Fatbus you state,
''Why do you think they started the flt pay system? Most pilots here are money hungry and as soon as they are in productivity they will think twice about booking off.''
We do not get flight pay for overtime hours. Each overtime hour is at a set rate and FLT PAY is not added on top. In fact, we get paid less for each hour of overtime than we get for regular time. I have always found that to be somewhat strange.
So...flt pay was NOT started to discourage booking off when in overtime. One reason behind flt pay was to reward those who work more hours each month (logical in my opinion) but the biggest reason was to limit the higher costs associated with a higher basic salary (in other words, the remuneration given to pilots)
Regarding the other posts, the DEC policy is here to stay. The company will utilize this policy whenever it sees fit and quite frankly they don't care one bit if it disadvantages F/O's already here. They have proven that time and time again and have given no indication this will change. The only thing they care about in these regards, is the perception of 'potential' applicants regarding this policy. This is why they slip out rumours via their minions that 'the policy is not in effect' or 'no more DEC's in the near future', etc.
They only try to balance the damage caused by the perception of a few months delay (which clearly has been more than that in the past), with the subsequent decline in applicants as F/O's.
I think some of the biggest negatives for those considering EK, should be;
1- the DEC policy. I don't care how grateful, understanding and professional a pilot is, when he is sitting in the right seat at year 3, next to a DEC who jumped the queue into the left seat, it is demoralizing, frustrating and financially penalizing. To top it off, the policy is simply in place due to a 'perceived' cost savings and not for any operational benefit.
2- inflation, the associated accomodation issues and the peg to the USD. This is the money issue and obviously might be more important to some than others. (oddly enough accomodation may turn out to be the biggest factor or it might be a non-issue, depending on the luck of the draw)
3- the insane factoring of hours and subsequent decline in pilot health and increase in flight safety issues (a past illegal policy that fortunately should not be repeated, but given that EK and the GCAA are in bed together, who knows)
4- a lack of a true seniority based system. This affects time to command, lifestyle and subsequently salary. A pilot hired after you may be selected for promotion ahead of you simply because of the fleet he was initially assigned to. I suspect this policy will be further aggravated with the introduction of the A380.
The rest of the issues raised on Pprune, although important, can be tolerated. For example........ can they really start calculating our duty hours any less than they already do now? Can the dangerous roads get any worse than now? Some of these annoyances are fixed and if you feel it won't affect you dramatically, then you just have to consider the 4 issues I mentioned above.
I still think EK is a good job for many, especially those who feel their present airline is on the verge of downsizing or even folding. There are lots of good, if not great, things about EK. Job security is one. Aircraft equipment is another. Good routes and destinations, although layovers are short and per diems minimal. Experience is another excellent attribute of EK. There is no other airline that does the same flying to such varied and extensive destinations as EK.