You don’t have to give 3 months but CX will demand 3 months payment in lieu of. Not sure if benefits are included in that pay. If you don’t, they will take it out of your PF. If you are not here 10 years, you will only get a percentage on years of service. CX will take it out of the bit you receive.
If you are can take a base, take a base anywhere. Take all of your PF and resign from your base. You get to keep all your PF and not just some. Use your Joker to get to a based fleet. You may have to plan 6 months to a year to resign if you have a PF here and done less than 10 years.
I have heard of one bloke that handed in his resignation to the Fleet Office. When he got home to his base, he faxed in a 3-month sick note signed by his doctor. I can still hear the Fleet Manager screaming.
CX will inform the IRD immediately you file your resignation and you will expect a Tax Demand Note within a week. Not sure if CX will withhold your tax obligation or not. IRD will demand payment very quickly. If you leave jumping tax, leave via Macao and LCC to Singapore. Like Moosp said, they may get you at immigration.
If you plan on going sick within those 3 months, expect a PI to be watching. You’ll be brought back and fired before your 3 months. I can only assume you will still receive your PF payout when you get fired.
If you rent, change the way you make payment to your landlord. Have CX put it directly into your account and not directly into your Landlord’s account. Then use your damage deposit for the last two months rent. If you don’t CX will get onto your landlord and get him to keep some, if not all of your damage deposit. CX will demand payment of their damage deposit and will take it out of your PF or salary if there is any left. These blokes are very vindictive even if you are leaving on good or bad terms.
Good luck with it all but be very careful with these blokes. Just ask a 49er.