do them, and you might have to pay for B+B etc.
These are the sort of things that Pilots to forget about at interview then moan about the first time they see one!
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Will command time on Military transport ac reduce your time to command with Virgin? Is there a general policy on this in the Civ world? I have an option coming up and need to make a decision!
You might want to ask Scroggs about Standby Duties, because if your commuting then you might have to think about where you will do them, and you might have to pay for B+B etc.
Short Blunt Shock
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scroggs,
Thank you for putting me in the picture. Like I said, I really have no clue how it works in your world. How would you compare your job with Virgin now with the job you did in the mob? Don't know when you left, but the job has changed somewhat in the last 3 yrs or so, much more Tac orientated now. Any other ex-mil guys care to give their perspective?
(sorry if this is inducing thread creep!)
16B
Thank you for putting me in the picture. Like I said, I really have no clue how it works in your world. How would you compare your job with Virgin now with the job you did in the mob? Don't know when you left, but the job has changed somewhat in the last 3 yrs or so, much more Tac orientated now. Any other ex-mil guys care to give their perspective?
(sorry if this is inducing thread creep!)
16B
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: The Twilight Zone
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scroggs,
Thanks again for all the info, all good stuff. I would like to know if Virgin are fully crewed? There is a rumour doing the circuit that they are woefully short on both fleets and will be hard pushed to operate the aussie route at the years end. The figure I hear is another 80 pilots required by December!
Ta
TBE.
Thanks again for all the info, all good stuff. I would like to know if Virgin are fully crewed? There is a rumour doing the circuit that they are woefully short on both fleets and will be hard pushed to operate the aussie route at the years end. The figure I hear is another 80 pilots required by December!
Ta
TBE.
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I left in 1998. My job at the time (and for the previous four years) was exclusively tactical training - low level, affil, AAR, MRR etc. Route flights were very few and far between. However, the priniples of operating a large aircraft and its crew are the same whether you're at 250ft (or lower...!) or FL400. You do get to use the autopilot a tad more in an Airbus, though!
As for Virgin's crewing situation; we are a bit short of captains at the moment because the training system (for various reasons) didn't initially manage to increase its output sufficiently to cope with the current rate of expansion. That is being dealt with. There is no similar problem with FOs, and new guys are coming on line at the required rate. I have no reason to believe that there will be any problems with, or due to, the Sydney route.
As for Virgin's crewing situation; we are a bit short of captains at the moment because the training system (for various reasons) didn't initially manage to increase its output sufficiently to cope with the current rate of expansion. That is being dealt with. There is no similar problem with FOs, and new guys are coming on line at the required rate. I have no reason to believe that there will be any problems with, or due to, the Sydney route.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CWL
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Sgroggs/Guys for all the input.
I would really like to get a general idea of how you feel about the flying. I presently do about 8 sectors a week (operating half of them). This is clearly different to the Virgin pilot's role, and I wondered if you get used to the lack of handling/ very long sectors.
With regard to commuting, do guys generally shuttle the morning of their flight (on a standyby basis?), or is their a need to travel down the day before (much less time at home).
Scroggs, you have mentioned that the average days at home per month is 10-12. Does this include rest days etc, or is this days purely in the country.
How do you get on with taking partners on trips, is it generally a safe bet for them getting back?
Lastly (for now), I know it is asking a bit, but do you know how I could get sight of any rosters? This would be superb.
Thanks again
FD
I would really like to get a general idea of how you feel about the flying. I presently do about 8 sectors a week (operating half of them). This is clearly different to the Virgin pilot's role, and I wondered if you get used to the lack of handling/ very long sectors.
With regard to commuting, do guys generally shuttle the morning of their flight (on a standyby basis?), or is their a need to travel down the day before (much less time at home).
Scroggs, you have mentioned that the average days at home per month is 10-12. Does this include rest days etc, or is this days purely in the country.
How do you get on with taking partners on trips, is it generally a safe bet for them getting back?
Lastly (for now), I know it is asking a bit, but do you know how I could get sight of any rosters? This would be superb.
Thanks again
FD
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FD - it all depends on your attitude to flying. When I had 2 500 hours I was still very much in Biggles mode and would have hated long-haul. Now that I'm older, wiser and lazier it suits me just fine. Only you know how you'll react to 1 landing a month and plenty of relief sectors, no one else can tell you.
10 -12 days a month free of duty, with the new scheduling agreement it seems to be a bit more than that. On the 'Bus they tend to come in groups of 3 or 4 together, on the 400 I think the average is closer to 2. If you join soon you'll almost certainly be on the Bus.
