The rumors are true: I am leaving Virgin America. :( There is no brand like Virgin America, by which I mean industry-redefining, industry-leading, shared sense of purpose in its employees (and I sincerely mean that, working with people on both sides of the union issue), impressive presence in and off the plane that feels so damn empowering, parity in the pay, treatment and opportunity for all creeds and kinds, a resilient workforce that not only has the operational will to adapt to and collaborate for new initiatives, but also -- always so magical and beautiful to me -- is the call of duty to which teammates unquestionably and proudly respond during operational shocks like shootings and runway crashes or untenable GDPs that for whatever metaphysical reason seem to only occur at Virgin Americas base destinations. And I mean that: when they are needed, teammates of all stripes show up with the purpose seen in first responders of September 11, 2001, of trauma ward doctors after mass shootings, of parents cutting through impediments of bureaucracy so they can tend to sick children, or people who represent Mind Over Matter. Its truly amazing, and will be my lasting view of Virgin America as I depart for my next adventure. Which departure, a difficult choice indeed, rested largely on the financial obligations I have as a single homeowner in Denver. Denver, of course, is a base of operations for Southwest with a junior base that People In The Know confirmed can be mine, if not immediately, than certainly after a month or so. Working out of Denver affords me the chance to pick up trips during free time, which money I am motivated to earn not for material largesse but because I have an unimpeachable fidelity to the welfare of my family, and it is now time in my life for me to be a provider in that arrangement. Theres quality of life improvements in my social and romantic pursuits, which have been essentially dead in the water as a single homeowner commuter. And softball -- which I have missed to no end. Southwest was a good enough choice for me because their highly profitable operation allows an earning potential of flight attendants limited only by an employees will to work. I explored other Denver opportunities with United (no other phrase for them than shadow of what it used to be), and did consider their extension to me of an offer to be an international line holder as a Hebrew speaker, but that offer meant commuting permanently to Newark, or at least until the small but powerful Jewish community in Denver used their heavy regional clout and mountainous political will to influence Uniteds shareholders (ha!) and demand DEN-TLV service, which when that day arrives, I promise to make good on my offer to sell you acres of cheap California beachfront property. Frontier also offered me a position, but they freeze pay for two years before they offer what are essentially tokens for step increases instead of actual money, and lets not even broach their ULCC model that might be wise for investors but is toxic to line workers who must face the wrath of flying public -- an inherently adversarial culture that my conscience could never reconcile after knowing the potential of great customer service in domestic aviation. And I thank Virgin America for the opportunity of holding me to that high standard of good customer service, a quality that will protect my moral purpose in life of being a citizen of the Word. I love Virgin and I do not really want to go, but as I mentioned, the need to provide for family and carve out a place in the community in the land I love is what compels me at this time. This is not a good bye, but a thank you to my teammates. xoxoxoxo
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 19:57:23 +0000
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