The Demise of Hong Kong Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Sunny Europe
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@sevenx3: tudo joia?
@changi.prison: Info directly from HK.gov website: census. So Its a general overview of HK pop. Data by household as far as I know.
guys, my location might say "sunny europe"... but as an info... I grew up there, and all my family's there (well... 60k from there
) and yes... I love fishball soup 
I KNOW hk's expensive, never said otherwise... but the thing is, HKA paycheck, compared internationally.. its good.. (for a FO that is) (emirates doesn't offer me anything... since I don't play in a sandbox for some decades already and my goal is to get back to my family).
Besides, other real option to move back home is to go either as a CX SO (thanks, but NO thank you), or KA FO.......FO.......OLD FO on the not-so-near-rather-distant future.
Been talking with ppl there, and they do say we need to keep our cool with HR.dep... and as for a fixed rooster...well... lets just call it a rooster for now (of sorts).
But they're flying about 50/60 block a month (A330) and overall happy with the job. No complaints toward admins. The company's growing (like it or not), and its gonna compete with CX group... so... lets say that in a 10 years window, I'm better off in HKA then in KA (not cutting second option out, mind).
just like icemankk2001 said... Hk's in Asia... live it as such
guys, my location might say "sunny europe"... but as an info... I grew up there, and all my family's there (well... 60k from there
) and yes... I love fishball soup I KNOW hk's expensive, never said otherwise... but the thing is, HKA paycheck, compared internationally.. its good.. (for a FO that is) (emirates doesn't offer me anything... since I don't play in a sandbox for some decades already and my goal is to get back to my family).
Besides, other real option to move back home is to go either as a CX SO (thanks, but NO thank you), or KA FO.......FO.......OLD FO on the not-so-near-rather-distant future.
Been talking with ppl there, and they do say we need to keep our cool with HR.dep... and as for a fixed rooster...well... lets just call it a rooster for now (of sorts).
But they're flying about 50/60 block a month (A330) and overall happy with the job. No complaints toward admins. The company's growing (like it or not), and its gonna compete with CX group... so... lets say that in a 10 years window, I'm better off in HKA then in KA (not cutting second option out, mind).
just like icemankk2001 said... Hk's in Asia... live it as such
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The lion city
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Barossa
I don't see any wrong doing with seven3. Why can't any professional take the bus to work or on a daily basis? Or you meant by driving to work or around town or by taking taxis to meet your needs is what a professional should do? What about for the environment? Or to save on our scarce natural resources?
We all need to remember that this is HKG..where the land is scarce. So one need to realized that it will not be the same as US or EU.
People here talking about how expansive HKG is! How about housing in Switzerland? In Germany? Or most of the Western Europe? Are they not expansive? What about the taxes?
To each is own. For anyone that's thinking of taking any expat jobs, one need to do his homework and if it fits in then by all means take it. One thing for sure is that we will not be able to change whats being offered.
I don't see any wrong doing with seven3. Why can't any professional take the bus to work or on a daily basis? Or you meant by driving to work or around town or by taking taxis to meet your needs is what a professional should do? What about for the environment? Or to save on our scarce natural resources?
We all need to remember that this is HKG..where the land is scarce. So one need to realized that it will not be the same as US or EU.
People here talking about how expansive HKG is! How about housing in Switzerland? In Germany? Or most of the Western Europe? Are they not expansive? What about the taxes?
To each is own. For anyone that's thinking of taking any expat jobs, one need to do his homework and if it fits in then by all means take it. One thing for sure is that we will not be able to change whats being offered.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: brasil
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@ Tipsy Barossa: Just giving the REAL picture of living in HK with HX. Life's not too bad as what others had said. In fact, there are tons of CX and KA Capts and FOs also taking buses to work as well as shuttle bus and trains.
Just wanting to give a clear picture to everyone about the latest living conditions in HK.
Just wanting to give a clear picture to everyone about the latest living conditions in HK.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Out of the pollution.
