Emirates specific questions....

[Smoke N Mirrors]

Im a Regional FO here in the United States, looking to possibly move on to Emirates. I have a lot of questions, and have read many threads on this forum and others. For time expediency as most threads drift and it takes hours to glean specific information you are looking for, I have a few questions for anyone in the know. Thanks in advance. (and yes I am aware of the search function,)

What could you realistically expect to save per month? From Emirates web page starting pay is aprox 8000 us per month. I would have a goal of saving 5k (US) per month, with my expenses from home at 1k, and a 2k (US) budget living in Dubai. We have two children ages 3, and 6 months. As I understand the education allowance does not cover American schools and you will spend a bit more for education than the allowance. If I was to pay for American style school what could I expect to pay? What percent of utilities do they cover? How are you taxed on your housing allowance etc., if at all? Would you recommend taking the housing allowance or live in the provided villas? Is the 3 year training bond pro-rated?

[fatbus]

You will not save anything for a couple of years , longer depending on how many kids you have in the ASD/DAA.

[Patty747400]

Live with wife and two children in Dubai on 2000 US a month? Then don't worry about the school fees. Your wife will have left Dubai long before they reach that age.

Plan on saving 2000 and have a decent life instead.

[fringhtok]

Hmmm, this will certainly bring out some of the loonies......

You will not save anything for a couple of years , longer depending on how many kids you have in the ASD/DAA.

That strikes me as, shall we say, a bit pessimistic. However, your stated goal of saving over 60% of your pay is pretty optimistic. You, your wife and kids will have to live like hermits. American schools are out of the question. Likewise eating out, most after school activities etc. You would probably need to take the allowance and rent a small apartment in a less desirable area. Doesn't sound like a great life to me.

3 year bond is pro-rata.

[Smoke N Mirrors]

Thanks for the responses..
What exactly will the housing allowance provide in a decent area? A 2,000 sqft 3 bdrm, villia or a 1500 sqft 2 bdrm apt? I read that the provided housing is a crapshoot as to what you will get.
I did some searches online and it looked like you could get a decent villa for the monthly allotment, although I have no Idea if the areas are considered safe.
I read that Emirates holds your passport onsite, is this true?
What is a realistic amount to save 2-3k or is that still a pretty shi%&y lifestyle?

[FUSE PLUG]

We save 3K a month and have a decent lifestyle. I don't wear a Rolex and don't drive a BMW but I did put 51K USD in my retirement last year...as an FO (3K per month + 15K profit share = 51K in 2011 into my provident fund).

US expat, 3 kids, wife and kids are very happy with life out here. We still go out and enjoy a quality of life better than we ever had at xxx holdings. I'm an ex rj capt... not going back to the US any time soon... pm me if you want to know more.

FP

[fringhtok]

Villa assignment is definitely a crap-shoot. You could get something nice with the allowance. Might be a good idea to take what you're given for six months and then move to something else. That will also give you an idea about what area you want to live in as well as where your preferred school is.

Passport rumour is rubbish.

Make 2k a month your goal and adjust once you get an idea of what things cost and how you want to spend your $$$. IMHO that is achievable without living like a hermit. Good luck

[Future Expat]

Some say cant save a cent, some saving 3k a month????

Based on minimum pay which I budget at 8000usd a month and given the following assumptions, just where does the money go/not go???

Villa- company supplied ie. nil expense
Utilities- is this 27000aed a cash payment or rebate from actual billings ?
Medical- pilot paid for but family requires supplement. How much is that and what if any actual medical cost occur?

Furniture Amortising- if you move out of supplied accomm., and into your own choice, is this forgiven?

Education- I'm not american so the english schools seem pretty much covered by the allowance with maybe a few thousand a year for extras????

So house,health,utilities and school are pretty much covered. Where does 8000 go?

[Wizofoz]

Villa- company supplied ie. nil expense


Yes

Utilities- is this 27000aed a cash payment or rebate from actual billings ?


The Company pays utilities. Stay below the cap and you never see a bill. AFAIK noone has actually been billed for Utilities, but I stand to be correccted. We are by no means frugal users and have never been billed.

Medical- pilot paid for but family requires supplement. How much is that and what if any actual medical cost occur?


No much. My BL008Y computer won't load my payslip, but I think I pay around 350DHs a month for wife and two kids. That covers all non-preexisting Medical treatments (a few exceptions- the Orthodontic allowence won't be enough for kids braces for example) though you do pay for non-prescription medications.

