Advice for joining Qatar Airways

[BIGBAD]

I'm heading out to join Qatar soon from the UK. Does anybody have any practical advice about things to bring or do ?

(standing by for sarcastic advice !) :bored:

[BIGBAD]

this thread covers more general stuff. I mean things you might need on your first couple of days, things which you can't get the uk you wish you had, anything which makes life easier in the first couple of days ?

things which you wish you had brought ??

[mafibacon]

For some practical advice and information try Qatar Living | Everything you need to know about living in Qatar (http://www.qatarliving.com) .
Ignore the negative comments about the town itself and take the airline as any other one in this part of the world.
In my opinion there are a lot of comments coming from the wrong end of the horse on this forum regarding Doha After almost 20 years here I still enjoy the place.
MB ::)

[Fubaliera]

JusT today, an algerian TRE failed a British 777 Captain with out the option of a reset. Sounds like revenge to me. Maybe its because the Brit 777 Capt is on the recruiting team.

[QR UNITED 2009]

Qatar as place is nice .

But malfbicon you must be really wierd person enjoy watching others beeing sucked or terminated over Valentines day or over Evian water .
Unless you are helping people .

[Tziganul]

hey fuba,

i guess when you can't fly nor teach the only method you have is force! man can these people let everyone do their jobs without hatred? Guess all QAR needs is an GFA072 to make them realize that being a police rarely works! but inshaalah things will get better never!

[BIGBAD]

not quite the answers i was hoping for !!!

[Fubaliera]

your gonna miss your thomas cook/easy jet gig

[BIGBAD]

i dont work for either !


Does anybody have any practical advice out there ???

[Spirit1]

Jep. Stay home. It´s not too late yet:ok:

[loc22550]

Bring some medicines to lower your blood pressure..expecially when you come back home after a long drive in the street of doha..!:ooh:

[Nightfire]

Come on, guys, don't be so negative, Qatar has its good sides as well! For example.... BIGBAD, in case you have an alcohol-problem, Doha is the place where to get rid of it (at least the symptoms, not necessarily the cause).

[mounster]

Have your passport copied for your back up, first thing to get after touchdown in DOH : buy the prepaid GSM calling card, that requires your passport copy. Later on, you can convert the prepaid into postpaid.

First day of work : meet HR, joining team and housing department. Your passport will be retained by company for residence permit application. This will take about 10-14 working days. Without passport and your Qatar residence permit, everything will be difficult, you can't buy GSM card, apply internet connection by yourself, apply credit card, etc. . .

On the same day : you will have to open a bank account, when I did mine, the bank people came to us and opened the account for us. You have to be pro active to remind them to activate your bank account. Everything was slow when I did mine.

On the same day as well : you will be offered to subscribe internet in your company accommodation. You can apply through company, provided you will stay in company accommodation at least 12 months. If you stay less than 12 months in company accommodation with internet connection installed, you will have to pay penalty to Qtel (internet and telecommunication company). To speed up the process, look for Mr. Siddique when you apply. Tell him you need internet urgently and he will tell you what to do. Or maybe new company accommodation provided with internet already, check with housing people.

You will need to rent a car for your daily activity, share with your friends is best. Just a little bit careful when driving in DOH. Traffic condition no good, people drive aggressively.

Don't bust speed limit, don't bust traffic light and don't park not in the designated parking space, fine is quite expensive here.

I hope that helps a little bit. Welcome to Doha and all the best for your training.

[Blacksteel7]

Save a lot of money. You will need it. As the cost of living here is still rising like a rocket .:eek: :{

[Capt Krunch]

Well Blacksteel7 has a valid point. Inflation here is very high. it has calmed down a bit in the past year, but still on the increase and wages are not. Saving money here is not so easy to do. Those of you who see only the dollar signs and do not know the reality of it. The truth is, if your making 12,000 USD per month (average Capt income with housing) you'll probably save 5000 if your single and around 2000 if you have a family. these figures are not conservative values. The unfortunate part of it all is when you actually see what you get for all the money you spend.. :{

In addition to mounster; Keep some spare photo with you at all times, you need them allot here, as well as a copy of your marriage certificate in your car just in case.. I have been questioned in the past. your foreign drivers license will only be (legally) honored for 15 days after arrival in Doha, after which (you should have a Resident Permit) you must get a local drivers license.

Poisoned by Compromise
Krunch

[ironbutt57]

copy of your marriage certificate in your car

Is it like Saudi where it is illegal to have a non-family memeber female in your vehicle??

[cuallnow]

Thank you both Krunch and Mounster at last some tangible gen. Guys, if I could trouble you further? Which Bank did you chose? And which would those with experience advocate? I will need to transfer monies to Europe from time to time although from Cpt. Krunch's post I can tell there won't be much to move, nevertheless who do most Europeans bank with?

