Fair enough, you get more money... you have to live in a hole and deal with a monstrous cost of living, cost of schooling, and lack of security, how else would they get anyone to come. AC pays a wage that will get you into a very comfortable lifestyle, of course more would be great, but I wouldn't trade it to live as an Expat with minimal rights and an upside down life. My priority is to live where I want to be and not have to put up with too much BS... as I say to each there own.

As for passes - just going on what my buddy told me. Sounds like the frequent trips home for him an his family really add up. I have no first hand experience with Cathay passes, but I can tell you I can go anywhere on the AC network with my family on a priority J class upgrade 3 times a year with no service charge... nominal charge for regular passes after that... and I'll keep them when I retire. It's contingent space available but I guess you learn to deal with it. Wouldn't call them ****e... but maybe could be better if they stopped giving new hire secretaries higher priority than 30 year pilots...

Sounds like Cathay works for you. Enjoy your course for the next 20 years in the **** hole.**your words not mine.**

Classy indeed!

So remind us again what the monthly "housing allowance" is for new-hire Second Officers living in Hong Kong is? Oh, and while you're at it, what is the rent for a 600sq ft apartment in Discovery Bay???

Alti and Piano..

There are SEVERAL contracts here. Mine is in the Low 70's a month (About 10,000 CAD) other only get 24 (3 K Cad) others over a 100K. It depends on your contract.

Re passes.. I grew up as a AC dependent and travel on C1's ocassionally with one of my retired parents. Although listed for J, more often than not, Elites or Super Elites take the seats last minute. The cost of the passes C1 vs ours is roughly the same, though CX's are perhaps 10% more on longer routes.

Today it is a ****hole, you're right.. it often is. But I'll be retired soon, living in Kelowna, drinking wine...