I worked for a good UK charter in the left seat. The Airline has been the longest and most established independent airline to survive under it's original name and is over 40 years old with an unblemished safety record. I left because of a lack of roster stability, numerous night turn rounds and future prospects.
I joined EK as an F/O and took home what I was taking home after deductions in the UK. 9 years later I have no regrets other than not coming here earlier. My quality of life, despite working an average of 150 hours more per year is greater than before. My financial situation and what I can offer my family is superior than I would have achieved had I stayed in the UK. F class travel, variation of holiday destinations and private education are just three perks that were not acheivable previously.
I've been civil enough to answer your question, let's see how big your balls are by answering mine.
Proves my point excactly. You made as much as an FO here as you did as a captain for that "airline" back home. Translate that to my friends at DL that are international FOs and they make almost as much as I do as a captain. Yeah that is same. 30% pay cut and you will still be happy here. As I said before we will never get what is ours when "pilots" like you think we are making good money. Them compound the days we work with the conditions we work under and we are a long way from Industry Standard but you are happy though.
Location: Boldly going where no split infinitive has gone before..
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AC,
So, what are you going to do about it? Strike? Leave?
You are here pouring contempt on your colleagues while not appearing willing to do anything different than what they are, except moan about the position you put yourself in.
BYMONKEY pointed out why he moved here, to improve his life, and I did likewise. Are you saying we should have stayed in worse paying jobs?
If being here is NOT the best option for you, why are you here? (And please note I asked you the same question around three years ago- and the answer was "I won't be for long").
I also note you're a Captain these days- Would you be if you hadn't come here, and what would you be earning?
AC if you are here less than 10 years zip it, if you are here less than 8 shut up cos everybody knew then how EK treats its staff and that conditions are in decline, if you are here less than 6, I rest my case then you are just an idiot
GMC1500. WRT your post #53. This pilot from sq, who joined ek. Are we talking fo or capt. Just that you jingled my curiosity. Me with a whole bunch of friends in the far east.
I'm wondering if AC was the young foul-mouthed American F/O I flew with about 3 years ago. Guy had a gob and an attitude that was vile! He was told to can it...
Apologies AC if I've mistaken you from someone else! But he was from Michigan too
Definitely at least one ex-SQ on A380. When I flew with him he was F/O, but I don't know if he was one in SQ as well, if that's what you're asking? He didn't seem 'old enough' to be a capt in SQ but maybe he just looks young for his age... not, of course, that there is any specific age for a captain...
What about setting up a pilot council perhaps through Epc? At least we would then be able to talk with one voice rather than just moaning. It's in all our interest for the company to do well so maybe we could contribute it doesn't have to be a negative thing for ek. Even If they don't listen it would give us a platform.
What about setting up a pilot council perhaps through Epc? At least we would then be able to talk with one voice rather than just moaning. It's in all our interest for the company to do well so maybe we could contribute it doesn't have to be a negative thing for ek. Even If they don't listen it would give us a platform.
First flight home for you! Last few guys that tried to set something up (what? Nine or tenyears ago) where just about given their marching orders!
Don't even tar EPC with such a brush - the guys had enough difficulty setting it up originally; having to persuade 'management' that it was not in fact a u****.
@King on a Wing, I've heard at least two guys that came from the 380. And both are supposedly nationals, at least the one I met.
As for SQ mainline expats didn't they all get fired a while back and the only expats left are the ones on the cargo fleet. If not so sureley they won't be hireing any DEC expats any time soon to the mainline
@AC, even if Delta/Northwest would start hireng long haual DECs there's only about 300(US citizens) at EK who would be eligible to apply. That's why I try to compare with jobs I have a realistic chance of getting. SQ cargo might be one of them. EY, QR, KE, FR, TK and a bunch of F/O jobs in Eouro-zone. In that comparison EK's contract, for one like me with two children is one of the best...
No, not at all. I just can't comprehend why people have such an obvious axe to grind against the Company yet still remain here. ac is a classic example. In fact, I too know exactly who he is having had the displeasure of sharing a car into work some time ago. He stood out for all the wrong reasons. 20 minutes of constant whinging and moaning from start to finish and several times a referral to all EK pilots as 'pussies'. Thank god I wasn't flying with him that day or else I would have off loaded myself.
ac
The fact that you consider yourself as an entirely separate entity from your EK colleagues merely confirms what a sad and bitter individual you are. Whilst you knock the majority pilot group for working here and being generally content, the irony is completely lost on you that you continue to endure such 'oppressive conditions' despite the ability to leave at your free will.
And no, I would not 'still be happy' if I received 30% less pay. If the pay had been that much less, I would not have come in the first place. For the record, my overall remuneration package is still greater than my peers at my previous airline although, unlike you, money is not my sole motivator.
Whilst we can choose to ignore your posts on these forums, the poor F/O's who have to endure your constant bitching in the cockpit can't. I pity them, almost as much as I pity you.
Not to defend AC, but what he could be trying to say is, that the ENTIRE pay package and benefits fall way short of some of the legacy and other major airlines out there. To say that the EK is one of the top pilot packages in the world is off the mark. And AC will probably say that it was a huge mistake to leave DL/NWA when he did. Even with a full captain's monthly pay (say 12 yrs) and a full utilities allowance....it still falls short of being a leader in our industry. EK has made some of the top profits in the last few years in comparison, yet the package lags (including flying anywhere from 85-90 hrs/mo) with all leave not alocated and sick leave returned in ADs. Oh well.
Now what choice do we have? None, plain and simple. To call the EK pilots p*****s, is way off the mark. What do you propose we do AC? It is a love or leave it situation we are all in. If we had a crystal ball, many would never have left from where we came. But we don't so we are here, and all we can do is grin and bear it. But please gents, don't think this is one of the better deals around. The problem is, for many of us, it is the best deal available because of senority, etc.
And finally, being from a European country just 5-8 hours away changes the game in comparison to those from N/S America and the Pacific islands. So it really is a perspective type of deal. A pilot from Zim., is going to have a different perspective of EK than if one is from the US. It really is apples and oranges.
So from my perspective, AC you're wrong in calling the EK pilots spineless and p*****s and I think you other guys are wrong in the love or leave it mentality and saying we have an industry leading deal. I'm the only one who is correct, in my perspective of course.
Location: Boldly going where no split infinitive has gone before..
Posts: 3,364
TU,
I don't actually see anyone here arguing that EK is a world leading gig. It has some huge advantages for a lot of us, and is better than is available in most of the world at the moment.
ACs idea that the reason we don't earn the same as a US lgacy major pilot is because we're spinless
Does he think US REGIONAL pilots are spinless whimps, when they work harder than us for a fraction of our pay?
US Legacy vs EK. Just done upgrade training with some 30 something lads who have the potential of 20+ yrs in the left seat in EK, no direct taxation(yet!), free housing(if you want) etc etc.
Yes without doubt the headline salary figure for Legacy(read cp11 etc!) is higher but by the time a pilot achieves the Legacy mega bucks he will only have maybe 7 years on it maybe. minus tax , housing etc etc
So you take the money, you make your choice.
One thing is certain though, if you spend your life with anger and vitriol in your soul it will kill you early.
Keep it safe guys.
Last edited by alwayzinit; 19th May 2012 at 07:20.
What do you propose we do AC? It is a love or leave it situation we are all in. If we had a crystal ball, many would never have left from where we came. But we don't so we are here, and all we can do is grin and bear it. But please gents, don't think this is one of the better deals around. The problem is, for many of us, it is the best deal available because of senority, etc.
of course.