[cuallnow]

Ah what the hay! in for a penny in for a pound. What about the schools, guys? On another thread the School fees are purported to be going up by 25%, which is an extraordinary rise. The School fees as advertised seem to range around the 26,000QR p/a mark. My question then; how do we get from this figure to internet announcements saying the 50,000QR allowance will only cover approximately 1 child? I don't doubt the veracity of your point but a little in the way of background info would really help.
Thanks again

[Paper Lad]

Any one got info on how the banks work? For example what, if any, are the bank charges and do they pay interest on any savings that you may have?

I'll be taking lots of copies of documents (driving licence, passport, photos etc) and enough domestic supplies (clothes, smalls, bathroom kit etc) to get me through the first week, just like going on a nightstop tour with my current outfit. Oh yes, and my crash helmet and body armour for the driving:ok:

See you out there BIGBAD. I think we're from the same company:{

PL

[mounster]

copy of your marriage certificate in your car

not sure that if you have to keep one, but a lot of my colleagues here have been driving with girls without trouble, without being asked by anyone. here not like saudi which is very strict . . but just don't drive after you drink alcohol, not worth-ed : they can jail you

banking : that day we were opened account by IBQ (International Bank of Qatar). Not sure about the interest, as I never intend to save my money in here. To be compared with others, IBQ is not bad, customer service is ok, you can have internet banking that allows you transfer money worldwide, 12 times a year without any charges, but of course the exchange rate is not as best as if you go exchange in money changer. But the good thing is, you don't have to go to bank to do wire transfer world wide free of charge.

a friend of mine told me never choose QNB, customer service is no good, although the bank is quite big. not sure how accurate that info . . never had QNB before

whatever ATM you use to withdraw money, if they have GCCNET logo, you won't be charged for service charge.

they main thing is, as you have a bank account, sometimes you have to phone them, remind them to activate your account. my colleague waited 1 month + and his account was never activated, so he had to collect cheque from company to cash his salaries.

your very first pay could be with cheque as well, or if you apply for salary advance, QR will give you cheque. To cash it, go to Commercial Bank before 1pm, if you don't have your Residence Permit yet (as most cases, usually), make sure you bring your Passport Copy stamped and signed by HR from QR, and show them your QR staff ID. Some branches they play hard not to pay you the money, because they say you don't have your Qatari ID and original passport -> as you are still applying Residence permit and your passport is being held.

school : sorry guys, my kid is 2 months old, never had an experience for looking for school, but company reimburse for the school fee up to max QR50.000 p/a for maximum 3 kids. If your kids go to school in home town, company still reimburse you, provided original receipt is shown.

alcohol : Qatar ain't dry, you can drink, at the club / restaurant, but everything will be inside hotel and it's hotel price which is expensive. You can apply for liquor license, HR will give you letter and bring it to QDC (the only one company that imports and sells alcohol ). deposit of QR1.000 required, but returnable.

an advice from my friend, but never been through : if you stop by QDC to buy and you have alcohol inside your car and (hope never happen) you happen to have accident on the road, dispose them if you can before the police come. insurance company won't cover your damages if you have alcohol onboard the car.

most important thing : be patient, take it easy !!
non type rated lads, you could experience a long wait during the training. when I did mine, there were multiple long wait during the sim sessions.
ground school : 2-3 class per week, the rest nothin', relax
fix based : 5 sessions, finished in 3 weeks, there was a gap in between
full flight : 3 sessions - wait 3 weeks, 3 sessions again - wait another 2 weeks, then 2 sessions every week until finish.

line training was quite ok, a lot of boeing instructor came and taught us line ops. should be done in 4-6 weeks including 2 line checks. they say requirement is 24 sectors including 4 sectors line checks, but I assume you all experienced lads, should be finished by 12th or 14th sector.

some of the info might not be 100% accurate anymore or maybe some of things have been changed, but I just share you what I know and been through.

all the best !!

[Ronaldo 330]

Maybe it would be nice that new pilots are also informed about possibilities of termination from QR and in that case if you have any bank lonas or outstandings you must pay it off in one day and close account and it is a part of check list in order to obtain "clereance" to leave country and get your passport residence canceled .

I am not sure you guys know about F/O ( ola ) who is stuck in Qatar for more then 7 months as result in having loan for apartement .

The guy buy apartement with good intentions to stay in QR for rest of carrear and then got sucked over DFDR download where he and Capt where talking against small little man . In the meantime property prices went down due to economy downturn and he cant sell it even close to price he took a loan anyhow no one buys this days and even if he sell he will have to come up with 700 000 QR cash to cover the loss . Which he cant as most of other people and he is stuck without job or any option in friends house living on friends cost .
No help from CEO just termination no help from A.J or B.M .

