Virgin Australia Staff Travel

[MEL_Traveller]

Because it is a privilege and not a right, the company can set whatever rules it wants. Others can answer the details on what is and is not permissible currently.

I came back to this thread because I saw an advertisement for VA cabin crew, which mentioned staff travel benefits and $1000 of travel credits each year.

On reading this post I wondered however… is staff travel indeed a privilege, or is it a right?

It was clearly stated in the advertisement, and no doubt it’s written into employment contracts. On that basis I’d argue it *is* a right or entitlement. It’s not a privilege which could be withheld without a change in employment conditions?

Thinking more broadly, I actually see staff travel as a benefit for the airline as well:

• it allows the selling of any unused seats at cost, boosting profits from commercial fares
• while an airline could run a discounted stand-by scheme at airports for pax willing to take their chances, it comes with considerable administrative costs, and the potential for unhappy passengers in the event they miss out on a seat. Presumably no complaints from staff!
• it enables them to attract talent, for zero additional cost
• it boosts staff morale, for zero additional cost

If staff travel is a right, or entitlement, I’m hard pressed to see why any dress code should be more restrictive than a commercial passenger: appropriate footwear, appropriate ‘coverage’ and no offensive words or symbols.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

I came back to this thread because I saw an advertisement for VA cabin crew, which mentioned staff travel benefits and $1000 of travel credits each year.

On reading this post I wondered however… is staff travel indeed a privilege, or is it a right?

It was clearly stated in the advertisement, and no doubt it’s written into employment contracts. On that basis I’d argue it *is* a right or entitlement. It’s not a privilege which could be withheld without a change in employment conditions?

Thinking more broadly, I actually see staff travel as a benefit for the airline as well:

• it allows the selling of any unused seats at cost, boosting profits from commercial fares
• while an airline could run a discounted stand-by scheme at airports for pax willing to take their chances, it comes with considerable administrative costs, and the potential for unhappy passengers in the event they miss out on a seat. Presumably no complaints from staff!
• it enables them to attract talent, for zero additional cost
• it boosts staff morale, for zero additional cost

If staff travel is a right, or entitlement, I’m hard pressed to see why any dress code should be more restrictive than a commercial passenger: appropriate footwear, appropriate ‘coverage’ and no offensive words or symbols.

I have been bounced (Business reward to economy) by staff travel from Bali. Just BS. Who pays the salaries? The loyal customer does!

 

[AIRwin]

I have been bounced (Business reward to economy) by staff travel from Bali.

Staff travel or deadheading crew?

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

If staff travel is a right, or entitlement, I’m hard pressed to see why any dress code should be more restrictive than a commercial passenger: appropriate footwear, appropriate ‘coverage’ and no offensive words or symbols.

Staff travel can be a right under employment contracts but that doesn't preclude the airline imposing a dress code.

I encourage airlines to do so as it makes flying a more pleasant experience when people are well dressed.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I came back to this thread because I saw an advertisement for VA cabin crew, which mentioned staff travel benefits and $1000 of travel credits each year.

On reading this post I wondered however… is staff travel indeed a privilege, or is it a right?

It was clearly stated in the advertisement, and no doubt it’s written into employment contracts. On that basis I’d argue it *is* a right or entitlement. It’s not a privilege which could be withheld without a change in employment conditions?

Thinking more broadly, I actually see staff travel as a benefit for the airline as well:

• it allows the selling of any unused seats at cost, boosting profits from commercial fares
• while an airline could run a discounted stand-by scheme at airports for pax willing to take their chances, it comes with considerable administrative costs, and the potential for unhappy passengers in the event they miss out on a seat. Presumably no complaints from staff!
• it enables them to attract talent, for zero additional cost
• it boosts staff morale, for zero additional cost

If staff travel is a right, or entitlement, I’m hard pressed to see why any dress code should be more restrictive than a commercial passenger: appropriate footwear, appropriate ‘coverage’ and no offensive words or symbols.

It is a privilege, it is not a right, nor an entitlement. It is not a legal requirement of the role.

The rules are well publicised, well understood and employees are well educated on them. If they or their beneficiaries choose to ignore these rules, then consequences (which are also well publicised) can happen.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It is a privilege, it is not a right, nor an entitlement. It is not a legal requirement of the role.

The rules are well publicised, well understood and employees are well educated on them. If they or their beneficiaries choose to ignore these rules, then consequences (which are also well publicised) can happen.

