Bymonek,
I am reading your posts and smiling because, once long ago, I was just like you. When I came to EK nothing bad was written about the company, I was delighted to get the job and thought I had arrived in utopia. I am still more positive than negative but what a difference 6 years makes.
When I first arrived, I used to go to Scarletts with the boys for half priced piss and enjoyed my lifestyle. I used to quote to mates that it beat working for a living and that I averaged 18 days a month free from duty. I got a free house, a great medical package, schools etc etc. I used to sit in the back of the car with anal captains that spent all their time back-seat driving. Now I do the same.
So what went wrong? First I started to see the sand in between the skyscrapers, I got jingled every day and then my family were taken out on the roads, not EK's fault just part of living in Dubai. We used to be well compensated for it (In the 90s) but things had gradually started to deteriorate even before AAR and CK came up with their 'cost neutral scam'. Even after our recently trumpeted payrise we have not made back the cash that was cut when they changed the credit system. (Then again, maybe that's what they meant by 'cost neutral')
I was fine for the first 2 years and believed all they told me because I was shown a modicum of respect and when I worked days off or lost leave I felt it would be a transitory thing. What has actually happened is that the company have cut costs on the back of their employees. We used to have one of the lowest cost bases by percentage for labour in the industry but managed to keep most people happy by offering them a clear career path and vaguely sensible managerial decisions. Then they squeezed all the employees further, just because they could.
That has resulted in screwing over our quality of life. In 2000 some guys didn't get their leave because we were short, every year since the same has happened and it becomes even harder to get leave when we want it. They were asking for guys to give leave back in November with the promise of leave when ever you want it. Hmmm...really? Lots of guys are flying 20+ extra hours every month. Might pay some overtime but I for one would prefer to feel less tired, spend more time with my family and get leave when I wanted it, some of the time.
When I first arrived I'd help out and generally I might get something in return. Now if you help out some take it as a licence to abuse you. So I don't!
So what do I want. I'd just like the management to stand up, look me in the eye and tell me that they have screwed the pooch. They have made a mistake, the crewing levels are inappropriate for a ULH airline and they are taking steps to rectify things. Then if they said 'in the mean time you'll have to work a bit harder' I might be inclined to help because things were going to improve. When asked directly, TCAS said that he was not worried about the number of pilots or resourcing in general. What that really means is that the sitch we are in at the moment isn't gonna get any better.
So what can we do about it?
Well if you haven't joined yet make sure it really is for you. Job security is good, pay average, working conditions ok, command prospects a real worry. This market is opening up to competition from both around the gulf and the sub-continent. I cannot believe that Qatar, Etihad, Gulf and EK will all bring their big plans to fruition.
If you are here already you can either leave or stay. Many though are trapped. It is easy to say leave but starting at the bottom of the pile again in your late 40s is not the place to be for many of us. Change it, go into management...yeah right. EK management lesson 101 in how to succeed.
Boss "#$**&$##"........................ You "Yes"
Boss "22345te%^46^#@"........... You "Yes"
Opinions are like arseholes, we all have one and they usually stink. It will be interesting to see where you stand in 3 years, I bet you take a bit more jaundiced view. If the command thing has come to pass you'll probably be ok. I shudder to think what it will be like for guys joining now without even that carrot to hang on to. But the biggy still stands that until the management stand up and admit they have under-resourced the entire airline things can only get worse.
Ghost