I'm not a fan of raw, non-salsa onions either. That crap's nasty!
Saying that V-America doesn't have Branson's scent all over it is like saying "Coke" you purchase in the Ukraine is unlike the "Coke" corporation in Atlanta Georgia.
"I hope the merit-based system of upgrades works wonders for ya! Can't wait to see it at my own airline!" ?
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-01-18-virgin-america-usat_x.htmInitial funding for Virgin America totals $177.3 million, 49% directly or indirectly from Branson in the form of loans or investment. It's the most ever for an airline start-up. By contrast, JetBlue, the successful New York discounter that started in 2000, began with $135 million.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120796297694709721.html?mod=googlenews_wsjU.S. and British investors behind Virgin America, the start-up U.S. carrier conceived by Sir Richard Branson, say they can weather the current turbulence slamming airlines and plan to soon inject about $100 million of additional capital into the company
When 49% of your start up is more than 100% of a real start-up airline, your airline is not really a "start up."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120796297694709721.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Yea, this is not your everyday skybus jetblue start up.
Yep, and it woulda been 100% if it weren't for cabotage laws. Heck, if Branson could bring over cheap pilots from India, he would. But, ya know. Best wishes for potentially destroying my career expectations and all that...
He's not really anyworse than any other CEO trying to hyper-inflate stock value and get something for nothing.
ehh, bad karma, to wish them anything but the best
I think we can all agree that nobody wants more out of work pilots on the streets, its already hard enough to find a job.
If there was little to no equity involved, well then Velocipede, have at 'em. But as ppragman suggests, it is probably better to wish them motivation to create higher pay and better working conditions than punishment in a fiery hell.
You just don't get it, do you?
Sorry, but I can't agree. Those pukes are defining what pilots will work for...$95 an hour. Merit promotion. Upgrades returning to 1st year pay. In short, EVERYTHING ALPA was formed to fight in the 1920's.
If you go to work for an outfit like that, you are personally dragging this profession down by defining what pilots will work for. And he's got plenty of applicants.
Personally, I want to see EVERY ONE of those black suited biatches out on the street.
The only equity they got was street Capt. status or a promise for an early upgrade. Meanwhile they won't even come close to industry narrow body pay rates for another 5 years and its STILL substandard.
Believe me, its much better to wish them eternal damnation. The only thing that seperates them from scabs is that they haven't flown struck work...yet.
Well, there is where we do agree. Their uniforms do suck.
You just don't get it, do you?
Sorry, but I can't agree. Those pukes are defining what pilots will work for...$95 an hour. Merit promotion. Upgrades returning to 1st year pay. In short, EVERYTHING ALPA was formed to fight in the 1920's.
If you go to work for an outfit like that, you are personally dragging this profession down by defining what pilots will work for. And he's got plenty of applicants.
Personally, I want to see EVERY ONE of those black suited biatches out on the street.
The only equity they got was street Capt. status or a promise for an early upgrade. Meanwhile they won't even come close to industry narrow body pay rates for another 5 years and its STILL substandard.
Believe me, its much better to wish them eternal damnation. The only thing that seperates them from scabs is that they haven't flown struck work...yet.
Here's evergreen's pay scale and they're ALPA, and according to APC, the most junior captain was hired in 2005, so he's getting paid a wopping $82/hr. Compare that to Virgin's pay at first year captain status of $95/hr and it doesn't sound that bad. That doesn't mean I'm going to run off and fly for virgin (although if Virgin Galactic offered me a job, I'd have to take it), nor should anyone else, however, just because their ALPA doesn't mean the pay rocks. The only reason to choose a union company over a non-union company is the benefits you get in protection from the company all else being equal. Granted, when compared to other airlines, Virgin's pay is about $10/hr below standard at least.
1) At least Evergreen pilots can negotiate a raise and have work rules to go with their low pay in the meantime.
2) Virgin's pay is way more than $10 below standard. It's more like $50-100 an hour below standard in each seat and that is comparing it to other airline's rates that have already taken huge paycuts.
Yeah, but working as a pilot with a company with a cool name like “Virgin America” you won’t need the high salary. You can get chicks to buy you everything from drinks to shag apartments to cars.
Ops, I forgot your mommy doesn’t count.