The recruitment of Second Officers is a really cheap and thoughtless way to address fatiguing patterns. This current recruitment drive should tell you everything about how Virgin are approaching their rostering and fatigue. They’re going sit a cruise pilot at 36,000ft for 8 hours solid whilst the other crew get time in the bunk. Which means the FDP can be extended and/or the experience in the flight deck reduces as they now require one less CN/FO per flight.

problem solved, “it’s all legal”

How many trips per month for a new SFO on a LifeStyle+ contract? Is it even available?

Anyone know what the interview is like and if there will be sim assesment and what type they will use to do it?

you wouldn’t get lifestyle or lifestyle + for years. There’s a big waiting list. But probably 3 or 4 trips.

An extra 7 days off per month and then the company try and squeeze as much as they can into the remaining 23 days. Have seen a roster where they managed 87 hours in that. Anything better is a bonus

Ah, so 100% work for 80% pay? Sounds… Appealing? :ooh:

Met a couple of VS managers recently, who were very pessimistic about the future; which surprised me, what with the new airplanes, hiring and coming out from the dark days of covid.

It truly is a shame to see. I have many friends in Virgin and I can echo the statements above.
Those that can still make a move are actively doing so.

just out of interest what's the lifestyle and lifestyle+?

Welcome to Virgin 2.0

80% and 65% part time options

I thought it was spelled appalling... 😬

12 VS pilots resigned on just one day earlier this week, although, oddly, it still appeals to some who have secure jobs elsewhere.

Not at my 6/5 Biz company...

It means you’ll do your 900 hours across either 80% of the calendar days of a 100% contract for 80% pay, or 65% of the calendar days for 65% pay by what has been said so far…

Not far off. All you need to know about Virgin at the moment is that crewing is (no joke) rebranded as "Crew Establishment and Productivity Department". It's 1984 without the happy ending.

There's a load of fluffy language from management about being "most loved", but underneath it all it's widebody Ryanair without the honesty to admit what it really is. Everyone is knackered and many/most are looking for other options.

If you are in a job that you're vaguely happy with, you'd be foolish to look at Virgin as a step up

Im convinced it’s managements dream to make rostering so bad that everyone takes “part time”. So the company force nearly 100% flying hours into 80% working time.

So basically 20% pay cut for the same work. And, if a recession happens and flying reduces, then happy days because everyone’s on 80% pay. And if flying picks up, then happy days because pilots have part time weeks to pick up extra trips for a fraction of what it costs to employ an additional pilot. It’s genius really. No wonder the CEO got his £3.2m bonus despite there being “no money”.

At least working under O’Leary you knew where you stood.

How dare they!! Nobody has ever used this rostering model before how outrageous!!

Just don’t tell CX, SQ, QF, NZ etc…

Has VS changed so much? I’m ready for the command at the blue/yellow LCC but the management here is so toxic that I’m willing to leave the upgrade to move elsewhere.

Only thing slightly holding me back would be the money once captain and the roster pattern. Ok maybe the chance of a regional base but that ain’t too much of a priority (no kids etc).

From reading this thread sounds like I’m better off staying where I am which says a lot about VS….

And bunk time is split equally across the pilots. Relief goes first that’s all and gets a nap at the end.