Trader - Yes and No on certain points
1)Basic pretty much the same - EK 3.5 per block hour according to latest package handout at Movenpick. GF also 1.5 per hour TAFB.
2)Housing agreed.
3)Schooling apples with apples? British School Bahrain 1800/yr. Dxb British School 2800++. 100% of 1600, 90% of the rest up to 3200. Not enough to separate them, assuming you can get your kid into a decent school in Dxb.
4)Provident- yes 12% from the company, but 5% comes off your basic too so subtract 106 from your basic.
5)Fleet - agreed
6) Upgrade- agreed
7)Future-anything could happen (9/11?)
8+9)Rostering and Mafia are synonymous- if you think there is no mafia at EK, a rude awaking master caution just illuminated on the upper ecam.
By my calculation, based on an 80 hour month at both carriers and the GF guy paying 900bd rent out of the rear pocket, GF guy comes out with about 400bd more than the EK guy. (But not taking into account his provident or retirement plan-the only major plus I see. So are they so far apart?)
But then again its not about the money anymore is it? Its about another 30 years in the Gulf hopefully 27 of those in the left seat of a shiny 777 or variant by future design.....