Bootneck2
21st Jan 2001, 10:24
Following on from another thread re. "Command when will I get it" it goes on about Emirates and DXB.
I have friends there and have visited a few times.I thought it might be fitting to put some comparisons down for disgruntled CX pilots looking at other options, and would welcome any comments.
1 Command :At the moment it is on average 2-4 yrs commesurate with previous experience. Even with the coming of 340"s and 380's , and the need for Relief Commanders which naturally slows down command , the head of recruitment does not see it going more than 5 yrs.There is the fast track for previous experience on wide bodies etc.It seems hard to predict the same at CX with the expansion , introduction of 60 yrs as the new retirement age etc.Will the proposed expasion cancel out the increased retirement age ???
2 Standard of Living :)XB social life is great , whether you are single or married although divorce rates are high there , and you would see why if you looked at the EK cc !!! Day to day living is much easier than HK but remember we have the options of a basing worldwide.I am sure once the novelty of DXB has gone , it is just a small oasis in the desert where you are not made particularly welcome by the locals.This is evident when you have your interview that it is made very clear that you are an expendible commodity if you dont tow the line.There will be basings at EK in the future once they go global but not to the scale of CX,I would imagine.Cost of living is cheaper but not by much , but things like cars , boats etc are very cheap (and so is fuel!!!!!)Schooling and medical is also good.
3 Package:Logon to www.emirates.com (http://www.emirates.com) and go to recruitment.
Capt 23000 d / month (~ US$6.5K)
F/O 16000 d / month (~ US$4.5k)
The above is non taxed but even then it is way off what you make at CX.
Accomodation is provided for you , which is state of the art apartments if you are single (sharing the same blocks as the CC !!!)or cluster homes if you have a family.All very nice and big but the operative word is provided.CX give you a housing allowance , which you can use to pay off a mortgage.That is a big perk dont you think.
Provident fund looks simular to CX but you would have to look at it more closly on their website.
4 AoA: Food for thought , EK has a forward looking policy and the CEO seems more on the ball than our pets here , however should he be succeded by a TT,DT or Eddington with the traditional penny wise pound foolish policies at CX , remember you are in the Middle East and there is no protection whatsoever.The AoA has leartnt from its mistakes and is evolving quite nicely.
So at the moment EK jockeys are happy but for how long? Recently management almost succeeded in recruiting direct entry Captains to keep up with expansion.Also they work pretty hard.EK have forward looking policy (expasion , launch customers for 340 5&600 , 380's etc)but they can afford to be as it is a Flag carrier and almost like the sheik's little toy.What happens when he is not around any more?CX is one of the only major carriers fully answerable to its shareholders,hence less gung ho when it comes to major decisions.
Summary : It is 6 of one half a dozen of the other.Financially and flexibility(ie basing , commuting etc)you are better off at CX but Command and day to day living in DXB looks better.
YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE ??????
I have friends there and have visited a few times.I thought it might be fitting to put some comparisons down for disgruntled CX pilots looking at other options, and would welcome any comments.
1 Command :At the moment it is on average 2-4 yrs commesurate with previous experience. Even with the coming of 340"s and 380's , and the need for Relief Commanders which naturally slows down command , the head of recruitment does not see it going more than 5 yrs.There is the fast track for previous experience on wide bodies etc.It seems hard to predict the same at CX with the expansion , introduction of 60 yrs as the new retirement age etc.Will the proposed expasion cancel out the increased retirement age ???
2 Standard of Living :)XB social life is great , whether you are single or married although divorce rates are high there , and you would see why if you looked at the EK cc !!! Day to day living is much easier than HK but remember we have the options of a basing worldwide.I am sure once the novelty of DXB has gone , it is just a small oasis in the desert where you are not made particularly welcome by the locals.This is evident when you have your interview that it is made very clear that you are an expendible commodity if you dont tow the line.There will be basings at EK in the future once they go global but not to the scale of CX,I would imagine.Cost of living is cheaper but not by much , but things like cars , boats etc are very cheap (and so is fuel!!!!!)Schooling and medical is also good.
3 Package:Logon to www.emirates.com (http://www.emirates.com) and go to recruitment.
Capt 23000 d / month (~ US$6.5K)
F/O 16000 d / month (~ US$4.5k)
The above is non taxed but even then it is way off what you make at CX.
Accomodation is provided for you , which is state of the art apartments if you are single (sharing the same blocks as the CC !!!)or cluster homes if you have a family.All very nice and big but the operative word is provided.CX give you a housing allowance , which you can use to pay off a mortgage.That is a big perk dont you think.
Provident fund looks simular to CX but you would have to look at it more closly on their website.
4 AoA: Food for thought , EK has a forward looking policy and the CEO seems more on the ball than our pets here , however should he be succeded by a TT,DT or Eddington with the traditional penny wise pound foolish policies at CX , remember you are in the Middle East and there is no protection whatsoever.The AoA has leartnt from its mistakes and is evolving quite nicely.
So at the moment EK jockeys are happy but for how long? Recently management almost succeeded in recruiting direct entry Captains to keep up with expansion.Also they work pretty hard.EK have forward looking policy (expasion , launch customers for 340 5&600 , 380's etc)but they can afford to be as it is a Flag carrier and almost like the sheik's little toy.What happens when he is not around any more?CX is one of the only major carriers fully answerable to its shareholders,hence less gung ho when it comes to major decisions.
Summary : It is 6 of one half a dozen of the other.Financially and flexibility(ie basing , commuting etc)you are better off at CX but Command and day to day living in DXB looks better.
YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE ??????