Furniture Amortising- if you move out of supplied accomm., and into your own choice, is this forgiven?


No, but you get to take the stylish, high quality furniture (sigh, that was SARCASM before anyone asks!!) with you.

Education- I'm not american so the english schools seem pretty much covered by the allowance with maybe a few thousand a year for extras????


I was out 11 000 for the year with two kids. Actually helps me that the travel allowence is now lumped in (we car-pool) but the British Schools are certainly more reasonable.

Where does 8000 go?

Good question- but go it does!!

[Fellowship of the drink]

Everything in Dubai is designed to suck money out of you.

Grocery is the biggest part of your expenses. Things are not cheap in Dubai and it is getting worse with inflation.

DEWA (electricity and water if you move out of co. accommodation) - there is a hidden tax on top of utilities in there somewhere - I can't remember what it is called as I am in co. accommodation.

Etisalat - Telecommunications & Internet is the most expensive I have ever seen in the world for what you get in return.

just a few of the obvious ones.

[Dropp the Pilot]

Consider acquiring some supplemental medical insurance for your family, I think. Emirates has a long-established tradition of taking very good care of pilots with lengthy illnesses but I don't know if that has a counterpart with family members.

Your family's coverage is limited to a certain maximum cash amount of treatment every financial year. I am too lazy to look it up but I think you could easily run through the mentioned amount in about six weeks if they were unlucky enough to be hospitalized whilst visiting the USA.

You can buy 2.5 million dollars a year coverage online via BUPA for a token amount and you will have peace of mind for any lengthy health battle which (God forbid) your near and dear may experience. If memory serves it was about $300 for the kids and about $1800 for the wife per annum.

[Wizofoz]

Varmint,

Cheers!:ok:

[Praise Jebus]

Vacations.....
After a while you will get sick of a holiday in Sharjah, nice as it's reputed to be.
So that means plane tickets, even stby start to add up, hotels etc. It's not like a weekend in Kansas, as nice as that is also reputed to be.
Your annual holiday will be an international trip, even if just going home, it costs.

[Smoke N Mirrors]

How does personal travel work on EK? Can you list standby, or is it all ID90 type stuff? As far as vacation goes, I understand you get 43 vacation days per year, how hard is it to get the time off that you want, and what blocks of time do they usually grant? How much is paid if any?

From a cursory look so far, to move my family across the world they may need to up this package a bit.

[fringhtok]

Im a Regional FO here in the United States


It may not be popular to say, but Regional FOs from America don't have the best reputation here. That's probably unfair in a lot of cases but it is the reality. Therefore:

From a cursory look so far, to move my family across the world they may need to up this package a bit.

The chances of this happening in the near to medium term are something approaching and very, very near to zero.

Good luck.

[Future Expat]

Assuming there is still room at Cedre Villas, is the family accomodation the ones on the DSO website as the 'executive' or the twinvillas that share a common wall. I know someone who recently started and chose Semmer and got one that was recently vacated. Would you choose semmer over cedre or vice versa?

I am thinking of having the villa unfurnished. Anyone done that then moved to own accom later and at least chose their own furniture etc. Does the allowance cover filling the villa for family of four?

[Kempus]

Have a look, make up your own conclusions. It does really depend where your coming from!

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai, United Arab Emirates And London, United Kingdom (http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Arab+Emirates&city1=Dubai&country2=United+Kingdom&city2=London&displayCurrency=GBP)

[Lord Spandex Masher]

Kempis, a quick scan through your list shows booze and the Internet are more expensive in Dubai.

I propose that most of the 8k goes on cans of lager and porn?

[Wizofoz]

It's why none of us BUY our booze in Dubai.

A nice little run down to Um Al Qwain and prices are evelent to Duty free- I buy Aussie beer there substantially cheaper than it is available for in Australia.

[Kempus]

Lord spandex,

Better make that a round 10k!!

[McNulty]

Do you guys think it's reasonable for a single FO, not a big spender (won't go and blow 40k on a new car etc), likes a few beers on off nights a few times a month and eating out a few times a month, apart from that no major expenses, be able to save around 60% of salary year one?