Commuting depends on where you're coming from, how many fligths there are and what your check-in time is. The earliest checkin time is 0800, the latest 2100. The guys that commute don't seem to mind it, but I think you need to have a good reason for doing it to be able to justify it to yourself, because it can be a hassle. I would hate it, but then I have no reason to live anywhere else than where I do. If you're living on the area where you grew up, with family etc all around you then it'll probably be worth your while to stay there and put up with the commuting.
10 -12 days a month free of duty, with the new scheduling agreement it seems to be a bit more than that. On the 'Bus they tend to come in groups of 3 or 4 together, on the 400 I think the average is closer to 2. If you join soon you'll almost certainly be on the Bus.
Commuting depends on where you're coming from, how many fligths there are and what your check-in time is. The earliest checkin time is 0800, the latest 2100. The guys that commute don't seem to mind it, but I think you need to have a good reason for doing it to be able to justify it to yourself, because it can be a hassle. I would hate it, but then I have no reason to live anywhere else than where I do. If you're living on the area where you grew up, with family etc all around you then it'll probably be worth your while to stay there and put up with the commuting.
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is not a job for a flying enthusiast. Long haul sectors are, erm, long - and essentially boring. You'll get good at crosswords, reading (even the ops manuals are seen open on our flight decks!), small talk, looking out the window, etc, etc. You'll learn to live with one or two landings a month, and you can forget any demonstrations of flying prowess - it's all minimum handling and minimum risk stuff. You want to demonstrate how good you are at poling, get a share in an Extra 300 at the local flying club! Or join the RAF Reserve.
As for commuting, if you live somewhere that offers 5-10 flights daily to Heathrow, you may be able to justify travelling on the day of your flight. If there's only one or two flights daily from where you live, well, it's pretty obvious what you have to do.
Your time at home depends hugely on the kind of roster you have. If it's full of East Coast trips, you'll have up to six trips in the month and not a lot of time at home. If you have a Far East roster, you'll get away with three trips in the month and 17-18 days at home. Getting partners and friends away with you is not that straightforward; most trips these days are full. If you want to guarantee getting them home, you may be wise to buy (refundable) full-fare economy tickets. That said, it's fairly rare for flight deck companions to be left down route - but it's quite common for them not to get on the outbound flight!
Rosters: if I get time, I'll post or PM you a sample selection of rosters here next week - I'm away for the next few days.
As for commuting, if you live somewhere that offers 5-10 flights daily to Heathrow, you may be able to justify travelling on the day of your flight. If there's only one or two flights daily from where you live, well, it's pretty obvious what you have to do.
Your time at home depends hugely on the kind of roster you have. If it's full of East Coast trips, you'll have up to six trips in the month and not a lot of time at home. If you have a Far East roster, you'll get away with three trips in the month and 17-18 days at home. Getting partners and friends away with you is not that straightforward; most trips these days are full. If you want to guarantee getting them home, you may be wise to buy (refundable) full-fare economy tickets. That said, it's fairly rare for flight deck companions to be left down route - but it's quite common for them not to get on the outbound flight!
Rosters: if I get time, I'll post or PM you a sample selection of rosters here next week - I'm away for the next few days.
Last edited by scroggs; 11th Sep 2004 at 07:45.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Midlands
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Guys, this is the first time I have posted on pprune.
I have quite frequently read the threads and questions posted about Virgin and read the very informative replies from Scroggs. I joined Virgin about 18 months ago on the B747-400 fleet from a short haul multi-sector company. I was a self improver and have no military experience.
I do not know scroggs and I guess that I am on the other fleet. I can say that I have agreed with most everything he has had to say about Virgin and its lifestyle and his responses are very fair, honest and balanced.
How has Virgin been for me? Well I have no real complaints about the company at all.
I joined at a time when the final stages of the recent pay/scheduling agreement was coming to a close. I can not comment about life before that but then I am sure you are not interested in that any way. My roster has been very stable. I have had no changes in the last year except for those which were induced by me by accepting some rest day working. That caused 3 roster changes due to the knock on effect. I have maintained an average of 4 trips a month and have usually got around 12 days off at home per month. Occasionally up to 15 and never as low as 10. On the B747-400 fleet our routes presently are in the main West bound so we do not suffer the East to West change in time zones. That of course may change.
On the subject of take home pay.. well I contribute the 6% to the pension and have received my first annual increment. My take home is around £2800. This has the potential to be quite a lot better over the next 12 months. In addition as Scroggs pointed out we receive our allowances down route in cash. How much of that you bring home is of course down to the individual. Sufficient to say that I have never had to put my hand in my own pocket down route and invariably bring home some cash after eating, drinking, entertainment and occasional gift. I don't sit in my room. Of course while I am away I am not dipping into my current account at home either.
