Would you? Virgin America

[xkuzme1]

I have an upcoming interview with Virgin America.

Currently I am a CA at a good regional with good seniority. My family is currently growing (next week) and my commute (at Virgin) will be two legs to get to work (off line). Pay would go from $80k down to $45k.

Thoughts. WWYD if offered the job?

X

 

[stillflyn]

Not a chance in HE!!.......

Stillflyn

 

[Abernathy]

You just wrote out every reason not to yourself.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

no.... the FARs are thier work rules... and the uniforms are undesirable too...

 

[Soverytired]

If you're even remotely interested, for goodness sake, interview! An interview is not a job offer, not by a long shot.

You'll have a much better idea of what they're about after you interview anyway.

If you do get the job though, you'd better resign yourself to moving to at least a one-leg commute and a cheaper lifestyle (for the short term).

Beyond that: No regional is really "safe", but on the other hand, start up's are pretty risky as well.

An A319 type would certainly enhance your career prospects much more than another 1000 hours of CRJ time though.

 

[Cardinal]

You could move....

 

[701EV]

If you have 20 years left, yes GO.

 

[Superpilot92]

I would go. Depending on your age (less than 45 IMHO) there is no such thing as a career regional no matter how "good" it is. You should in the very least interview.

 

[WSurf]

Go for it. Atleast its one the the few airlines that people seem enjoy working for.

 

[JoeMerchant]

no.... the FARs are thier work rules... and the uniforms are undesirable too...

....you just don't think he should go because they aren't ALPA.....not a good enough reason....

I wouldn't go.....but for different reasons.......

 

[CFI2766]

As much as I hate to think this, places like Virgin America and Skybus are the future of commercial aviation in America. This is not pleasant, but the places the provide the cheapest prices to the consumer are the places that have the greatest future. It is no coincidence that Southwest has been the most profitable airline in its segment in the USA.

IF you get the job, and IF you can re-locate to a manageable commute, the job very well might be a place that you retire from. Can you say that about a regional?

 

[JoeMerchant]

IF you get the job, and IF you can re-locate to a manageable commute, the job very well might be a place that you retire from. Can you say that about a regional?

You can't retire from ASA? Why not?

 

[Speedtape]

If something happens to UAL, Virgin along with others will benefit. Downturns are bonanzas for LCC's because most of the Legends have always cut domestic capacity, which has been creating the slow transfer of domestic traffic to the LCC's. The upgrade time over there is not very long, apparently. Upgrades should occur within 10 months or so with the growth they have on the books.

 

[xkuzme1]

Thanks for your feedback. Tough decisions.

x

 

[~~~^~~~]

Ask around about Gary Hall. Figure out who he is, what he does, and you will know your answer.

 

[CFI2766]

You can't retire from ASA? Why not?

I probably didn't explain that thought all that well. Sure, you absolutely can retire from ASA. At the moment, the top end of our pay scales are well within or above industry averages. Our work rules are good, relative to other regionals. ASA has a long history, and, has never furloughed.

All that being said, from my vantage point, that is from the bottom looking up, a career at a regional appears to be even less secure than a career at a Major/Legacy/whatever that means. The opportunity costs of getting to year 22 of my career, and then having my regional die, are simply too high to imagine.

 

[Speedtape]

ASA is alot more secure job than a job at some of the Legends, like UAL.

Of course, if you are at ASA, your job security is totally tied to Delta's stability. The need for feed will not go away. Having said that, being owned by Skywest, Inc, and 40% their revenues tied to UAL, leaves alot of speculation as to what happens should UAL go T's Up.

Virgin may be a dice roll. But then again, the old "timining is everything" and luck, always come into play, especially in this industry. With a family, sit tight. But, at some point to make any change, you will have to bite the bullet for awhile. Just be selective and put away as much cash as you can for now until that day happens. Try not to live up to you income, as long as you stay, or you will always be here no matter what opportunity comes along.