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sevenx3- I do believe a single guy living
extremely frugally could do it on 40, certainly
not the 24 previously posted. 40 is possible with
No wife, or child. And living like a coolie
extremely frugally could do it on 40, certainly
not the 24 previously posted. 40 is possible with
No wife, or child. And living like a coolie
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ceduna
Age: 71
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE]Barossa
I don't see any wrong doing with seven3. Why can't any professional take the bus to work or on a daily basis? Or you meant by driving to work or around town or by taking taxis to meet your needs is what a professional should do? What about for the environment? Or to save on our scarce natural resources?[QUOTE]
You can't be serious! Pilots go about polluting the lower, middle and upper reaches of the tropopause with our smoke belching contraptions and you want to be a tree hugger? Think on the positive side, taking a cab will help put food on the table for the taxi driver's family. Maybe his cab is a low consumption or low polluting hybrid as against the bus belching out nauseating black smokey fumes!
I don't see any wrong doing with seven3. Why can't any professional take the bus to work or on a daily basis? Or you meant by driving to work or around town or by taking taxis to meet your needs is what a professional should do? What about for the environment? Or to save on our scarce natural resources?[QUOTE]
You can't be serious! Pilots go about polluting the lower, middle and upper reaches of the tropopause with our smoke belching contraptions and you want to be a tree hugger? Think on the positive side, taking a cab will help put food on the table for the taxi driver's family. Maybe his cab is a low consumption or low polluting hybrid as against the bus belching out nauseating black smokey fumes!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: taiwan
Age: 57
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi tippsy baroosa and AAIGUY,
what makes u think being an airline pilot can live lavishly or live like a king in any part of this world? look carefully at the term and conditions for a NEW FRESH pilot nowdays! WAKE UP! we can only consider ourself the best a working middle class level, again the best, not always.
maybe both of you well into your retirement age, thats why you a 'different' mentality (CRM).
cheers.
what makes u think being an airline pilot can live lavishly or live like a king in any part of this world? look carefully at the term and conditions for a NEW FRESH pilot nowdays! WAKE UP! we can only consider ourself the best a working middle class level, again the best, not always.
maybe both of you well into your retirement age, thats why you a 'different' mentality (CRM).
cheers.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Out of the pollution.
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Iceman, you obviously don't understand the word 'profession'.
Dr's, Bankers, Traders and Lawyers expect to live a certain lifestyle due to the years of schooling, cost, and skill it took to get to their designation/position.
Your suggestion that a Pilot should get less, is simply ignorant.
No one is coming to Hong Kong for the Culture or the Air Quality.
It's about money.
Given an unlimited supply of it money, I would certainly never visit China, HK, Taiwan or most of Asia every again, let alone work here.
Its no wonder that other countries are full of Asians who've left to find a better life and not be surfs as you suggest. Content with public bus' and fish balls, grateful to the Dear Leader everyday for their existence.
Muppet.
Dr's, Bankers, Traders and Lawyers expect to live a certain lifestyle due to the years of schooling, cost, and skill it took to get to their designation/position.
Your suggestion that a Pilot should get less, is simply ignorant.
No one is coming to Hong Kong for the Culture or the Air Quality.
It's about money.
Given an unlimited supply of it money, I would certainly never visit China, HK, Taiwan or most of Asia every again, let alone work here.
Its no wonder that other countries are full of Asians who've left to find a better life and not be surfs as you suggest. Content with public bus' and fish balls, grateful to the Dear Leader everyday for their existence.
Muppet.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The lion city
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aaiguy
Aai....
I think you need to look hard at yourself. Where are you working now? What are the reasons you need to be in HKG or any part of The Asia you disliked very much?
If your country can provide of what you need you will never need to be an expat? We all have our choices and please don't be a disgrace by posting an idiotic comments!
I am sure there are professionals that would take the bus to work, I am sure there would be an accountant, lawyers in this parts of the world that makes an excellent money and yet take the public transport..again...if one decides to take the public transport by all means do and if you prefer to drive your Lamborghini to work, that's also welcomed.
It's all about personal preference
I think you need to look hard at yourself. Where are you working now? What are the reasons you need to be in HKG or any part of The Asia you disliked very much?
