Virgin America QOL

[blackbox]

Dont forget Min. 3 days off between RDPs. I have also heard, its not uncommon to get released early on your last day of reserve. Some as early as 9 am. There is now some pay protection for being used late on your last day, but I havent really read it. Someone may be able to explain that rule better.

 

[fob727]

On a different note...I took the online assessment a few weeks ago, can anyone say how long till you hear back?

 

[bri5150]

Dont forget Min. 3 days off between RDPs. I have also heard, its not uncommon to get released early on your last day of reserve. Some as early as 9 am. There is now some pay protection for being used late on your last day, but I havent really read it. Someone may be able to explain that rule better.

While I was quite happy with the reserve work rule changes, the last day protection was a little on the weak side. If they call you on the morning on your last day and put you on reduced rest to do something later that day, then you get premium pay above guarantee. Needless to say, there are lots of ways to use you late on your last day without doing that. All they have to do is give it to you the night before or if a 4 day gets back late, then no extra. Anyone else interperet that differently?

 

[Flyer1015]

Dont forget Min. 3 days off between RDPs. I have also heard, its not uncommon to get released early on your last day of reserve. Some as early as 9 am. There is now some pay protection for being used late on your last day, but I havent really read it. Someone may be able to explain that rule better.

3 days off in between, except last/first 5 days of a month (transition).

I was only on reserve for one month, but at the end of every reserve duty period days (before days off) I called on my last day and was released by 12noon-1pm every time. YMMV.

Pay protection on last day only applies in one way. Report after your original end of reserve duty period. For example, suppose the last day is reserve 6am to 3:30pm. If they call you at 6am and tell you that you are going to rest until 4pm, then report for a LAS turn, leaving at 5pm and back at 8:30pm, then in this case you get the pay overage. If you have been assigned a regular trip from before that ends on your last day of reserve at 8pm, you get nothing, just regular pay.

 

[bri5150]

I was only on reserve for one month, but at the end of every reserve duty period days (before days off) I called on my last day and was released by 12noon-1pm every time. YMMV.

If they don't have anything by the morning of your last day, and they are not extremely short of reservists, they will usually let you go around 9 or 10 am. That said, if there is a turn available, no matter when it ends, they will give it to you if nobody else has just one day left. That seems to be their number one priority. Even if there are five other guys on, they will give it to the guy with one day left and get you done late. I understand the theory, but it is frustrating. That is the reason they tried to address it with the new rules.

Please don't take this post as bitching. Reserve is reserve. That's the way it goes. But this is the number one complaint of everyone on reserve. To end on a happy note, here is one of the best features of reserve at Virgin America. 90% of the time they schedule your reserve period to start late on your first day and end early on your last. For commuters (which everyone is) this is worth 3 or 4 days off a month.

 

[AEROSQUADRON69]

From those who work there...does it sound like many pilots will be when/if the majors start hiring?

Hows the internal vibe with all that is or isn't happening financially?

 

[bri5150]

No questiin we will lose some to majors from what I can tell. Most guys were happy withrecent raise, but it probably won't be enoigh to keep everyone around. A lot of fo's that were here for quick upgrade will bail I'm sure.
As far as financials, I would say more are negative about it than positive. Personally, looking at numbers I would say we are slowly turning the corner to profits and IPO. 4q2012 operational profit for 1st time in history and 1q2013 looking better than their goal (still loss, but nowhere even near last year) both speak to my opinion. From what I can see and hear, there is no question we will make an operational profit for the year unless monster spike in fuel or some unforeseen disaster.

 

[LoveGun]

From those who work there...does it sound like many pilots will be when/if the majors start hiring?

Hows the internal vibe with all that is or isn't happening financially?

I always hear that someone knows someone who wants to leave VA but I have yet to actually meet a pilot that's actively seeking other oportunities. I'm not even a quarter of the way up the captain list and I get 19 days off per month and 84 hours. It's hard to walk away from this cake lifestyle -- the recent raise has helped me make up my mind.

As for the financials... I've always been a skeptic but recently it seems like they really got a handle on things. I agree with the previous poster, we should post a yearly operating profit for 2013 and IPO sometime soon after that.

 

[aa73]

Forget all that QOL and pay stuff. What's important is, have you guys gotten rid of those MIB uniforms yet?

 

[blackbox]

From those who work there...does it sound like many pilots will be when/if the majors start hiring?