[Eric Carr]

Considering people in this country survive on salaries around 2500 dhs I´m pretty sure you can save around 90% of your salary. That said Dubai becomes a pretty boring place if you won´t spend your money but if you want to save just buy your groceries where the Indians do and take noodles to your layovers to save your allowance;)

[Kennytheking]

McNulty,

Quite easily, especially if you take the live out allowance. I have a 1 bedroom flat in a mid level neighbourhood which is quite nice and I make a profit of around $25 000 pa on the housing allowance alone.

Of course it is a remarkably small step from being a tight fist to being a big spender in this place. If you are earning a fat salary it is not unreasonable to spend $40k on a new 4x4 when you start justifying it to yourself(resale value, need transport anyway, safety on the roads, money just lying in the bank not earning interest, interest free company car loan, the Jones's, etc, etc).

[Kempus]

I know single FO's who save £3.5k and FO's with families who save £1.5k a month. Then I know other FO's who want to enjoy life and buy and do the things they normally wouldnt be able to afford and save next to nothing.

You can either go and enjoy the fact your stuck in the desert or countdown the days until you leave with a lump of cash.

[Sonny Hammond]

Or a bit of both.

[jmfkukoc]

What about medical in EMIRATES, it's hard, It's complicates to pass it, Vision, listening, bloody test......:ok:

[halas]

Huh? :confused:

Maybe if you study a bit harder it will take the complications away.

halas

[ManaAdaSystem]

The Company pays utilities. Stay below the cap and you never see a bill. AFAIK noone has actually been billed for Utilities, but I stand to be correccted. We are by no means frugal users and have never been billed.

Got to love this one. EK pilots have been crying their eyes out over the DEWA cap, and it turns out it doesn't mean anything.

[Wizofoz]

Actually Mad, I made that post and I HAVE been corrected.

It's looking like I will be out a couple of thousand, and this is a breach of my contract.

Not much I can do except sue and lose or leave.

Just going to have to suck it up, but it doesn't go down well.

[ManaAdaSystem]

You just went from paying nothing to having to pay a couple of thousand????? Per month, quarter or year?

I thought you have spent a few years in the sand pit?

[Wizofoz]

For the year.

We didn't realize the gardener was putting the water on four times a day.

It's not going to be a fortune, but it is still annoying.

[Flyer27]

Hello-
Someone said that regional fo's are frowned upon. Does anyone know any pilots that came from an american regional?
Thanks!
(Wife of flyer27)

[fatbus]

It's not the A/C size as much as attitude, a lot of the RJ pilots were RJ Capt's and think they know everything. Those that are 320/73 NG were FO's(mostly) and don't come with the attitude.

[Jetaim]

Oh yeah...because EK is the depositary of knowledege...right?
You know everything there in the desert You are all scientist and rocket engineer. UAE has invented aviation and aussies have perfected it?
Mhh...looks to me UAE never invented anything and aussie became so anal in time as they are just trying to compensated for their origins...

[fatbus]

Jetaim,
you are more than likely the type I was referring to and I said nothing about knowledge it was all about attitude.
PS, the stats speak for themselves

[Flyer27]

Thanks fatbus!
Do u know if they are interviewing people w/o an ATPL but heave he ATP written? I really appriciate all the feedback!

[Snookie]

S&M,

I dont know if you received an answer regarding how much you can save but i used to be in the same boat as you. To be honest, it depends on how well you manage your money. Some people save and others live paycheck to paycheck. As a background, i used to be a regional pilot and own two homes in the states that are completely paid off and make residual income on my rentals. We travel alot (atleast once every two months) and live within our means. Nothing fancy except for our car but wanted a safe car to protect my loved ones. We eat out twice a week and maximize the discounts using the EPC and Platinum cards which gives discounts up to 20% on food. Not really a drinker so i guess i save money there but sometimes i wish i drank to drive away the frustrations of some local affairs:)

I put away $1500 a months for my retirement fund and send $1500 a month to my US savings account. There is also a Provident Fund set up by the company which is approximately $1000 per month (4% by you and 14% (??) by the company. You do not get your full entitlement to the fund till 7 years in the company.

Basically, $2500 goes to my retirement and $1500 to my savings per month. The rest is spent by my wife and child:) This place is not perfect but we are very happy we made the move.