If your country can provide of what you need you will never need to be an expat? We all have our choices and please don't be a disgrace by posting an idiotic comments!
I am sure there are professionals that would take the bus to work, I am sure there would be an accountant, lawyers in this parts of the world that makes an excellent money and yet take the public transport..again...if one decides to take the public transport by all means do and if you prefer to drive your Lamborghini to work, that's also welcomed.
It's all about personal preference
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Out of the pollution.
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Etops, you're out to lunch if you believe that.
If my home country paid what I get now, I would go.
Till then I will 'enjoy' the HK experience.
No one in my home country, would ride the bus unless they
were impoverished.I'm not doing in muppet land
If my home country paid what I get now, I would go.
Till then I will 'enjoy' the HK experience.
No one in my home country, would ride the bus unless they
were impoverished.I'm not doing in muppet land
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: OZ
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And all for the money.
What about those poor kids that have to live in the most polluted city in the world growing up stuck in a 1700 square foot apartment with no backyard, concrete playing areas at school instead of lust green grass fields to play in, there poor young lungs sucking up all that **** in there most vital years of life and the constant coughing.
Yes all for the money and to pay the hospital bills when your kids can no longer breath.
All the money $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
What about those poor kids that have to live in the most polluted city in the world growing up stuck in a 1700 square foot apartment with no backyard, concrete playing areas at school instead of lust green grass fields to play in, there poor young lungs sucking up all that **** in there most vital years of life and the constant coughing.
Yes all for the money and to pay the hospital bills when your kids can no longer breath.
All the money $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Last edited by The Counter; 17th Mar 2012 at 23:16.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Out of the pollution.
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The counter.. You're right.
My kids don't live there any longer, I commute.
Hong Kong is a disgusting place to live and raise
a family. Won't sell my kids health for anything
My kids don't live there any longer, I commute.
Hong Kong is a disgusting place to live and raise
a family. Won't sell my kids health for anything
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Around the World
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@iceman: don't worry too much about the nonsense AAIGUY writes. He is *just* a FO at Dragonair, probably a bit bored of all the left turns towards BEKOL and DOTMI and who lacks the sense of reality.
Funny thing, whenever I took the S1 Bus in the past during layovers, I saw plenty of his Dragon Air Skippers taking the Bus to their office.
Funny thing, whenever I took the S1 Bus in the past during layovers, I saw plenty of his Dragon Air Skippers taking the Bus to their office.
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi AAIGuy, I'm always interested in this word PROFESSIONAL. It is much abused and misused. You accuse Iceman of not understanding the word PROFESSION, then you yourself go on to show that you don't understand it either!
I'm a pilot. I like to think of myself as being PROFESSIONAL in my job.
But - by definition - I am not A PROFESSIONAL. Nor are most commercial pilots.
The definition of a PROFESSION is wide and varied, you can look it up on Google. You'll find dozens of elements which are supposed to define what is a PROFESSION. One of my own favourites (because for me it perfectly sums up the predicament we find ourselves in) is that a PROFESSIONAL (i.e. one who practices a PROFESSION) controls HIS OWN means of PRODUCTION.
You compared us with Doctors and Lawyers.
I would say a Doctor definitely controls his own means of production (his hands and his brain). So (for the most part) does a Lawyer.
For that matter - so does a Carpenter, or a Bricklayer, a Plumber, an Electrician etc (although these are normally referred to in the diminutive as Tradesmen - because they do not satisfy certain other elements of the term Professional).
I work for an airline. I do not own the aircraft - which is the single tool I need to pursue this occupation. Very few pilots do, outside the Air Taxi/Crop Sprayer/Display pilot cadre. Therefore, technically speaking, none of us are practicing a PROFESSION.
You may not like this opinion - indeed I've had some fairly angry responses from colleagues when I point this out. But like I said earlier - its the main reason we will always be on the back foot in our job. Every single one of us can be put out on the street, and have no hope of ever again practising our chosen 'PROFESSION' without the permission of an aircraft owner.
A PROFESSIONAL with no PROFESSION.
Read it and weep.