So cerful with Qatar banks or loans or c.cards . It is not as any other western bank where they are intersted in you paying the loan this banks in Qatar will make sure when they get info from QR HR that you resign or you are terminated that they block you in immigration from leaving before you close account in bank and to close it you need to settle it first .

Its the best to use bank just as active account and when salary is in take it all out . Thats it

[tonker]

Excellent, factual replies. Thank you:ok:

[loc22550]

General advice when you come here or before..at least few of them:

1/Keep your bank account open in your home country (sounds obvious)
2/Don't sell your property (if you have) before coming here (like some people did!!!:ugh:).
3/Don't buy any property in Qatar.
4/Don't drive & drink...i mean alcohol:uhoh:(Drink at home).
5/get a Multi exit permit..you never known if you have to leave in case of emergency.
7/Avoid bank loan as far as you can..try to stay "clean"..just in case..if you are terminated..
8/Don't argue too much with locals (Qatari are always right by definition..)
9/Same in Qatar Airways..keep low profile and avoid to criticize the company and ..the CEO "in public"
10/The best think you can do when you work for QR: sign in-do your flight-sign out- go home.That's it.
11/Bank. i don't known if there is any big difference.. just use it to send money home that's it.(By the way with QNB you can do everything by PC as well from your home: transfer of money, pay your bill,order check book.....)
12/Be very careful when you drive here!(the crazy way of driving of some locals mixed with the Chaotic way of driving imported in straight line from india make a really explosive cocktail ).
13/If you have fine,pay it before your leave the country otherwise you might be stuck at the airport.
14/JOB wise: the airline is "Secured" but the job isn't.(expecially if you don't apply remark nr 9/)
15/ Have sometime the feeling that your attitude is more important than your competency in QR.
16/ Don't expect any "thank You" ..,but rather a warning letter for not wearing your hat or not closing your jacket.
...
.......

[mounster]

general advice from loc22550 is true

seems like a lot of things to be aware, but dun worry, once you're here, everything will come out naturally, you'll know what to do . .

to be safe : don't buy car until you completely checked out from training, even if you pay it cash. car depreciation is great, even without loan, if you need to re-sell it again, value will drop a lot.

loc22550 got a good point on advice no.9 : don't talk about company and CEO otherwise something bad will happen, you never know. don't get easily triggered by others if they start bitching, avoidance is the best thing for sure

if you wear your cap, button your jacket, sign in on time, do your flight correctly, and sign out, you will be safe, as long as you have multiple exit permit :}

[cuallnow]

Thank you for passing on your hard won local knowledge.

[TAP]

Also, a massive side-track but I'm sure we'll all get over it! :)

Jump seat wise.. as I'll be moving from a UK operator I was never allowed to have my folks in the flight deck for the duration. Could I for example, when my family visit, have them in the flight deck? Or does company policy say no?

Thanks!

[Ronaldo 330]

There is one of 1500 ACN ( air crew notices ) which they forget to tell to new people during interview and all 1500 starting "it si not allowed"
and one of them is about visit of cabin crew to cockpit and it is only R1 and CS who are allowed to enter cockpit and only for operation and service purpuse . Imagine you bringing your family member ? ha ha i am sure the last new F2 will report you if none before and you are Ex QR crew.
QR is all about reporting and who will step into CEO office first and tell him what is going one in flights or after flights .

The memo about cabin crew was issued when CEO noticed that there is a lot of C crew dating pilots and some got maried . And do not forget they are all owed by CEO .mmm "not allowed "

And cabin crew if she wants to get married she need approval to get married from CEO if they do not get it and she resign and get married for pilot CEO will send Duche to fail the pilot on SIM ride just to show his power.

You are not allowed to drink Evian water or you will be Terminated it has also happen not that long time a go .

You are not allowed to talk anainst CEO in cockpit and if you do and they download QAR or DFDR and from time to time they do just to check on people you will be terminated and we have few examples already .

You are not allowed to drink orange juce or eat nuts or dates or laban.
You are there to work and keep quiet when someone get sucked over Evian water .

No one in airline will ever help you . A.J seams nice guy always smile and telling pilots "i am here for you " but actually he will never say big "NO" to little small man . We do not want to mention Mr B.M he use to be nice but got a "power" fever and masalama to kind function of brain .

[Paper Lad]

Excellent advice and tips guys. Thank you.:ok:

PL

[cuallnow]

No sarcasm used this end glitter, there are many ways of getting your point across.

[boredcounter]

Just take an open mind.

