Nothing like experience.
Here goes!!
Ten years ago the F/O salay was 14,700 Dhs. Today it's 16,700Dhs. With a family? Dont even think of saving till you get command.
Command initial salary is approximately 23,000Dhs. I have been on skippers pay for six years. My salary 29,400 Dhs. My provident fund over this period is worth 110,000. US (Ten years contributions i.e. Company 12% and me 5% of basic pay, soon the change over, at precisely 10 years service. Company 15% contributions and me still 5%)
Top notch on pay scale = 39000 Dhs. I still have 11 years to go.
Yes, accomodation, schooling and utilities paid for!! Let me ask you all this question, if the above was not paid for, who would come and live here?
Furthermore, all non EK pilots, where do they live? At home, paying for THEIR OWN HOMES, which take on an investment value of some sort!!!!
Medical cover!! When I leave this place one day, I have to pay for my own medical cover. Therefore I have to start paying for something today, because by the time I reach the golden years with my missus it will be a prohibitive amount!
Pension, I have to make provisions for that too. Because the provident fund will certainly not cover much of anything, at the rate it's going.
And finally, a home somewhere to live one day, all of this from EK salary and pay for living expenses in Dubai in the meantime! I too will have to find a high paying, commuting job at some point. As a matter of fact, about right now will be quite good, because commuting when older must be tougher, that's the impression that I have.
You can only take so much of the holiday resort lifestyle that this place lures us into!! At some point in time we will all have to start living in the "real world" again, whether we like it or not!!
Regards and Check Six.