BA to Virgin
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: London
My biggest concern for Virgin over BA is probably the routes, the network doesn’t seem to be that big anymore. Can any airbus guys comment on this? With a long career still ahead of me I’m slightly worried I would get bored of doing the same 15 or so LH routes over and over again.
year ......
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Actually for me it would make no difference what so ever. I am quite comfortable with my position, deal and circumstance. You only have to listen to FO’s who have no interest in a command because of pay and rostering. There needs to be an incentive to get people moving forwards within the airline. The SH command issue is well known and we see ok bids for pilots with less than the minimum required experience. On the other hand we have very capable experienced pilots sitting in the RHS who could offer a lot more to BA than they currently do. It’s not their fault but the system. I would keep a open mind to how this could be rectified but strict seniority does not work.
What would suit me? Not sure really but I must be happy enough otherwise there are other options outside of BA.
Jet2, EZY, Virgin etc.....they all seem to have benefits and draw backs.
What would suit me? Not sure really but I must be happy enough otherwise there are other options outside of BA.
Jet2, EZY, Virgin etc.....they all seem to have benefits and draw backs.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
Agree but the pay scale needs adjusting. We all know SH FOs declining LHS. I couldn’t believe my mate said no but when he said honestly 4 years in on SH and he gets a fair amount of weekends off. The poor pay increase plus associated lack of seniority isn’t worth it to him.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
There is already building pressure on ex-NAPS FOs to take short haul commands, with the pension transition period ending in 2023. I expect short haul commands to start going pretty senior starting from 2021/22. People will be holding out for the hope of a long haul command just at the moment, but the more junior NAPS FOs will start jumping to short haul through fear that they will not have the seniority for it in the mad rush as 2023 approaches.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
Actually for me it would make no difference what so ever. I am quite comfortable with my position, deal and circumstance. You only have to listen to FO’s who have no interest in a command because of pay and rostering. There needs to be an incentive to get people moving forwards within the airline. The SH command issue is well known and we see ok bids for pilots with less than the minimum required experience. On the other hand we have very capable experienced pilots sitting in the RHS who could offer a lot more to BA than they currently do. It’s not their fault but the system. I would keep a open mind to how this could be rectified but strict seniority does not work.
What would suit me? Not sure really but I must be happy enough otherwise there are other options outside of BA.
Jet2, EZY, Virgin etc.....they all seem to have benefits and draw backs.
What would suit me? Not sure really but I must be happy enough otherwise there are other options outside of BA.
Jet2, EZY, Virgin etc.....they all seem to have benefits and draw backs.
You only have to glance at the bid packs for all fleets for jan and feb to see that your hypothesis is largely unfounded and at best wild speculation. There are many faults at BA, but choice of seats and commands (and when to take them) are the biggest plus, I don’t see any appetite to change it, apart from the “I want it now” brigade.
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: UK
I took a DEC at Ezy instead of BA longhaul. The driving force for me was I'd probably never see a LH command and the SH command pay scale is abysmal. I'd have to be something like a year 15 BA pilot to earn what ezy pays from day 1 for effectively doing the same job, flying the same aircraft. It was a no brainer.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Uk
It just seems like there is a problem when pay and or lifestyle on SH is so unappealing that people choose to delay or avoid command. Granted there is merit in SH FO’s not bidding to go LH as they are enjoying the seniority. Perhaps more tweaks to JSS could help......or maybe not as everyone will be rostered under global constraints. For what it’s worth I benefited from the 2016 junior commands, the extra pay allows me to arrange my home life so that weekend working is less of a problem and when I am off so too is my wife.
Anyway.....BA to Virgin? I am not brave enough so I will just do what pilots do best and moan. ��
Anyway.....BA to Virgin? I am not brave enough so I will just do what pilots do best and moan. ��
Last edited by bex88; 16th December 2019 at 13:34.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 898
Likes: 73
From: UK
It just seems like there is a problem when pay and or lifestyle on SH is so unappealing that people choose to delay or avoid command.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 351
Likes: 9
From: uk
You chose:
to become a pilot
to join BA
to take an asap SH command
You could have changed fleets and be a LH FO and have some seniority like the many colleagues you assume don't want a SH job as its so terrible.
Whereas they may actually be on LH because they like it!
to become a pilot
to join BA
to take an asap SH command
You could have changed fleets and be a LH FO and have some seniority like the many colleagues you assume don't want a SH job as its so terrible.
Whereas they may actually be on LH because they like it!
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: England
Do anyone know what the current Year 1 Basic Salary + Flight Pay is at Virgin these days, and if a B-Payscale for new entrants has been put in place yet?
PilotJobsNetwork is running a bit thin on details at the moment
PilotJobsNetwork is running a bit thin on details at the moment
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: In the land of never never!
