Food for thought Ladies and Gentleman. With the state of recruitment here in the UK and throughout Europe, I know many of you may be considering heading out to take up a job with Qatar Airways. Lots of great selling points; very modern fleet, good salary, accommodation allowance, sunny warm days, swimming pools, Golf Club etc etc.But it's not quite what it says on the tin !!!! This is not a rant of a bitter person but rather a warning for those considering going out there.
Remember, It’s a job and we all need a job and and we all love flying. But the caveat is, it should come with a
Health Warning.
1. Staff accommodation is not always available and if it is, they do not provide what is stated on the contract. If staff accommodation isn't available the allowance falls short of finding a reasonable equivalent. When you ask, they are not interested.
2. The Bond is also manipulated in their favour. Re-payments start immediately, but the bond period doesn't start until the end of your line training and that can be as long as 6 to 12 months ( longer in some cases) after your arrival in Doha. Making the Bond period 4 years in effect not 3 years.
3. Crewing in general is not helpful, so any idea of being able to pop home on rest days, forget it.
4. They can and have changed peoples leave periods while actually on leave eg 14 days suddenly cut to 7 days without notice.
5. You can literally spend weeks and months on arrival before actual type training starts.
6. They take your passport away which normally takes 6 weeks to get back.
7. During probation period FO's can be and have been fired if their Captain makes a mistake.
8. Captain’s with no blemish on their record and years experience with the company have been fired for the smallest of infringement. This also has been know to happen to FO's, frequently.
8. Crew on annual vacation who had to undergo surgical procedures outside Doha have found that they lost their jobs.
9. Crew members requesting compassionate leave because of sick relatives back in their home countries being refused, even when they have offered to take the leave with no salary for the period.
10. Salaries and privilege’s stopped without informing crew members these actions have been taken or will be taken.
11. Staff members while on line training being subjected to abuse and bully tactics, being told that they are stupid and lazy.
12. Unlike here a European carrier, the culture is a Blame, Blame !!!!!
The problem is that they do not really care for their staff, the way they treat people is unprofessional and morally wrong, you are just a number who can be replaced at a moment’s notice. Money is not a consideration, as they keep telling you; they have bags of the stuff.
Should for any reason your face suddenly doesn't fit they will get rid of you in a heartbeat, without any concern for you or your personal circumstances, how it will affect you career, your family and your future.
They will if required fabricate the issue, in order not to lose face at the consequence of the staff member. A lot of occasions the staff member has only his/her word against his/her line manager.
To cover the accusation of being defamatory, I have not been slanderous and everything mention here is back up and actual events as happened to friends and colleagues and continues to happen.
But if you treat it as a temporary measure until better positions start coming available back home or elsewhere, then get a enough hours on your type rating, keep your head down and be prepared to put up with the BS.
Good luck and enjoy.
