fatbus--don't agree.
The KAL contact was not ideal for most people. Too long away from home and not enough $$$ to make that worthwhile. However, all the guys at KAL do say that their contact is kept 100% and they know exactly what to expect.
The contacts that are coming out know in China have improved. $18,000/month (tax free), less than 80 hours per month, overtime based where you live. 14 days on out of your base -- 14 off. Multiple variations.
So lets take an average EK captain. Makes $11,500/month, add roughly $500 for value of provident fund. Fly 90 hours plus per month, deteriorating rostering................
Please don't talk about housing allowance etc because for most it is a wash.
So you make $6000 more......MORE......with these new contracts, live at home (most countries have a tax treaty so it is NET), fly far less and have better rostering.
Which is why, over the holidays at every party I was at, EVERYONE and their wives were talking about it!
It seems, at the moment, most are watching to see what happens with those contracts. But the simple fact that so many are looking, even just casually, is what makes this different from the past. In the past the contracts where not nearly as good. Now they SURPASS what EK offers, substantially, with an option to live at home.
It won't happen overnight, but over the next year to 2 years these contracts will improve, more will come and many EK guys will be taking them. But that's just a guess.