Remember, its not how much you make but how well you manage your money.

snookie

[Bunktime]

Therefore presuming kids education looked after, and housing looked after. What could a guy joining up as captain on 777 expect to take home in usd. Say for 75 hours a month and average layover allowance. Just for comparison purposes.
Presuming that housing and education is 'completely' taken of. And what is this profit share. Include that too.
Am currently taking home about 18k Usd( 75 hrs ) with kids education and decent house looked after.
Cheers

[whossorrynow]

11,237USD basic 1st Year Captain.
+
1,226USD for 75 hours.

Deduct 5% of basic as your contribution to your Provident Fund.
Deduct a few other bits and pieces like medical insurance and phone charges and you won't quite take home 12,000USD . Schooling may not be completely covered by the company and that could bring you closer to 11,000USD.

The good news is that you might be doing a lot more than 75 hours, unless you have some leave or Training/Check events. Although the company will try to but not always succeed in keeping you at or just slightly under 92 hours as this is where the overtime threshold cuts in.

Layover allowances are in the range 50-90USD/24 hours.

I doubt there will be a profit share this year although I would like to be wrong. It once hit 14 weeks but that was back in the good times.

[Bunktime]

Excellent info whossorrynow! Very informative indeed.
So take home SALARY in the range of say 11.5 k Usd PM.
And what would be the average, just average layover allowances for the same flight hours PM. Just a reasonable ball park. So that i can do the math. And what was the profit share you got this year and last.
Sorry or the barrage of Q's, but its a big move.
Thanks again. Great info earlier ..

[fatbus]

If you are on @ 18k /m with housing and kids education looked after why would you ever think of coming to EK?

[Bunktime]

Which is why i ask my friend. To do or not to do ..
Need the numbers tho....;)

[fatbus]

True , but the TC's are all on the website. Don't know if all the talk of pensions will apply to EK and if it did would it apply to pilots.

[nolimitholdem]

Just a correction, whossorrynow's figures for captain's pay are not correct, they're optimistic by about 5,000AED.

Basic salary for captains is 36,140AED (about $9840USD). With 84 hours @60AED = 5100AED, that equals 41240AED (about $11,300 USD).

That is how the figure on the career website is derived.

Captain: Monthly Salary Dhs 41,240 (Basic Salary plus Hourly Flying Pay based on 85 block hours per month)

The figures listed earlier take the basic, 85 hours of flight pay, and THEN add another 75 hours on top. As much as EK would love to wring 160 hours/month out of their slaves, even they can't do that. I'm not sure why you were given the figures you were, except that I would hazard a guess that as usual, the people giving all sorts of advice about Emirates...don't actually work there.

These figures are before any deductions. Which are correct. As far as allowances, they're pretty much exactly what any unhealthy hotel meal costs, at whatever discounted rate EK could negotiate. Wouldn't count too much on getting rich off the per diems, if you can keep your BMI in check consider yourself ahead.

So no, you won't be making near 12,000USD/month. Put it another way, an EK captain makes less than 10k/month basic to operate a widebody. If you're really making 18k to live in a real country you have to be insane to even give it a thought.

[Bunktime]

If whosorry is to be believed(and i have no reason to do otherwise), approx 11.5k pm plus layover allowances plus your profit sharing. Optimistically 11.5+1+1=13.5k usd pm for 75 hrs flying and average layovers of 15 days @70usd/day(approx), and 1k pm profit share. At 13.5 k Usd pm why on god's green earth do you fellas work in the pit, sacrificing your lifestyles as such. Unless the standard of living ir really really cheap, i just don't get it. And I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING THE sad end of he stick. Wow.
Suddenly it's all falling in place.
And if nolim is to be believed, i'm at a loss of words. Lemme check the brief again....:ooh:

[whossorrynow]

If whosorry is to be believed(and i have no reason to do otherwise...)They may well be correct. I took the basic salary from PPJN but had no idea it included 85 hours of work. Sorry to mislead you.

The allowances are for time at the out-station, not time away from base, most layovers are 24 hours, 4 or 5, maybe 6 a month.

[Bunktime]

So whossorry. What is YOUR TAKE HOME salary these days ...
Pray tell..

[Goobacca]

Question about applying.

6000 total. 2200 jet PIC, standards captain. Biggest jet flown is a CRJ200.

Would a 777 type help getting an interview and a certified international course help too?