Perhaps not a ‘right’ in the sense of Aussie work legislation, but I’d imagine there’s some sort of contractual basis to it.

I don’t see how you can hire someone saying they’re going to get access to staff travel, and then simply not make it available?

 

[henrus]

If staff travel is a right, or entitlement, I’m hard pressed to see why any dress code should be more restrictive than a commercial passenger: appropriate footwear, appropriate ‘coverage’ and no offensive words or symbols.

There is a public facing website (you can google it, that's how I found it) called flyzed.info that has some basic policies from each airline.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd. | Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd. | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

Assuming it's correct VA's dress policy for staff is as follows:


This appears to be the exact same text as on their website for everyone else:

Check-in information

Find information on Virgin Australia's check in options, including online and at the airport.

www.virginaustralia.com

Other airlines like QF and QR appear to have much stricter policies
QF : Qantas Airways Limited | Qantas Airways Limited | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees
QR : Qatar Airways Q.C.S.C. | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

Now I'm down a rabbit hole looking through all the airlines.
Air Canada is one of the stricter ones I've found.

Air Canada | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

 

[Steven of Mysore]

Perhaps not a ‘right’ in the sense of Aussie work legislation, but I’d imagine there’s some sort of contractual basis to it.

I don’t see how you can hire someone saying they’re going to get access to staff travel, and then simply not make it available?

Well it has been for decades. It is made available only as operational requirements.

As to the second part of your response... You mean like customer loyalty programs that 'provide' X, Y and Z... But don't.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 6:06 PM

Staff travel or deadheading crew?

Staff travel.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There is a public facing website (you can google it, that's how I found it) called flyzed.info that has some basic policies from each airline.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd. | Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd. | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

Assuming it's correct VA's dress policy for staff is as follows:
View attachment 454841

This appears to be the exact same text as on their website for everyone else:

Check-in information

Find information on Virgin Australia's check in options, including online and at the airport.

www.virginaustralia.com

View attachment 454842


Other airlines like QF and QR appear to have much stricter policies
QF : Qantas Airways Limited | Qantas Airways Limited | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees
QR : Qatar Airways Q.C.S.C. | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

Now I'm down a rabbit hole looking through all the airlines.
Air Canada is one of the stricter ones I've found.

Air Canada | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

Thanks! Makes sense.

Air Canadia does seem rather over prescriptive… you can change into yoga pants after takeoff, but cannot change in to pajamas! Ha!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well it has been for decades. It is made available only as operational requirements.

As to the second part of your response... You mean like customer loyalty programs that 'provide' X, Y and Z... But don't.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 6:06 PM

Staff travel.

I mean ‘not available’ as taking away that benefit. Not the availability of staff leisure-travel seats, which is of course subject to the availability of seats.

 

[henrus]

Staff travel.

I’m curious how you knew this. On most airlines I’ve never been able to spot staff travelers except Qantas where one flight in J when taking orders and writing them down on a piece of paper and half the seat numbers (no names) has staff next to it whilst mine had plat.

Edit, silly me should have read the previous page. Didn’t realise but you had a waitlisted upgrade that never cleared.

 

[Saab34]

Funny reading some of those especially the ones with ‘no bathers to be worn’

Business Casual seems to be expected in Japan.

 

[henrus]

Funny reading some of those especially the ones with ‘no bathers to be worn’

Business Casual seems to be expected in Japan.

Maybe Ethiopian is the strictest.

Ethiopian Airlines | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

A jacket and tie required for business class.

 

[Scarlett]

Maybe Ethiopian is the strictest.

Ethiopian Airlines | Find flight listing option at FlyZED | ID Travel | Airline employees

A jacket and tie required for business class.

The 1980’s called, they’re asking ET for their business dress code back.

 

[Balus1]

If you are travelling in J with Qantas and offered a meal choice, and the person sitting next to you is not offered a meal choice, they are staff travellers. Qantas offers full fare paying passengers a meal choice before staff. Staff then get whatever may be left over.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you are travelling in J with Qantas and offered a meal choice, and the person sitting next to you is not offered a meal choice, they are staff travellers. Qantas offers full fare paying passengers a meal choice before staff. Staff then get whatever may be left over.

On VA I know that last minute flight changes, or ‘fly forwards’ aren’t assured catering, and those pax get skipped. Doesn’t QF have something similar?

 

[twinaisle]

I have been bounced (Business reward to economy) by staff travel from Bali. Just BS. Who pays the salaries? The loyal customer does!

No you weren't. Your upgrade wasn't accepted. Get over it.