Balancing Act
uplock and others, sorry to disappoint you, but if you think for 5 seconds, you would know that the accomodation allowance IS fair. Don't get me wrong, I want to see it going up as well. I would like to buy, but I can't afford it yet (although in a few years, that will be different)
But let me explain my way of seeing things: the company offers all of us accomodation. So actually there is absolutely no need for an accomodation allowance. When someone wants to go out of company accom, EK provides them with an allowance, which is about the same amount as the average cost to provide the accomodation by the company. The reason why it is below 'market value' is because EK doesn't deal at the normal market, they rent or lease whole compounds and whole towers on SZR at once, getting the cost down.
The reason the accomodation allowance went up over the last few years is a (temporary) shortage of suitable accomodation for EK, which drove the average cost for accomodation up.
It's all basicaly about offer and demand...
If EK would offer enough to live out without touching your salary, most people would opt out, leaving EK with empty houses they have to pay for. If the allowance is not enough, people will all stay in accomodation, which is harder to find driving up the cost of the average accomodation for EK. So they have to find a nice balance...
Just to finish, if you think that the allowance is not enough NOW, you are probably right. Not a lot of people leaving accomodation because they can't afford it etc etc.. BUT, also don't forget that most of us agree that the housing market in Dubai is overheated, and a correction in housing prices will soon follow (probably around the time the zillion apartments they are building now are finished...). And it's easier for EK to give you a bit less then required NOW, which will be ok later, then to give you the correct amount now and REDUCING the allowance later.
As I said before, it's just a long term balancing act, and not unfair. Maybe a bit to economical and focussed on numbers instead of people, but then again, they're here to make money, not to give it away.. and that's the same everywhere..
MR8