[A380 driver]

Bunktime,
By what I hear approx 14k Usd PM seems to be the norm here for a 777 driver. Which, if true is at least 20% below the international salary norm for a widebody captain.
Now one of my own. Presume that I take a fully furnished villa from the company. Do i have a choice of where i can take it. Also, has there ever been a situation where the company has asked a captain to vacate or change his villa due administrative reasons?
Can a pilot do the same. That is,request for a change of accomodation, say after 1-2 years if say the villa is below par in some way.
Considering the move seriously. Dont know if the poor salary helps tho. Hopefully it will be negated by the not so high living cost in dubai i presume...

[Bunktime]

Thanks. But still wondering. If i can get some actual figures from some real EK pilots in the pit. Would be great.

[donpizmeov]

Jungle drums say 330 transition courses end in Oct 2012. Another two 330s painted white and parked near engineering about to be handed back to owners. I wonder who will pick up those late night turns to India?

the Don

[Bunktime]

Thanks contacted. What about profit share. And approx layover allowance?
Same for T7 drivers?
Thanks again ..

[Bunktime]

@Contracted
I have one kid in high school. Doesn't seem worth it bro...
Just too low on the salary. Wonder who they would attract.
No way, anybody in the normal world. Sadly.
Though I would love to join. But the pay n perks just ain't worth it. Not even close to what i'm getting right now ..
Off to mah erdinger now ..

[A380 Jockey]

Contacted, whilst your numbers seem to be close they are far from correct. Overheads constitute a decent percentage of an EK pilot's salary.
Bunktime, your questions are very appropriate and valid. Sadly,if 13-14k Usd PM is less than the world average, then we should be doing something about it, should we not.
Once(if)you join up, why don't you access for yourself what your take home is and then what your average savings are. I'd say give it six months. And then we can have another chat either on this same forum or on the email i'm pm'ing you.
I foresee a correction in the pilots salaries/allowances for the better in the near future.
Like i always say, just my thinking....;)
Please give out concise information to these pilots who are merely trying to ease out your fatigue levels and maybe in the process get you a salary hike.
Take a few deep breaths and try some patience for a change guys. It always pays in the long run.
Trust me .. :)

[A380 Jockey]

I may have over stated it when i said 'far from correct'. But a 10-20% off target is more like it. Don't you think.
But i know you mean well. And that's what matters. Thanks for the timely info to all concerned.
:)

[Laker]

Somebody mentioned dubai being a cheap city. It is definitely not inexpensive. Food, utilities, hotels, leisure activities, trips to the coffee shop, etc will all most likely cost you much more than you are used to. The only cheap things in dubai are related to labor. You can get your car washed for 20 aed or find a maid from a poverty stricken country to clean your house for next to nothing. Everything else will cost you quite handsomely.

[Kempus]

It's all relative to where you come from.

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai, United Arab Emirates And London, United Kingdom (http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Arab+Emirates&city1=Dubai&country2=United+Kingdom&city2=London&displayCurrency=GBP)

Anyway I'm heading out Friday. Heard its a bit hot!

[A380 driver]

A380 Jock......nice name......:rolleyes:
Got some friends n colleagues in the pit. No one seems to be making more than about 12 to 12.5K usd pm(not including housing and education).
Is that at all true.
My current take home after taxes is close to 16K usd(company accomo ie hotel rooms and one kid education taken care of).
How do you come to a figure of 14k. If that be it, then here i come...
Had completely trashed the thought after reading what they offered. But now i don't know. Might just be worth it eh.

[A380 driver]

Contacted,
Don't you guys get layover or nightstop allowances in the pit? What does that amount to. And company bonus?
What's a rough figure ..

[donpizmeov]

I salute your patience Contacted.

As has been stated several times We get paid a meal allowance, it will vary from $20 to $100 per night. It is based on the discounted menu price for whatever meals you are on base for. Some destinations have no allowance as the meals are provided.
No one can give an average for the profit share as it has varied for zero weeks to 14 weeks.
Contacted has provided accurate salary details.

The Don

[A380 driver]

Thanks don/contacted.
Appreciate this. Will help.
Gonna rethink seriously.
Cheers

[Bunktime]

Thanks Jockey,
But i'm too happy in my current outfit. The T & C's just ain't enuff for me to bite on.
Seriously. Just not enuff....
Sorry.
Thanks for the pm.

[HamFan]

No need to be morose and apologetic, Bunktime, I suspect Emirates will survive without you. Somehow.

