Vantaggi
Good pay after the recent (3 year..) pay agreement, with excellent money to be made off the back of overtime trips. Generally good destinations Generally good relations between flight deck and cabin crew
Svantaggi
Fatiguing roster, or very fatiguing depending on your fleet. Rostering arrangements dismissed by Virgin management as impossible are notably being rolled out at competitors. A toxic culture to say the least. I recall one day reporting for duty and the captain immediately asking why I’d joined Virgin and not [the competition]. Many flights would involve a multiple-hour lecture from the captain on why [the competitor] is a better place to be. If your own captains are recruiting for the major competitor, you clearly don’t foster a positive working environment. Certainly not a career airline. Various small elements dismissed by Virgin management as impossible would make a great difference to lifestyle. For example - swapping with open time, available to Virgin cabin crew, and to pilots at other airlines. Makes a great deal of difference to one’s lifestyle. Quality of hotel accommodation is average. It must be noted that flight crew stay in hotels that are generally to a lower standard than other airlines, or in the unusual circumstance (usually India) where the hotel is the same - with fewer perks. E.g. lower standard rooms, no free breakfast, no lounge access etc as offered to flight crew from competitor airlines. Subsistence allowances do not cover the actual cost of living downroute, in some destinations, this does not even come anywhere near close. Lack of growth ambition or potential within the company limits one’s career potential. Being suitably senior for command is simply command opportunity, and the assessment process has been known to be used against individuals well suitable for the position - but not to the company’s liking. This has lead to the promotion of captains unsuitable, and suitable captains being withheld promotion. Part time offerings as part of the 2024 Pay and Lifestyle deal are yet to materialise. Considering management are quoted to have said that the deal was their opportunity to regain the trust of the pilot community - this does speak volumes. Probably a decent place to work to see out a career for the last few years, but not a smart move for someone with decades to go.