Like anything else in life and aviation, it's what you make it. Some of the pros include:
- More pay for less work. You'll make more than 3 times more than a new hire at AC, including benefits, after taxes.
- By the time you make it to JFO, you'll be working more, but your kids will be in school by then anyway, at Cathay's expense, and you'll be making even more money.
- You'll be able to afford a full-time domestic helper, who unlike your parents, or worse, in-laws, doesn't have conflicting opinions on how to raise your kids.
- Hong Kong is a cool place, it has everything you might need, some things may cost more, some may cost less, but overall, the cost of living is not ridiculously high compared to your wage.
- You can say goodbye to the extreme cycles that are endemic to Canadian aviation.
- The equipment is great, 95% of the pilots are truly excellent people, all the destinations are world-class cities, and the per diems are good.
Some of the negatives:
- For some things, the "bar" (as in standards, not the place to drink) seems ridiculously high. You will study more and prep more than at AC. Whether this makes for a safer airline is debatable. But, heck, it's also nice to think to work for an airline that is known for high standards.
- Mangement and the rank-and-file seem pretty disconnected at times.
- The union, although well-intentioned, has very limited scope under HK labour laws.
- Although you'll spend a session in the sim at least every two months, and you'll sit "in the seat" in flight a lot, you won't actually really fly a plane (i.e. take off and land) again for 3-4 years (lots of debate now on how long this will be with new growth, Dragonnair, and Direct Entry pax FOs).
- You'll only have one stripe on your epaulettes, just like a Thai Airways hostie. May be a bit hard on the ego after walking around with 4 for awhile.
- Pass benefits aren't great (but on the other had, even though J ID90s aren't cheap, the service is great - search this site for more info)
- It's not home
Nothing that I would consider a "regret" in any case...
Last edited by betaboy; 17th June 2006 at 14:24.