Alright, this thread is getting pretty long so might be a good time to revisit some basic points so you dont have to sift through 100 comments.
Cathay Second Officer Deal:
1st yr SO HK$48,687 / month = HK$584,244 / year = approx AUS$70,000
2nd yr SO HK$54,631 / month = HK$655,572 / year = approx AUS$79,000
3rd yr SO HK$59,987 /month = HK$719,844 / year = approx AUS$86,000
Junior First Officer = approx AUS$102,792 / year
First Officer = approx AUS $135,096 / year
on top of these base salaries is a yearly bonus of 1/12th of yrly salary. (AUS$5500 first year SO)
I agree this is still pretty ordinary pay, especially for the experienced blokes with 5-10 yrs experience in the industry
But something that is getting me to rethink is that if you go in via the transition program (top program, opposite to the ab-initio) you get approx AUS$100,000 loan which you don't have to repay if you stay there for six years. Or you can think about it this way, add AUS$16,000 to your base salary for the first 6 yrs of working for cathay. So that makes first yr salary of AUS$86,000, this is getting close to virgin australia conditions.
Now one thing i dont really know anything about, living in hong kong. Done some research looks like you need to spend about AUS$1800 / month on rent for a comfortable place. which is AUS$21,600 / yr or AUS$450/ week. That is a little more expensive then AUS. Thinking a room mate might be good. I've been told the food and transport is pretty much the same as AUS. Any info on this would be great.