Hows the internal vibe with all that is or isn't happening financially?

My guess is the Captains will stay. A good number of FOs will leave. From what I understand we are losing a lot of pilots as is. I think this year will be telling. As bri5150 states this year looks profitable, but I think thats what they expected 2012 to be as well. But until the official numbers come in, I think there will be a lot of uncertainty and people will continue to leave.

 

[cbrown1]

From those who work there...does it sound like many pilots will be when/if the majors start hiring?

Hows the internal vibe with all that is or isn't happening financially?

I was there and I left and I'm trying to get a few of my friends from their on here as well.

 

[Caddaddy]

I left.....start my new gig on Monday. It's a great place to work as long as you know as a new hire today or you're in the bottom 25% or so that you probably won't upgrade for at least 10 years. I base this opinion on the scheduled and cancelled deliveries.

 

[ualdriver]

http://www.virginamerica.com/press-...ica-2012-third-quarter-financial-results.html

There is Virgin America's latest reported financial statement. We're all still waiting for the 4th quarter results, and it's already the end of March.

Whether you guys think anyone is a VA basher or not, can't even the most objective poster in this thread say that there is substantial risk in leaving a secure job and coming to VA considering the airline's financial performance to date?

I think many of the posters above are being incredibly disingenuous when they tell fellow forumites (and potential applicants) that VA is making an "operational profit" so therefore somehow things are getting better? If money was free I'd agree with that statement, but clearly it is not. Click the link and see for yourself.

All I am saying is that an applicant should go in eyes wide open. Don't believe me because obviously I am not a VA fan. Don't believe the posters above as obviously they are equally as biased. Click the link above, go to the VA website and click on the airline's press releases and read them for yourself. How anyone could look at those numbers and see an airline that is "turning a corner" is beyond me. There is no way I would leave a job for VA unless it was a flight instructing job.

 

[bri5150]

http://www.virginamerica.com/press-...ica-2012-third-quarter-financial-results.html

There is Virgin America's latest reported financial statement. We're all still waiting for the 4th quarter results, and it's already the end of March.

Whether you guys think anyone is a VA basher or not, can't even the most objective poster in this thread say that there is substantial risk in leaving a secure job and coming to VA considering the airline's financial performance to date?

I think many of the posters above are being incredibly disingenuous when they tell fellow forumites (and potential applicants) that VA is making an "operational profit" so therefore somehow things are getting better? If money was free I'd agree with that statement, but clearly it is not. Click the link and see for yourself.

All I am saying is that an applicant should go in eyes wide open. Don't believe me because obviously I am not a VA fan. Don't believe the posters above as obviously they are equally as biased. Click the link above, go to the VA website and click on the airline's press releases and read them for yourself. How anyone could look at those numbers and see an airline that is "turning a corner" is beyond me. There is no way I would leave a job for VA unless it was a flight instructing job.

By no means do I think it is not a risk to come here, and if you are not up for a big risk big reward situation, then stay away. I am basing my "turning the corner" statements on information that is not yet released (because they don't release it until just before DOT does, which you can see by clicking on those press releases you were talking about). The information in your link is information that is from a quarter that ended 6 months ago. My comments are based on the information we have had an operational profit in the 4th quarter for the first time (not released) and 1st quarter is waaaaay better than 1st quarter last year and even better than their goals set for this year. Load factors are up (obviously depends on ticket price for revenue, but I don't have that info). It has been said over and over again that our investors want an operational profit, and that seems to be what we are getting now.

There are certainly more jobs than just flight instructing that make it worth the risk to come here. I can tell you I was more than happy to get out of Pinnacle to get some Airbus time, an A320 type, and the chance at a possible great job here.

As I have said before, unless something goes drastically wrong it looks like we will make an operational profit for the year. This seems to be more than just management blowing hot air this time. The numbers from the last few quarters support it. We will NOT make a net profit, but the investors don't care. They are getting the money that we are losing as the net portion of the profit (loss).

Just to reiterate...we are not a stable place to work like Delta, United, or American at this point. If you want a high risk, high reward place to work, then here we are. I don't even try to talk my friends into coming here. I state the good points and the bad points and they can make their decision. I just have to say more good points here because there are plenty of bad points already being made.

 

[Blue Dude]

I'm not seeing the "high reward" part of the high risk/high reward equation.