Why Virgin America?
 

For those folks out there who possess even a shred of desire to work at Virgin America.....why? For those folks who are already employed at Virgin America.....why?

Is it because of the corporate culture? Are they based in/serve a city in which you reside in? Is it because of the pay rates? Work rules? Business plan? Is it because of (by current industry standards) the quick upgrade? Do you just like Sir Richard and his red tail that much? You really like saying, “Redwood” on the radio?

Since I posed the question, it is only appropriate that I am the first to answer:

Timing is everything. I work at VX due to a lack of options when I was looking for employment i.e. everyone else was furloughing and/or not hiring (DAL, NWA, CAL, UAL, SWA, AA, UPS, FEDX ect…). I plan to leave at the first opportunity I get.

Talk amongst yourselves.....

C.S.

Doesn't it bother you that by working for VX, you're undermining the contracts of the pilots at the carriers you aspire to?

That's an extremely silly question, fishy fish. Of course it does. Despite that fact, had VX not been hiring when I was offered employment, I would have been without a job and struggling to put a roof over my head and food in my mouth. what would you have done?

C.S.

I like saying "Redwood," but since I don't work there, the only time it's appropriate is when I'm home with wifey...

Mr. CAS, do you mind sharing why you are so anxious to leave? You are fortunate to have another pilot position waiting for you.

Individual motivations are just that. Everyone has their own perspective and may or may not be understood or shared by another. In that regard, it is likely that this sort of post will only provide a means by which those who are motivated by different factors can publicly denigrate those who chose to and enjoy working at VA.

If VA is a stepping stone for you, so be it. If it is more than that for others, what could you possibly care? There is no need to publicly pander and play the sycophant to the VA detractors.

Delta and FedEx wil be hiring soon and then you can go get the job you want. There is no need to demean others on your way out the door. I hope you find the happiness and career satisfaction at your next carrier.

Best of luck to you.

I find it extremely hard to believe someone with the skills, education and ability to be an airline pilot was unable to find any kind of work to "put a roof over my head and food in my mouth."

Personally, I would have driven a forklift at CostCo first, but I have a moral problem with non-Union outfits that undercut Union workers. Apparently you're a big Scott Walker fan.

Yes, technically, ALPA is a "union". However, real life unions support other trades and act in solidarity. ALPA couldn't care less about unions of other skills and trades.

Guessing that many ALPA pilots couldn't care less about collective bargaining for public workers is a good guess. The ones that do care probably oppose public sector representation and favor of Walker.

The notion that pro-ALPA means pro-union/anti-Walker is specious at best.


BTW; Good luck in finding a union forklift gig @ Costco as only 13% of their workers are unionized. After all, you don't want to undercut unionized warehouse workers.:rolleyes:

Yes I am wondering why you would leave Virgin the first chance you get? From what I can tell is the pay is not very good but will improve in time. I know when it is said and done most Pilots work for the highest bidder with some exceptions.

Fixed it for you.

More nonsense from fishfreighter land...

Crawl back under your rock.

In Fishfreighter Land all you have to do is call ALPA and they will make it all better for you.

Fish lives in a fantasy land where large amounts of unemployed pilots is a good thing. He cannot understand basic supply and demand, thinking more pilots applying for fewer jobs drives wages up.

Fish also has very limited brain capacity, unable to deal with the size and scope of the reasons for the industry being where it is. He can only see one bankruptcy case that happened several years before Virgin America started flying, that cited one airline, and he applies that to the entire industry. I don't know why he cannot see beyond that, maybe he likes living in the bliss of ignorance. He also fails to see that the airline in question in his court case, Jet Blue, has had several pay raises since that court case despite being non-union. He cannot grasp the fact that raises have occurred which have placed Jet Blue at or near the top of pay for A320 operators without union intervention.

He also fails to comprehend the fact that the existence of the very same union he adores, has kept the wages very low at several airlines that went through bankruptcy. Because of the ALPA contract, management does not have to address any pay raises, they can simply hide behind the contract and tell the pilots to pound sand. Any noise the pilots make is met with charges of illegal job activity and court orders for the pilots to stop. Management can drag their feet for five plus years of lower pay during contract negotiations.

Very simple, I was furloughed from a union carrier. I took a PAY CUT from my unemployment benefits to land a job at an ALPA carrier - living on food stamps. The opportunity at Virgin America came along and offered an immediate doubling of my pay, second year pay almost double the second year pay at the ALPA carrier, a significantly shorter commute, and a better outlook for upgrade. Other benefits included more off days, lower insurance co-pay, more vacation time and better per diem.

I know, all bad reasons for taking the job right fish? I should have stayed at the ALPA carrier and continued to live on welfare.

Given that there have been two pay raises in just over a year, I think it is a pretty good track record. Given that Jet Blue has had multiple and significant pay raises over the last ten years, I think the track record for pay increases for non-union carriers is pretty good.

How often have carriers like United, USAirways, Alaska, Delta and Continental had pay raises in the past ten years?

Real unions support a national standard for wages and benefits across the board, regardless of company. Real unions have national "seniority" lists, protecting pay rates and benefits based on years of experience, regardless of whether you move companies. Real unions actively involve themselves in the training of those wishing to enter the industry.

ALPA does none of those things and yet expects to be considered a real union. ALPA is the furthest thing from a real union, and yet many of its members, like fish here, like to stick their head in the sand and pretend it is. At best, ALPA is a loosely connected association, not a trade union.

Dude,
Fish is like a child that throws a little gasoline on the fire to see what happens. He never sticks around long enough to enter any meaningful discussion. He is probably sitting in his parents' basement laughing that any of us would even comment. He has done more damage to his beloved ALPA, on these boards, than he could ever do in person. If he cared so much about his beloved union, he would be singing its high praises in what it has done for his airline and him. We should all feel a little sorry for the lad with an apparent belief system of unionism and his athiest beliefs that he has spouted on another thread. I am sure he couldn't care less what most of us think about him, though. The worst thing he wants is to be ignored. Sad really.

The proverbial nail was just hit squarely on the head.

I hate to interrupt this fish fry, but I'd like to get back on subject. For the future, I'd recommend EVERYONE skipping on fish consumption all together. (see video below)

YouTube - Airplane! Don't Eat the Fish!

Mr. CAS,

I'm sure my, or anyone's reasons as to "Why" are probably in line with the answer you gave to this question in your interview; I'm sure you didn't say "cause Virgin is the only one hiring right now."

Could you please elaborate as to why you want to leave?

hey Nedude, when is the app gonna be available online?

Its is apparent that when you have no answer to the critique, you resort to personal insults. Sad, really.

I doubt the person who started this thread even works for Virgin. They just wanted to stir the pot. I am sure working there we would be great.

Mod Note:

Sometimes it's really difficult to believe that you guys are professional airline pilots. I have never seen so much arrested development before. Instead of going into a long discourse about this, I'll take the path of least resistance - I'll just close the thread.

The OP hasn't been back to give us his reasons for why he wants to leave his current employer. This is a telltale sign of flamebait. Quite honestly, I really don't want to know his reasons and justifications. If anyone wants to know, PM him, but please spare us the details.