As has been said before.. Long Haul flying is about lifestyle and not about flying. I don't think that I fully appreciated this before I started. You really should take this into account before applying to any long haul outfit. If you are into flying for the hands on then it may not be for you. Alternatively you can satisfy that element in your own time, as a lot of pilots do. The flying can be monotonous and on those rare occasions you fly with someone who is less than communicative can be quite painful. However, once you get your head round that then the lifestyle can be very enjoyable. I make sure that I do as much down route that I can, such as admin that I would do at home. Quite often in the cruise.
I try and enjoy my time down route such as diving in the caribbean. Most guys have a hobby that they can partake in be it training, skiing, sailing etc. It is not always a party! You will have to be prepared to do things alone on occasions. This was a bit of a shock for me at first.
The guys in the main are great but like everywhere, there is the odd one that you would prefer not to fly with. That's life!
Swapping trips is quite possible and is being made easier with a pilot contact directory.
Commuting can be an issue. As Scroggs said, people commute from a long way. I am only able to drive and quite often my Captain will be back in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Newcastle, Dublin or wherever else he may have appeared from before I have negotiated the M25 and for probably little cost. The girls also commute from far a field and do more trips than us on a lot less money so it is perfectly reasonable. I rarely stay the night before but on a particularly early flight I will stay at one of the hotels that we have an arrangement with for £30. Arriving late so I can spend as much time at home but avoid the traffic. That is in fact one of the big bonuses of long haul.. the ability to live pretty well where you like.
I have taken my partner and friends on trips on several occasions. Only once so far has she not got on. It can be difficult but if you pick your flights carefully, not that great a deal.
In essence, if you love your hands on flying and want to fly 5 days on the trot, 4 sectors a day and see the same piece of tarmac at the end of the day as the start. Virgin is definitely not for you. If you want a lifestyle career company then come to Virgin.
The pilot retention is very good so I guess that must say a lot about the company.
Anyhow, breakfast calls! (yes I am in a hotel right now on the East coast).
I have quite frequently read the threads and questions posted about Virgin and read the very informative replies from Scroggs. I joined Virgin about 18 months ago on the B747-400 fleet from a short haul multi-sector company. I was a self improver and have no military experience.
I do not know scroggs and I guess that I am on the other fleet. I can say that I have agreed with most everything he has had to say about Virgin and its lifestyle and his responses are very fair, honest and balanced.
How has Virgin been for me? Well I have no real complaints about the company at all.
I joined at a time when the final stages of the recent pay/scheduling agreement was coming to a close. I can not comment about life before that but then I am sure you are not interested in that any way. My roster has been very stable. I have had no changes in the last year except for those which were induced by me by accepting some rest day working. That caused 3 roster changes due to the knock on effect. I have maintained an average of 4 trips a month and have usually got around 12 days off at home per month. Occasionally up to 15 and never as low as 10. On the B747-400 fleet our routes presently are in the main West bound so we do not suffer the East to West change in time zones. That of course may change.
On the subject of take home pay.. well I contribute the 6% to the pension and have received my first annual increment. My take home is around £2800. This has the potential to be quite a lot better over the next 12 months. In addition as Scroggs pointed out we receive our allowances down route in cash. How much of that you bring home is of course down to the individual. Sufficient to say that I have never had to put my hand in my own pocket down route and invariably bring home some cash after eating, drinking, entertainment and occasional gift. I don't sit in my room. Of course while I am away I am not dipping into my current account at home either.
As has been said before.. Long Haul flying is about lifestyle and not about flying. I don't think that I fully appreciated this before I started. You really should take this into account before applying to any long haul outfit. If you are into flying for the hands on then it may not be for you. Alternatively you can satisfy that element in your own time, as a lot of pilots do. The flying can be monotonous and on those rare occasions you fly with someone who is less than communicative can be quite painful. However, once you get your head round that then the lifestyle can be very enjoyable. I make sure that I do as much down route that I can, such as admin that I would do at home. Quite often in the cruise.
I try and enjoy my time down route such as diving in the caribbean. Most guys have a hobby that they can partake in be it training, skiing, sailing etc. It is not always a party! You will have to be prepared to do things alone on occasions. This was a bit of a shock for me at first.
The guys in the main are great but like everywhere, there is the odd one that you would prefer not to fly with. That's life!
Swapping trips is quite possible and is being made easier with a pilot contact directory.
