Just curious why everyone likes to get on the bash VA bandwagon? Is is just because they're not Alpa or an inhouse union? Or is it really because you might be just a bit jeolous? For the record I'm a union guy, believe in them and that they serve a much needed purpose. After a few years the VA guys will most likely come around to the same idea and vote one it.....but they are only 1 year old...give them a break! Why is it that no one's trashing the JB guys for being non-union or thier silly uniforms? OMG, a Blue uniform shirt....how non-standard!
Is it the "low wages" so you can undercut us arguement? That's bunk too, if that's the case then you should also trash JB, Allegiant, Midwest, Frontier and Suncountry. Just did a VERY informal average of like sized equipment pay scales for CA and FO's of 10 airlines: Co, US, NWA, AK, A/T, ALGT, FRT, MDW, S/C and JB: The avereage 1st yr Captain makes 96/hr and the average FO starts at 35. VA is 95/44. The VA guys should be screaming about OUR low FO wages! A VA Capt is up to 120 in 5 years, an ALG Capt will never get there without overtime and would take 10 years at Suncountry.
Maybe we're "afraid" of VA because they have a hell of a product that we have to compete against? They don't have fat old FA's who treat the pax as a liability to be put up with. Rather than b!tch and complain about what VA is doing right, try jumpseating on them....see how you are treated and then go back to your job and try and treat everyone the same way....you might like your job a little better and your customers will appreciate it as well. Whenever you meet a VA pilot talk to them about a union in a constructive manor. These guys/gals have most all come from Alpa carriers/regionals and were either furloughed or stagnating at a regional with no where to go. Hopefully JB will vote a union in, and I hope the VA folks will do so eventually as well. They will be a tough competitor for some of the LCC's which is good. But to argue that they are the ruin of the industry because of thier wages is a false arguement.