Couldn't have lived without APC in Dubai !!!
Rather like choosing to live and work in Dubai. Choosing the APC is each to their own.
For us The APC was one of the reasons we stayed so long. We use the card almost daily and saved shed loads of cash by being members. Never ever had an issue getting into a gym and got turned away at the beach maybe twice in 4 years.
So perhaps the naysayers are all going to different gyms, going to the beach at the same time or simply not using the deals that are on offer. We used the polo club more than 3 times a week, the children basically had a nice safe environment, the staff knew and welcomed us, familiar faces all around, the gym was never full, there were also numerous other gyms which you could use if you got bored of going to the same one.
For those quoting booze and beach again, I call you naysayers, we used to use it to eat more than 2 times a week. Almost everywhere we ate took APC discount and to boot even if you use none of the many many facilities available you had the 4x APC dos (SIDs & STARs) minimum every year of which we went to each and every one! I think we may have missed one once due to work but usually I bid to be off to make sure I could go. Free social life!!
Those people saying it isn't worth it are the sort of people who make comments like, "I don't like socialising with people from work." or "I don't just want to hang about with pilots and their families."
That is fine as that is their choice; from Mrs VT and my perspective the reasons for joining were simple it gave us a life similar to the officers mess where we did spend our social life with those we work with as that is part of the reason for choosing the life style that is living in Dubai. We didn't yearn for home due social life and the APC card was one of the reasons that we stayed in Dubai for as long as we did!
I genuinely find it hard to understand why pilots would want to be in airlines like EK, FZ and not be part of a scene bringing us all together. However each to their own and if people want to see flying as a job rather than a lifestyle/vocation then that is their choice and good luck to them with it.
My tuppence worth is if you work with people you do not want to see outside of work you are likely in the wrong firm or wrong job.