Commuting can be an issue. As Scroggs said, people commute from a long way. I am only able to drive and quite often my Captain will be back in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Newcastle, Dublin or wherever else he may have appeared from before I have negotiated the M25 and for probably little cost. The girls also commute from far a field and do more trips than us on a lot less money so it is perfectly reasonable. I rarely stay the night before but on a particularly early flight I will stay at one of the hotels that we have an arrangement with for £30. Arriving late so I can spend as much time at home but avoid the traffic. That is in fact one of the big bonuses of long haul.. the ability to live pretty well where you like.
I have taken my partner and friends on trips on several occasions. Only once so far has she not got on. It can be difficult but if you pick your flights carefully, not that great a deal.
In essence, if you love your hands on flying and want to fly 5 days on the trot, 4 sectors a day and see the same piece of tarmac at the end of the day as the start. Virgin is definitely not for you. If you want a lifestyle career company then come to Virgin.
The pilot retention is very good so I guess that must say a lot about the company.
Anyhow, breakfast calls! (yes I am in a hotel right now on the East coast).
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Downtown1994
Great post, and you have only succeeded in making me want to fly for Virgin even more.
Also coming from a short haul company, I have been knocking on their door for the last 2 years. With 3500 jet hours I am becoming rather eager.
Two questions for you mate. Were you a captain in previous company, and did you know someone on the inside of virgin.
I know several peeps who got into virgin, all were captains from my company. So I don't know whether I need some command time under my belt. And also all those that got in knew someone on the inside.
I guess I shall keep on trying.
Great post, and you have only succeeded in making me want to fly for Virgin even more.
Also coming from a short haul company, I have been knocking on their door for the last 2 years. With 3500 jet hours I am becoming rather eager.
Two questions for you mate. Were you a captain in previous company, and did you know someone on the inside of virgin.
I know several peeps who got into virgin, all were captains from my company. So I don't know whether I need some command time under my belt. And also all those that got in knew someone on the inside.
I guess I shall keep on trying.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Midlands
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ATIS..
In answer to your questions. Firstly, No I didn't have any command time. A command was iminent in my previous company so it was a tough decision to go.. but for me anyway, the right one. I had approximately 2500hrs on jets and 1500 hrs light aircraft experience. Mainly from instructing. A couple of guys from my company joined around the same time. One with command experience and one without. I have met quite a few new FO's over the past 18 months and there does not seem to be any hard set rules over who they recruit. In my oppinion you will not stand any better or worse chance with command experience or not. So you have every chance. The interview process seems to be largely focussed on getting the right personality.
It is difficult getting an interview I know. I don't know of any methods to increase your chances of being selected for interview. I guess the only advice I can give you is to 'pester gracefully'.
No, I didn't know of anyone in Virgin when I applied. That is not to say that it doesn't help. Virgin do not only take on people recommended by their mates. I believe that they take recommendations seriously though. It's a double edged sword getting sponsored though. You have to be sure that your sponsor's thoughts will be valued.
Good luck.
In answer to your questions. Firstly, No I didn't have any command time. A command was iminent in my previous company so it was a tough decision to go.. but for me anyway, the right one. I had approximately 2500hrs on jets and 1500 hrs light aircraft experience. Mainly from instructing. A couple of guys from my company joined around the same time. One with command experience and one without. I have met quite a few new FO's over the past 18 months and there does not seem to be any hard set rules over who they recruit. In my oppinion you will not stand any better or worse chance with command experience or not. So you have every chance. The interview process seems to be largely focussed on getting the right personality.
It is difficult getting an interview I know. I don't know of any methods to increase your chances of being selected for interview. I guess the only advice I can give you is to 'pester gracefully'.
No, I didn't know of anyone in Virgin when I applied. That is not to say that it doesn't help. Virgin do not only take on people recommended by their mates. I believe that they take recommendations seriously though. It's a double edged sword getting sponsored though. You have to be sure that your sponsor's thoughts will be valued.
Good luck.
Couldonlyaffordafiver
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: The Twilight Zone near 30W
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This makes for quite interesting reading. Scroggs and Downtown have basically described the lifestyle on longhaul in my company too (anyone who watches my posts will know where that is) but they write with a far more positive slant than my compatriots. From an outsider's point of view, VS certainly seems to be a pleasant place to work.
Would I be right in suggesting it's mainly because there is support from your fleet management, minimal internal politics and no-one from other departments constantly trying to get one over on Flight Ops?
Shame he didn't buy the Triple.
Would I be right in suggesting it's mainly because there is support from your fleet management, minimal internal politics and no-one from other departments constantly trying to get one over on Flight Ops?
Shame he didn't buy the Triple.