Wizzzzz Air coming to town..for all ranks.

[jetjockey696]

NON RATED OR RATED....Direct Entry Captains, Rapid Command Captains and Senior First Officers.. are hunted..


OPEN DAY AND INTERVIEW SESSION DATES:

3 February 2018, starting from 8am LT, Hong Kong

Venue: IBIS Hong Kong North Point, 138 Java Road - Hong Kong.


Please note, that pre-registration is mandatory

Wizz Air - Career Opportunities (http://ldd.tbe.taleo.net/ldd03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=WIZZAIR&cws=1&rid=836)

[Starbear]

And for sure they will still pay absolute peanuts.

[Trafalgar]

But you get to live at home and get away from this crap. Win.

[SloppyJoe]

I guess you have no idea about pay, definitely not a win. In the region of EUR40,000 per year gross. Thats for a Captain!

[schweizer2]

That is the basic pay. Does not include per diem, sector pay etc.

Luton base captains probably have the best salary at the moment. The sector pay starts around 190 euro for a short sector and goes up 20/40/60% base on the length of the sector.

Different roster choices available from fixed 5/4.
If you dont live in your home country you can commute for free on the Wizz network.

[Average Fool]

If the first thing you look at is the pay you're going to end up on the same predicament you did at CX.

[11277m]

You'd think that the venue of IBIS North Point would be a bit of a clue.

[Starbear]

Exactly! Or as Pprune requires Exactly!

[Trafalgar]

Interesting comparison. CX over promises and under delivers (grossly so). Companies like WizzAir do the opposite. They seem to understate their package, but when you add up the productivity enhancements and other tangible benefits, their salary is quite good. Then when you factor the relative cost of living aspects into each package based on where and how you will be living, all of a sudden you realise that you will be better off with just about any LCC in Europe than living in relative penury in HK.

[schweizer2]

They do leave a lot out of the description.

Staff travel is not too bad at 25 euro a ticket and the possibility to nominate friends and family for a 25% discount on top of the discount tickets.
Everyone received free Christmas tickets to use anywhere on the network before March 2019.
Yes, everyone!

Crew transport provided on early starts and late finishes.

Unlike another low cost, food and water is provided, though the food is usually not consumed!

The guys and girls working in the headquarters are full of positivity and appear to be very proud of their little pink brigade.

Though, would I pass the opportunity to join a legacy airline to stay here? Don't know, all I know is that Wizz is going to be one of the big European players.

[Lions Gate]

There is not much point in staying/joining a 'legacy' carrier, when that legacy has been thrown to the wolves. CX was once a proud, experienced, immensely safe and vibrant airline. Now, it is nothing but a shell of it's once former glorious self, destroyed by self-serving, greedy and unaccountable, faceless 'managers', who couldn't really manage their way out of a wet paper bag. There is no point in joining CX, and even less point in staying. If you are 45 or under, enjoy a proper career back home. This place will only bring you misery.

[poydras]

And if you are single Warsaw or Budapest base looks even more appealing.....

[McNulty]

Wizzair are among the worst of the worst in European low cost aviation. Takes a massive amount of delusion and cognitive dissonance to conclude this ****hole airline is a better gig than CX.

When is your wizz start date Traf? Hope you saved some money to fund your type rating.

[bluesideoops]

AND bear in mind that in some of the Eastern European bases (which are lovely and have excellent summer weather, great food, fine wines and nice people) the cost of living is a fraction of Hong Kong so your salary goes a very long way.....of course it depends on how old you are and if your motivation is to buy expensive properties in your home country & build up a pile of cash for retirement that you might not live to see etc....

[drfaust]

I have worked there for 4 years. The pay was :mad:. But at least it wasn’t FR. WZZ works for people that are from the region. Pay is still behind EZY and RYR even factored for costs of living, but the fact that you are not in the UK makes up for that to a certain extent. Still some improvement required in that regard.