More likely you were never serious about it and it was all just empty talk, in which case thanks anyway but we get enough of that from management.

Don, based on that very limited amount of information, the average is 7 weeks.

[willfly380]

Whats the salary for a new TRE.

[henriksch]

What is the housing allowance for a FO with wife and 1 kid?

[Gulfstreamaviator]

Are these questions getting silly, or is it just me....glf

[Wizofoz]

Don, based on that very limited amount of information, the average is 7 weeks.

In six years here it has been 4,14,0,2.5,12 and 0. It is based on how much the company makes over it's target.

I BELIEVE this year is going "Reasonably" well- so maybe on track for one of the smaller numbers, or maybe another zero!!

Whats the salary for a new TRE.

Base + 8 500dhs appointmen pay + 1 100 Transport allowence.

You also get 1 000dhs for each training duty in exess of 12 per month- most TREs doing 15-18 at the moment.

What is the housing allowance for a FO with wife and 1 kid?

The Wife + kid makes no difference to the Accomodation allowence- it DOES entitle you to a Company Villa if you take the company option, plus education for your Children (max of 3 at a time).

FO allowence if ??150 000?? dhs/yr (ABOUT that, but an FO can give you the exact number).

[tonne]

Guys who fly for EK - do you have a set number of days off a month? or a min? or average?

also, does EK abide by FAA duty limits?

[Wizofoz]

Tonne- Minimum 8 but line guys currently achieving up to 16.

We fly to GCAA FTLs which are based on JAR rules- actually generally more restrictive than FAA.

WV2

I know which school you are refering to and It's a shame you've been slammed, but please don't paint all Dubai schools with the same brush- yes that one IS mainly facade- but a little reaserch revealed that soon after it opened.

There are some bad, ordinary and bloody good schools in Dubai- I'm sure YOU know which one I'm talking about when I say my Kids both go to a Secondary school that scored in the top 100 of ALL British schools in both GCSE and A levels last year, and which costs significantly less than the Magic Castle.

[PPHOS058]

Hi folks looking at a move to EK in the future (if they will have me) and looking for some info on the leave/staff travel at EK.

Smoke and Mirrors posed this question earlier, can anyone shed some light on it.

"How does personal travel work on EK? Can you list standby, or is it all ID90 type stuff? As far as vacation goes, I understand you get 43 vacation days per year, how hard is it to get the time off that you want, and what blocks of time do they usually grant? How much is paid if any?"

Thanks

[Wizofoz]

1 free Annual Leave Ticket per year for each immediate family member. For the first 3 years this has to be used to tavel back to your designated " Home", after that, anywhere on the network.

Economy upgradable to Business for F/Os, J upgradable to First for Captains, HOWEVER they will not upgrade children under 16 (bloody silly!!)

Apart from that, you can buy "CAT A" tickets which are standby and basically ID90 on any flight, or "Cat C" which are firm space but only a limited number are released (usually if they are confident the flight won't sell out, so you are PROBABLY as well off with a Cat A!!).

Leave- you SHOULD get one block of 21 days "Peak Leave (Christmas and Summer) once every two years (standing by for stories from people you didn't- SEEMS most do these days), the rest of the 42 days is reasonably available at any other time, though it varies with fleet and requirements at the time.

Hope that helps!!

[archer_737]

Wizofoz

Assuming that for example I never do any holidays during the summer, should I be able to go back home for Christmas every 2 years?

That's the normal procedure in my family, avoid summer season as places get crowded but, thinking about Dubai's weather maybe is a good idea to get some rest during the hot. :confused:

[fatbus]

Why is no upgarde for under 16 silly and I thought it was changed to 13.BTW it's expat brats that cause all the problems.

[Wizofoz]

Don't believe it has, FB.

It's silly because it means a Captains snotty five year old can get firm space Business, but an FOs 15 year old can't get an UPGRADE to Business.

Archer- in theory, yes.

But YES getting some time away from the heat is a good idea. If you have kids, they get a little "Cabin fevour" ish when stuck here for the Summer Hols. The weather at Christmas is glorious- so get the Family to come here instead!!

[archer_737]

Thank you very much Wizofoz.