I tried it 5 years ago, as a groundie..... The Country could not be much worse, the people are nice, the weather is horrible, waiting for a cab in term time.........

take with you, 1/ an open mind, 2/ an open mind and 3/ an open mind.

the Airline may have come a long way in 5 years, but in my short time there, fed on 3rd world Cabin crew and Out of Work Tech Crew. Read every post.

I was an out of work Ops Guy taken in.




Bored

[flytoparis]

Wonder what will happen if you show the little man one of your fingers and tell him to go and ... himself?
Seriously how can you poor guys survive in this kindergarden??

[Ronaldo 330]

It is funny to see how QR story with sick CEO is well known in the aviation world . Went home for a week and spoken with few pilots . WOW this guys already come to know you can get terminated for EVIAN for dating a cabin crew for talking against CEO for funny cases. And they all want to join airlines in Far East as ME is not really nice place to work according to termination cases they come to know .

Qatar will never go FWD with people like little small man .

[wapses]

Best advice is this.

If it's not too late, change your mind and don't go!

It's a crap place to live and QR is an awful airline to work for.

In most situations you enjoy either your job, or your time away from work. Sometimes if you're lucky, both!

If you live in Doha and work for QR the likelihood is you will enjoy neither. That makes for a pretty horrible existence.

[BIGBAD]

any advice from any guys just arrived from the UK ?? anything you wish you had brought but didn't ? any home comforts worth bringing ???

cheers

[Fubaliera]

C class tkt home

[na-at6g]

Do not worry about what to bring, it's just more you have to get out on the run.

[Hoggtart]

Hope that Qatar is more honest than EY, and that you get everything you were no doubt promised at the roadshow. What you have in your favour is that your new company had a recent pay increase. I have had every promise or statement broken over the 2 years I have been with EY.
I wish you well and what to bring hmmm a metaphorical flack jacket.

Good Luck.........see you in the sand pit!:ok:

[Fubaliera]

Pay raise, says who

[Capt Krunch]

Pay raise.. lol

give yourself a bit of a reality check. Do you honestly think that QA will give a pay raise ? on what premise ? because they like you?

as long as starving, desperate pilots keep coming here in droves then there is NO reason to give a pay raise, cant you guys see that ?

frankly i'm getting tired of flying around listening to these new guys talk about a raise in pay. The only time in the past 10 years we had any raise in pay was mainly fueled by the fact we were not getting the pilots we needed to fill the seats and inflation was out of control. QA has a way of throwing money at problems to make them go away.
Well these days there is NO problem getting pilots unlike days of old.

I know, I know.. it wont last forever and Blah Blah Blah.. BUT the fact remains that QA has been hiring steadily for nearly a decade. All this might be new to these new guys but it's nothing new to the senior staff. They always seem to get lucky at the last minute.. companies go bust, economy takes a dive.. something always bails them out.
as Ive mentioned in other posts.
I started here when they had handful of aircraft, 5 years ago there were 40 aircraft, now there is 81 aircraft.. and enough pilots to fly them all, all the time. that includes all the ancillary hires as well. keep in mind, with 9 sets of crew per aircraft on airbus and 14 sets of crew per aircraft on Boeing, thats allot of hiring over the years. I dont know why or where they come from but as long as we attract pilots there will be no reason for QA to throw more money our way:=

But it would be nice:}

(end rant :E)

Poisoned by compromise
Krunch

[Jimbo124]

I too am joining soon, and thought that the salary was decent. As an FO in company accommodation will the salary allow a decent lifestyle?:cool:

Also does anybody know where the full flight sims are likely to take place for the 777? I have heard rumours that Doha is at max capacity and other places are needed?

[QR UNITED 2009]

Rostering is so happy 17 STBy per fleet they are having fun with no more then 3 days off . BM made 1300 pilots suffer over his own internal fight .

Where is Duche ? He keep low profile after injustice and unprofessional things he has done in last few years .

Small man is going for surgery "they will try to remove few management guys from his afterburner"

Great place to work ,we all just go for work with a a big ?

[loc22550]

Jimbo124..if you are single...yes you might have a decent live and will be able to save some money(better you do it,because here.. no pension.. i mean if you think for the long term..not everybody think like that and just prefer to spend all their money :your choice off course!).
This will probably not be possible(saving money) if you have family and kids with you here in Doha.

[Jimbo124]

Thanks for the reply, I am married but no kids, so will just try and be sensible, the main thing for me is to carry on flying with an element of job security, so long as I keep my head below the parapit!

What is the rough timescale that training is expecting to take, I am already on the B737 and so expecting a STAR course on the 777, but have no idea when I may finish line training or where the FFS will take place?

Any more advice for settling in greatly appreciated.:ok: