As someone who is thinking of applying to the major airlines eventually, the below is my observation :
1. EK gives AED155000/year as housing allowance as stated. For a married couple, a two bedroom APARTMENT would cost in the region of AED80,000/year at most in Marina, Downtown Burj Dubai, Business Bay, JLT areas. Thats scope to save in my books. Why do people rent similar flats for around 120,000-140,000AED nowadays?? Surely there are cheaper options.
2. Dubais property market has been on the decline rent scale wise. dubizzle.com is a good source of finding great apartments with gyms, sauna, jacuzzi etc within the price range I mentioned.
3. I got myself a deal in DIFC area , 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom for AED750000/year with the best of views overlooking the sea, SZR etc. Same apartment is AED130,000 in Marina. A bit of persistent looking and searching should yield good results.
Just my two cents.
Sam