Don’t go commuting whilst married with children cause that’ll likely lead to problems. If you are mid twenties and single it’s a great place to be.

[bringbackthe80s]

Guys the comments on here are WAY out of touch with reality. Join (not that you dare) and you’ ll see what I mean.

[Starbear]

Well that's an incredibly useful posting isn't it?

[enoughisenough_]

Interesting comparison. CX over promises and under delivers (grossly so). Companies like WizzAir do the opposite. They seem to understate their package, but when you add up the productivity enhancements and other tangible benefits, their salary is quite good. Then when you factor the relative cost of living aspects into each package based on where and how you will be living, all of a sudden you realise that you will be better off with just about any LCC in Europe than living in relative penury in HK.

Great! So you will be going along to the recruitment day then Traf?

[Trafalgar]

No. I think most readers of this forum recognise that I am near the end of my career. The main point is where is the best place to invest your years and efforts if you are at an earlier stage? Your stupid response is recognised as emanating from a failed and panicked CX management that has lost control of the debate. Most informed pilots recognise that perhaps a career in an LLC in Europe is a better bet than working for the LCC in Hk (CX) that can't even honestly describe and relate the true working and living conditions in HK. If you are trying to build time, best a recognised LLC in Europe, where you are at least living in your home country, and not the most expensive place to live on earth, HK.

[enoughisenough_]

You are dreaming if you think Wizz Air will offer guys a better a career than Cathay. Cathay doesn't even come close to an LCC in pay or benefits. If 3500-4000€ a month is true then thats alot less than a CX SO gets. Good luck raising a family on that! And if its simply used as a stepping stone, to where will you go from there?
I think you will find there are more guys leaving LCC's in europe to come work for the likes of CX and KA then there is going the other way.

[McNulty]

Who's going to be living at home in wizz? Perhaps if you were born in Romania or Poland you'll be back home.... Otherwise you'll likely be commuting on an actual lcc (guess you've never flown on any of these bottom feeding gutter airlines if you think cx is in the same league.)

Fair enough feeling aggrieved over industrial relations issues, but a line must be drawn in the sand when wizzair is being championed as a viable alternative.

[kimono1950]

Guys ,you should look for a brain surgeon, if you set wizz at the same level as CX .

[Flex88]

They might just have a "proper" medical benefit plan unlike CX. At CX, should you or one of your family get a serious illness, it is likely you will end up having the excess deducted from your monthly pay for many years to come..
It happens with regularity and NO, these payments are not tax deductible...

The CX dental "plan" is a joke.....

[ADFUS]

Ha! You mean you're gonna end up in a state clinic more like. Have you been to an Eastern Europe public hospital? I have and it's not a pleasant experience.

I understand comparing CX to airlines like UA,BA,QF but you are completely out of touch with reality talking about Wizz.

[Lions Gate]

Unless it's to obtain a quick upgrade and build some hours. And Flex is correct when it comes to medical expenses in HK with CX's completely inadequate plan. A young family of four can be crippled quite quickly with pregnancy expenses, and any unexpected ilness's that occur without warning. Many pilots in CX are buried with such costs. All to 'live' in HK and enjoy SJS. Another reason that most middle ranking pilots in this airline are making firm plans to leave as quickly as they can. FO yesterday gave his notice a few weeks ago, and is leaving imminently due to a course start date that has come forward 4 weeks. I asked him about seeing out his 3 months, and he said he isn't going to compromise his new career for the one he is leaving, and "especially after the way he's been treated" (quote). Adios and best wishes.

[Krone]

The irony's killing me. Again its CX guys, who berate their own company , now languish praise upon an organisation that has championed the decline of legacy careers and conditions.

They are in town for HKE HKA crew, not CX. Again, you guys think its (still) all about you.

[Trafalgar]

Krone, you are obviously a management plant, so your comments will be accorded credibility accordingly. I would rather work for a company that at least is honest as to the corner of the industry they inhabit, than be lied to, bullied and mistreated by a so called 'legacy' carrier that is actually a LCC in disguise. It also speaks volumes as to the mismanagement of CX that pilots are applying, interviewing and leaving for carriers that you seem to ridicule.