No kids yet, and bringing all the family to DXB in Christmas will be a difficult thing, may EK send us a 380 to BCN to bring them... :ok:

[White Knight]

Just to clarify fatbus - kids under 16 can't upgrade from their father's/mother's entitlement; but if the children are over 13 then the parents may upgrade and travel in a separate cabin. ie a skipper and his wife can go First if space available whilst 13 and 14 year old travel in Business...

BTW it's expat brats that cause all the problems. Bit of a generalisation isn't it? There are well behaved kids from everywhere, and there are brats from everywhere. If my kids misbehave they'll get a clip round the ear;)

[givemewings]

BTW it's expat brats that cause all the problems.

Far from it mate. I've seen awful behaviour from kids of all nationalities.

Some of the parents are actually worse than the kids!

But in most cases, children of staff are generally beautifully behaved. Once had a little girl travelling in J, she was delightful. Please, thank you, may I, excuse me prefaced everything she asked for. However I'm not sure who taught her that as her mother was an absolute nightmare! Keep an eye on your wife guys, she might just create issues for you if she doesn't know how to behave :E

WK, I think you were on one of my flights... kid was being a right handful, dad gave him a clip, quite rightly, had to try not to laugh as was exactly what my father would have done!

Sorry for the drift, back to the thread....

[White Knight]

kid was being a right handful, dad gave him a clip, quite rightly

Actually GMW my kids have been good as gold once on board, especially now as they are large teens. When they were small the problem was always in the terminal where they got bored - especially at OhThreeThirtyHours:{

[gumbi]

I don't know guys, but 11k take home isn't bad at all considering it's tax free.

Here I might not pay for my kid's tuition but I only take 7.5K home after income tax and all the deductions (52%) and I have to pay my mortgage, municipal taxes and utilities on top of that...

[HURZ]

Hi,

didn´t want to open a new tread, so here my specific Q:
can someone tell me what the automation policy is at EK?
Thanks!

[Mr Good Cat]

Autopilot ON above 10,000 AAL.

Flight Directors ON at ALL TIMES (except in accordance with certain approach types).

Autothrottle ON at ALL TIMES (unless MEL'd).

Some First Officers not necessarily comfortable with Captains manually flying, (and vice versa) as it increases workload - so therefore brief it well and make sure the other guy is happy and capable with the extra demands on the PNF.

IF you get it wrong you WILL be held accountable for your decision. Period.

[groundtoflightdeck]

Are you able to book sim time and practice hand-bombing?

[McNulty]

Autothrottle on at all times....man that sucks, the only jet i've flown is the 738 with winglets. I guess the 777 is alot more stable but you have to make some crazy thrust changes sometimes on short finals on gusty days on the 738...would feel so unnattural to leave the autothrottle do all the work.

How did you ex 738 drivers find the transition from 738 to 777 in that regard? (to whom it may apply :))

[question4u]

Dear all,

just joined the forum. Hello!

My Q is the following: I´m in the process of being divorced and I consider start a new life in EK. Since I have kids and need to see them from time to time, how about them flying on EK? Can they (11 & 6 years) travel as unattended minors to DXB and visit me. If this is not possible, can grandma accompany them?

And how about my VAC? 21 days being the main request in a row and what´s about the remaining 21 days? can I take them 3 x 7 and travel to see my little ones?

Thanks for your answers

Q4U

[question4u]

Nobody knows? So everybody still married in EK?:D

Would appreciate also p.m. s

Thx q4u

[Poire]

Hello:

Upon joining, you would register your dependents with the company.
They will be entitled to staff tickets, as well as their granny.

There are some rules for unaccompanied minors laid out on the Staff Travel Manual or Employee Handbook (I am not sure which one).

42 days of leave per calendar year. You may split them as you please, provided you fulfill a bunch of rules for that as well.

I, for instance, usually take two blocks of 21 days each, but it can be three of 14 days or nine blocks of 4 and one of 6.

There are many divorced pilots here.

[givemewings]

It's in Chapter G of the staff travel manual.

Basically, as your kids are between 5 & 12 years old, they can travel as UMs provided any transit stop will not exceed 4 hours... if it does then you will need to arrange for someone to collect & care for them on the stop. If not then tickets will not be given- same goes for where they have to transfer between airports.

They can only travel as UM on confirmed tickets (i.e. to fly STBY they have to be with grandma)

Between 12 & 15 they can travel as Young Person (less supervision than UM but still some checks in place the difference being they can travel subload (apparently)

Hope this helps...