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Non local
Having been an observer and occasional contributor; the general theme has ALWAYS revolved around money, “weekend’s off”, lifestyle, toxic people, etc. You never achieved anything from your bickering, just stayed where you were (predominantly) and bash more. Those who called others moaners and toxic are THOSE people! Thought you folks just needed to be grateful. But making that comment would get one into considerable trouble.
Anyway, maybe now you’ll be glad you have/had a “flying” job and not ACTUALLY have to retrain or resume an old career as this is most likely for some of you HERE. No doubt you are more worried about your bills than your working conditions which probably weren’t so terrible after all, people. The question on most minds now is;
”why should (airline) keep me (over Joe/Jane Bloggs)? ‘They will keep me because I’m this, that and the other and been around for donkeys years.’”
Don’t get me wrong.... I only wish you all the best and continue your flying careers. But it is entertaining to read your comments on manufacturing that holy grail flying job - captain here, captain there, SH vs LH, etc. Never considered losing your job. BA is as good Virgin, EZY is as good as TUI, RYR is as good as JET2.. you’re flying a jet (I’m sure you miss that NOW no matter what you say). You rather be a pilot than that lorry driver which gets great pay.
OK, ready for you. Still have plenty of love for all aviators.
Anyway, maybe now you’ll be glad you have/had a “flying” job and not ACTUALLY have to retrain or resume an old career as this is most likely for some of you HERE. No doubt you are more worried about your bills than your working conditions which probably weren’t so terrible after all, people. The question on most minds now is;
”why should (airline) keep me (over Joe/Jane Bloggs)? ‘They will keep me because I’m this, that and the other and been around for donkeys years.’”
Don’t get me wrong.... I only wish you all the best and continue your flying careers. But it is entertaining to read your comments on manufacturing that holy grail flying job - captain here, captain there, SH vs LH, etc. Never considered losing your job. BA is as good Virgin, EZY is as good as TUI, RYR is as good as JET2.. you’re flying a jet (I’m sure you miss that NOW no matter what you say). You rather be a pilot than that lorry driver which gets great pay.
OK, ready for you. Still have plenty of love for all aviators.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 665
Likes: 6
From: hang on let me check
Having been an observer and occasional contributor; the general theme has ALWAYS revolved around money, “weekend’s off”, lifestyle, toxic people, etc. You never achieved anything from your bickering, just stayed where you were (predominantly) and bash more. Those who called others moaners and toxic are THOSE people! Thought you folks just needed to be grateful. But making that comment would get one into considerable trouble.
Anyway, maybe now you’ll be glad you have/had a “flying” job and not ACTUALLY have to retrain or resume an old career as this is most likely for some of you HERE. No doubt you are more worried about your bills than your working conditions which probably weren’t so terrible after all, people. The question on most minds now is;
”why should (airline) keep me (over Joe/Jane Bloggs)? ‘They will keep me because I’m this, that and the other and been around for donkeys years.’”
Don’t get me wrong.... I only wish you all the best and continue your flying careers. But it is entertaining to read your comments on manufacturing that holy grail flying job - captain here, captain there, SH vs LH, etc. Never considered losing your job. BA is as good Virgin, EZY is as good as TUI, RYR is as good as JET2.. you’re flying a jet (I’m sure you miss that NOW no matter what you say). You rather be a pilot than that lorry driver which gets great pay.
OK, ready for you. Still have plenty of love for all aviators.
Anyway, maybe now you’ll be glad you have/had a “flying” job and not ACTUALLY have to retrain or resume an old career as this is most likely for some of you HERE. No doubt you are more worried about your bills than your working conditions which probably weren’t so terrible after all, people. The question on most minds now is;
”why should (airline) keep me (over Joe/Jane Bloggs)? ‘They will keep me because I’m this, that and the other and been around for donkeys years.’”
Don’t get me wrong.... I only wish you all the best and continue your flying careers. But it is entertaining to read your comments on manufacturing that holy grail flying job - captain here, captain there, SH vs LH, etc. Never considered losing your job. BA is as good Virgin, EZY is as good as TUI, RYR is as good as JET2.. you’re flying a jet (I’m sure you miss that NOW no matter what you say). You rather be a pilot than that lorry driver which gets great pay.
OK, ready for you. Still have plenty of love for all aviators.
No they are not all the same, at all. And even you as an outsider can see quite clearly how differently companies are treating they’re employees in this sad times we’re in.
If you ever tried flying 4 legs in all kinds of weather waking up at 4 a.m. for 4/5 days in a row, for 15/20 years, I can promise you you too would have something to say. Not that you’d ever experience it anyway.
If it all ends tomorrow at least we’ve done it.
I suspect more than a few will end up in not-so-desirable alternative careers but such is life.
It still doesn’t justify the ridiculous rostering and contractual practices we got to, nicely balanced by managers cashing millions of pounds every year from their comfortable offices conveniently hidden from any CBs WS lightning strikes and so on.
But then again no one really knows anything at this stage, well wait and see what happens. If people are to fly again though, I suspect my and many others’ services will be welcome in a couple of years.