[schweizer2]

Wizz will be in HK with the promise of rapid command for those who want to return to Europe.

Anyone who thinks they are in HK to target the CX captains is really living on cloud 9.

Trying to compare CX/KA to the likes of Wizz is just plain stupid. Perhaps we can follow up and compare a Mc Burger to a Ramsey Burger?

[Lions Gate]

schweizer, you obviously don't appreciate just how far CX has fallen when it comes to terms and conditions. It sure the heck isn't a 'Ramsey Burger' anymore.

[Ecam321]

They are in town for HKE HKA crew, not CX. Again, you guys think its (still) all about you.[/QUOTE]

Hahaha, so true Krone.

A scale narcissists and total hypocrites.

[Flex88]

You both seem to be happy as bottom feeders and proudly wave your "I'll work for less" flags just to take a crack at CX crew who want more from (what was) their long term career..
Hope you both enjoy life at the bottom where all you do is make cracks at those who want more in life.

#youaretheproblem

[cxorcist]

Guys ,you should look for a brain surgeon, if you set wizz at the same level as CX .

Just don’t expect CX to cover that brain surgeon. There won’t be any on “the panel”!

As for Wizz Air, that we are even discussing it on a forum primarily containing CX pilots shows just how far the airline has fallen. There is no disputing that. Can you even imagine a thread dedicated to Wizz Air or any LCC 10 years ago?

[BBN RADAR]

My thoughts exactly! You know it’s sad but true...

[krismiler]

I could be a good option for an older Captain who's financially secure and sick of ULH and HKG. If still with the first wife and the children have left home then the pay cut is manageable. For someone towards the end of their career who's achieved the wide body command in a major airline and already seen the world several times over, slowly winding down to retirement while flying for beer money might be an attractive proposition.

Need to take into account the high hours and multi sector days though.

[Freehills]

Frankly, anyone in that position is better off retiring/ working as a traindriver/ barista. LCC and "slowly winding down' are unlikely to work

[flyer4life]

If you think CX is bad, please consider that everywhere else has got worse as the low cost rot sets in globally. Just as CX has worsened (from what I read here), so have many jobs in Europe.

Many jobs in Europe for captains are LCC with high hours, four to five sectors in a day, time pressured turns (you simply won’t believe how everyone rushes around compared to long haul ops), scoffing your food during a short sector length before top of descent (there’s no time on the turn for a meal break!), five in a row of super early starts, flying with brand new FOs rushed through training, and ten hour days are the norm (without a break remember!).

It’s a young man’s game; very tiring mentally and physically. Many guys mid to late forties take part-time options to have more recovery time, but each day at work is still way more stressful than a long haul sector.

All this worsening of the job conditions and increase in hassle has occurred with little in the way of decent package improvements despite the huge increase in productivity over the years.

If you really must be back in Europe, maybe LCC is an option but proceed with your eyes wide open!

[McNulty]

Many of the most vocal on here have been living in a bubble in Hong Kong far detached from the realities of European lcc's.... As a result have no clue what they're talking about on this particular topic.

[bringbackthe80s]

Many of the most vocal on here have been living in a bubble in Hong Kong far detached from the realities of European lcc's.... As a result have no clue what they're talking about on this particular topic.


Exactly what he said. Man it would be interesting to see ANY cx pilot getting a feel of wizzair!

[Cpt. Underpants]

10 hour days?
Pfft. Easy. We frequently do 2 man, 13 hour days. Tropics to sub arctic and back to typhoon conditions and sub-par ATC, congestion all the way.

[flyer4life]

10 hour days?
Pfft. Easy. We frequently do 2 man, 13 hour days. Tropics to sub arctic and back to typhoon conditions and sub-par ATC, congestion all the way.

