Likeitis and AC,
Point is, NO-ONE is saying EK has the best pay or the best lifestyle. There's no way I would have left my "Major Airline" job in Aus to come here-and I'm sorry, AC, but I think your decision to do so was foolish- but, unfortunately like a lot of others, IT left ME.
What it IS (or at least was) is a chance for someone mid-career to pick up and have some semblance of a career and a family life that commuting and contract work doesn't offer.
But, likeitis, if there is no problem sustaining the pay and conditions at US majors, there should be no problem with them competing against Emirates, right??
Your Government charges you tax AC- Sorry about that, but that's not Emirates fault and should have factored into your thinking when coming here.