Meatball. Aren't you over at Eagle? Maybe you should stay on the regional thread. :p

This statement is totally inaccurate.

Skybus at least had a midwest base where the pi$$ poor pay could at least rent you a one bedroom apartment.;)

Add me to the list of those that would never let my family fly VA.

Well we'll just try to make our way without you, your family, and of course your well wishes.:)

I'm not a VA guy, but why would you want the company to fail and lay off all its workers? Wouldn't it be better if they succeed, unionize, and drive wages up?

I guess I'm missing something.

I know a decent number of pilots over at VA, and I'd sure hate to see them on the street.

Possibly so...all of us are taking a gamble in this industry. Guess the guys at VA are no different than anywhere else...just paid less.

And I don't think anyone can guarantee VA will escape the current bloodbath...

So.... Back to the original point.....
 

Has anyone who took the on-line evaluation the week of the 14th heard anything back from VA?

Skipper

Wow, this thread is descending fast. Long time listener, first time caller.

I can understand why you feel this way. Looking at VA on just one sheet a paper, I think it would be easy to come to that conclusion. So this is my case for VA:

If all you cared about was money, let's look at 1st year pay, the first 5 years, and then beyond.

1st year pay is $44/hour and benefits start at 30 days. The only legacy carrier that's better is Delta, and it far exceeds Continental's 30/hour and I have to pay my own cobra for 6 months. I couldn't even do it.

The first 5 years. When considering your pay, you have to figure in that upgrade should be within the first year. No guarantee of course, but the investors are bent on VA growing. In which case, you will make more money your first 5 years at VA BY FAR then anywhere else except a UPS/FDX type place. I will make $120,000 more during those 5 years then the many of my co-workers that jumped over to Alaska.

5 years +. The scale tops out at 6 years for obvious reasons. As that time nears, further increases will be evaluated. VA highly values the happiness of its employees. Just as long as the profits are reasonable, those rates should rise. Southwest didn't have industry leading wages their first year and I certainly don't expect VA to.

The rapid growth in seniority also highly benefits my ability to bid well quickly which will pay dividends in the time I will be able to spend with my family. As far a location is concerned, I can only speak for myself that I love the SFO domicile. My locality has 32 flights a day to the bay area (SJC and OAK are connected by public transport). And being a lifetime west coast guy, some of the domiciles I'd end up at working elsewhere are nauseous.

And with the current environment being what it is, there's a lot to be said about working for a "happy place."

VA is right for me and right for my family. I'm glad I didn't get on elsewhere. VA has the highest minimums in the country. There's a reason why.

Oh, and I don't agree with IFlyEm that it is ALL personality. You will get your fair share of tell me about a time questions. They want to make sure you will fit in, but they are still very much interested in your decision making processes.

And to the last poster, I got an email the hour after I finished my psych test. There may be more demand now then before though with everyone else stopping hiring and furloughs.

I'm glad you're happy there, esp if you live in the pacific northwest, but your post strikes me as a bunch of company talking points.

Substantial growth at $120/bbl? One year upgrades? Salaries that "should" rise? Pay comparisons to Alaska (which is a great company, but not by any means setting the standard on pay)? My man, take a look at the economy!

I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying. You could substitute any airline for "VA" in your statements, and its management bleats the same thing. More power to you if you get everything you're banking on. History would urge you to be skeptical until you see something in writing (starting with higher pay, please).

Perhaps. VA isn't for everyone. There is a higher risk involved there than many I suppose, though I don't think going anywhere is without risk with the exception of a couple cargo carriers. I could have sat around and wait for something that's totally secure and guaranteed to be a success, but then I wouldn't end up going anywhere.

Even if VA totally flopped, everyone there has A LOT of total time and plenty of PIC and add a A320 type right out of training... I'd be more marketable than had a just stuck around.

VA has a awesome product. I believe it's potential is incredible and they have a lot of great people. Don't fly em if you like, but your kidding yourself if you think the people there are some less quality than elsewhere.

once your family gets onto VA they would not want to leave just like millions of other passengers who were blessed to fly on the best airline in U.S.:)and our our wages and Q.O.L are fine definitely a whole lot better than the airlines that have merged,or on the verge of merger for the sake of survival or the ones that keep goin in and out of bankruptcy:Dso dont be so negative bring yourself and your family on board on one of our flights,you will be glad you did it and dont worry the fares are pretty affordable,specially for what we have to offer.