Ten hour days but 4-5 sectors, 25-30 min turns and barely time to get out your seat and take a piss. Chuck in some fairly typical delays and you’re pushing 11-12 hours. Go home for min rest and do it again the next day. Typically 140 duty hours of intense multisector days per month.

It’s a different kind of knackering. The lack of ANY quiet time to relax during the duty is the main problem, the effect of which I underestimated before entering the LCC world (having previous long haul experience).

[Flex88]

Many of the most vocal on here have been living in a bubble in Hong Kong far detached from the realities of European lcc's.... As a result have no clue what they're talking about on this particular topic.

Living in a bubble, really..
In my view, CX management have been trying to force LCC conditions of service on CX crew for 24 years now and, rightfully in my mind, CX crew have been pushing back against this management mentality..

Perhaps those working under LCC cos should grow some stones, dig their heels in and do what CX crew have been doing/saying for 24 years now and fight for the entire profession which is under fire.

If you are happy bending over and accepting Uber driver cos, don't throw stones at those who are actively fighting back to maintain what was once regarded as the norm in mainline airline cos..

[cxorcist]

Exactly what he said. Man it would be interesting to see ANY cx pilot getting a feel of wizzair!

Ex-CX American pilots on domestic fleets in the US are loving life. A320, B737, MD80 pilots find the flying very easy, even the redeyes, compared to CX. Those at FedEx and UPS are similarly content flying domestically. Those flying long haul are at least on a decent contract in which their seniority is respected wrt rosters.

How far away from “bidding” anything here at CX? Years, and for those that think they will get what they “bid” for, think again... The productivity tolerances will be set so tight that very few, even senior pilots, will be getting many of their requests fulfilled. You see, productivity is the main objective; and when you set the tolerances tight enough, there are very few “productive” solutions. Hence, your “bids” get disregarded. Just wait and see...

[Average Fool]

Perhaps those working under LCC cos should grow some stones, dig their heels in and do what CX crew have been doing/saying for 24 years now and fight for the entire profession which is under fire.

If you are happy bending over and accepting Uber driver cos, don't throw stones at those who are actively fighting back to maintain what was once regarded as the norm in mainline airline

The only thing I've seen a CX pilot fight for was the color of his tumbler.

[Airline1.0]

But you get to live at home and get away from this crap. Win.


Trafalgar have you thought about the fact that getting a pilot´s license in Europe costs around 80000 to 100000 Euros?
I do understand that the loss of the housing allowance and the reduced salary is very disappointing but I think you`re overdoing it a bit.
Saying that a low-cost airline is better than Cathay Pacific is just really questionable.

[Flex88]

In that case, sign up to CX, get married in the most expensive city in the world, have a couple of children and enjoy raising them in a 2 bedroom high-rise apartment that you can never possibly afford to purchase, pray that none of your family ever suffers a critical illness or has ongoing major dental issues and work for a company that is patently active in trying to change the current cos to that of a EU LCC like that of which you mention.

You can then enjoy going ever so slowly broke over your nice long 20+ year carer at CX.. Sounds great yes ?

And all of this with what is undeniably the worst staff travel benefit of any semi-major airline in the world including their "advertised" Free of Charge (FOC) tickets (read "scam") which are literally unusable and mostly un-bookable (as they will tell you)..

[kahaha]

Im enjoying the staff travel. I enjoy my long haul business class perks , and Im even suppose to be treated like a real Passenger now. So thy say.

As stated before, Wizz are not here to poach CX (or even Ka. )

Not many CX A320 rated guys, so you pay to fly in LCC land.
I’d love to see the look on the face of a 20 year Cx B777 skipper when he’s presented with a €30000 bill for his 320 course .

[enoughisenough_]

Flex88

You should consider yourself lucky CX even give you private healthcare coverage for your whole family. If you were back in your home country you would be forced to deal with the public health system and extensive waiting lists or fork out $$ for your own private health insurance plan.
You don't realise how good you have it sometimes. I suggest you apply to Wizz or any other LCC and go experience what a true LCC is like.

