Ok, a few facts and a different point of view perhaps!
It is certainly true that your personal situation makes a big difference to the package when considering whether to move over to DXB.
I have a missus and 2 kids, the company pays for the schooling (and yes the education allowance does cover all the fees), I live in a huge villa (5 bedrooms/7bathrooms - yes we were lucky!) wich the company pays for (all of it!) and I dont pay for electricity, water, gas, or phone (EK pays), I get driven to and from work which means we only need 1 car (unlike the UK!) and the staff travel system is far superior to anything I've seen before!
Yes it is true that on face value the pay is crap for F/O's (about 2500 quid pm at todays exchange rate), however given the info above (ie what you earn is essentially spending money) you'd have to be a moron to think you are better off in the UK, as back home I reckon I had about 8 quid left at the end of the month! (not to mention the very low cost of living here compared to the UK)
With regards to days off, and I can only speak for myself on the Airbus, in Jan (I was top bid group admittedly) I had 16 days off (no leave just days off). This month I am bottom bid but still managed 10 days off (I think you other guys better learn to bid properly!). And anyway, what amazing airline did you guys all spring from where you all got considerably more than 8 days a month off (a non profitable one no doubt).
On the subject of profit, before I joined EK, I was with MYT, a company we all know has been teetering on the edge of self destruction for the last couple of years, and believe me it was not a nice feeling for me and my family, not knowing if the mortgage was gonna be paid at the end of the month! Its nice now to work for a company thats actually expanding.
Commands: it is true that time to command has increased signifacantly (forget the 3 year commands of old), but this is purely a function of the airline taking longer to double in size. Traditionally EK has doubled in size every 2 years, hence the quick commands, but with 80 a/c currently, its gonna be another 7 years before its twice the size it is today! Just pure mathmatics, so guys who joined last year are probably looking at 5 years to command...FACT! BUT, as someone already stated what fictional MAJOR airline (appart from Ettihad before some smart arse say's it), could you get a wide-body command in less than that time???
(BTW whoever said it is cheaper to employ DEC's than upgrade F/O's obviously doesn't have a scooby! DEC's start on at least capt payscale 4, so everything about them is considerably more expensive- including the training)
All I will say to the wingers (and trust me EK has its fair share), please do try and remember what it is like in the real world, as obviously you have forgotten!!
Before I get shot down in flames by the perpetual moaners (I doubt they'ed be happy anywhere otherwise surely they would have left by now??????). This post was just to redress the balance a little. EK is NOT without its (minor) problems, and as I mentioned it depends on your personal circumstances as to whether you can 'milk' as much as you can out the company.....Family guys win, single guys loose (appart from the shagging of course in UP towers!) simple as that.
Good luck to all the guy's (and hopefully girls some day), who have interviews, dont let the miserable gits get you down!!
Right, I'm off down the beach!
Cheers
BTW. did I mention the sun shines a lot here???
Last edited by Oblaaspop; 8th February 2005 at 04:54.