[Gnadenburg]

enoughisenough

The Dragonair pilot union advised its members to take out their own additional health cover due gaps in what is being provided. There were some sorry stories and fundraisers for members not properly covered and reliant on company health care. I'm no sure of the details, but the company may provide additional care for critical illness on a case by case basis.

So, my point being, I'm paying another $5000 USD per year to provide my family with sound health cover. Insurance top-ups close to that again. This extra cover to protect my family is way in excess of what I would pay back home.

New generation pilots don't seem to be taking up the union advice due the expense. So history will repeat itself and many will expose their families to financial hardship and a gamble on health care.

[Lions Gate]

It gets wearisome dealing with people like 'enoughisenough'. They sit there at the other side of the world with ignorant and envious eyes gazing on companies like CX, without the slightest iota of understanding about the real situation here. I've worked at both LCC's and the 'old' CX, so I DO know the difference. The 'new' CX is closer to a LCC than it's old and revered shell. Enoughisenough, when you have the knowledge and experience to possess an opinion that is anything more than the current state of ignorance you display, come on over. Until then, all you are doing is proving the old adage; "better to keep your mouth shut and let them think you are an idiot than open it and remove all doubt".

[enoughisenough_]

You are the ignorant one for thinking the grass is greener outside of CX without an understanding of the state of the whole industry. Go on and leave then, join an LCC. You'll soon regret it.

[enoughisenough_]

And you know what is wearisome? You guys rant day in, day out on an anonymous forum about how poorly treated you are by CX and how terrible the rosters are, how terrible living in Hong Kong is, how unaffordable it is, how detrimental it is to your health and wellbeing and yet you continue to work there and you also take no meaningful action to improve your conditions apart from venting your anger on here which is fruitless. If you don't like it leave, or put forward a motion for industrial escalation.

[McNulty]

This.

If it is so utterly horrendous then, for the sake of your mental and physical health, LEAVE.

[Sea Eggs]

10 hour days?
Pfft. Easy. We frequently do 2 man, 13 hour days. Tropics to sub arctic and back to typhoon conditions and sub-par ATC, congestion all the way.

Wow! You only work 7 days a month? :confused:

[Average Fool]

Your asses would turn to butter flying in the states.

A typhoon? Really? Tops not above 30k?

[raven11]

Average Fool...

You do know that a Typhoon is a Hurricane, right?

Doesn’t the entire news media in the USA wet their pants whenever one emerges in the Atlantic? Don’t they still talk about Katrina...you know, the storm that occured 12 years ago?

Well, typhoons (hurricanes...for those that don’t know...like Average Fool) are a common Summer threat in south east Asia....with more than a dozen or so every summer. A hurricane’s “average” cloud tops might be around 30,000 feet, but what does that have to do with it’s 150mph surface winds, torrential rain bands, and associated storm surges that occur at or near the airport during a landing or take off?

Oh...and no amount of turbulence “ride reports” from pilots like Average Fool will help you when faced with the common task of landing near one, every summer, in Southeast Asia.

[flyer4life]

Ex-CX American pilots on domestic fleets in the US are loving life. A320, B737, MD80 pilots find the flying very easy, even the redeyes, compared to CX. Those at FedEx and UPS are similarly content flying domestically.

Yes, this is true, US major airlines have some great conditions. But European LCC flying is another world. Just for starters, an A320 captain at Delta with 12 years of service would be grossing around 30% more than a UK based LCC captain.

[Gearupandorrf]

Reading this thread just makes me glad that I got out of commercial Aviation while I did...a long time ago before it had a chance to consume too much of my & my Family's life.

These days I get to make a nice living teaching the theory, whilst enjoying a standard of living that I desire outside of work. Home every afternoon by 4.30 and able to walk the Kids home from School.

It sounds to me that the industry has now got to the point that there's no jobs worth changing this for.