That said, I believe the job we do has immense value, and should be suitably remunerated. I would be the last person to turn down a payrise!
But, its not ALL about money.
HKA seems to have plenty of guys willing to sign up.
They are often guys with narrow body experience only, or wide body RHS experience which they hope to convert to LHS widebody experience very quickly. Perhaps they have the required widebody experience already, but now want a TRI or TRE qualification, or even some Management experience. All are available at HKA - at less than the going rate.
These guys have made a career choice to take less than going rate to get the upgrades they seek. Obviously they are playing a long game.
The fun will start when, having acheived their goal and found a new (more lucrative) market for their skills, they will start leaving.
Or will be paid to stay.
Until that happens - you pays your money and takes your chances.
Thats life in the Big Bad World of Aviation.
I'm sure you understand this all too well.
I'm a pilot. I like to think of myself as being PROFESSIONAL in my job.
But - by definition - I am not A PROFESSIONAL. Nor are most commercial pilots.
The definition of a PROFESSION is wide and varied, you can look it up on Google. You'll find dozens of elements which are supposed to define what is a PROFESSION. One of my own favourites (because for me it perfectly sums up the predicament we find ourselves in) is that a PROFESSIONAL (i.e. one who practices a PROFESSION) controls HIS OWN means of PRODUCTION.
You compared us with Doctors and Lawyers.
I would say a Doctor definitely controls his own means of production (his hands and his brain). So (for the most part) does a Lawyer.
For that matter - so does a Carpenter, or a Bricklayer, a Plumber, an Electrician etc (although these are normally referred to in the diminutive as Tradesmen - because they do not satisfy certain other elements of the term Professional).
I work for an airline. I do not own the aircraft - which is the single tool I need to pursue this occupation. Very few pilots do, outside the Air Taxi/Crop Sprayer/Display pilot cadre. Therefore, technically speaking, none of us are practicing a PROFESSION.
You may not like this opinion - indeed I've had some fairly angry responses from colleagues when I point this out. But like I said earlier - its the main reason we will always be on the back foot in our job. Every single one of us can be put out on the street, and have no hope of ever again practising our chosen 'PROFESSION' without the permission of an aircraft owner.
A PROFESSIONAL with no PROFESSION.
Read it and weep.
That said, I believe the job we do has immense value, and should be suitably remunerated. I would be the last person to turn down a payrise!
But, its not ALL about money.
HKA seems to have plenty of guys willing to sign up.
They are often guys with narrow body experience only, or wide body RHS experience which they hope to convert to LHS widebody experience very quickly. Perhaps they have the required widebody experience already, but now want a TRI or TRE qualification, or even some Management experience. All are available at HKA - at less than the going rate.
These guys have made a career choice to take less than going rate to get the upgrades they seek. Obviously they are playing a long game.
The fun will start when, having acheived their goal and found a new (more lucrative) market for their skills, they will start leaving.
Or will be paid to stay.
Until that happens - you pays your money and takes your chances.
Thats life in the Big Bad World of Aviation.
I'm sure you understand this all too well.
Last edited by Algol; 18th Mar 2012 at 17:48.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Global
Age: 52
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well said. rants about HK living when Singapore is way ahead in inflation. Somehow people still wanna work there in many other industries including aviation. With the voluntary no pay leave granted to SIA pilots allowing them to work anywhere... it would be interesting to see slots taken up by contract pilots escaping 'expensive' singapore to live in 'cheaper' HK. lol. It's all relative now.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The lion city
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Boxer pilot
The voluntary no pay leave is only available to FOs and SOs and not Capts. As of now, SIA does not have any expat FOs flying with them. Those expats currently flying in SIA are all Capts and on local terms..but there's a talk of ending the contract of those expats on local terms giving room for their own FOs to upgrade.
The voluntary no pay leave is only available to FOs and SOs and not Capts. As of now, SIA does not have any expat FOs flying with them. Those expats currently flying in SIA are all Capts and on local terms..but there's a talk of ending the contract of those expats on local terms giving room for their own FOs to upgrade.
And living like a coolie
The fact is that you can live very well in HK on HK$40,000 per month.
The people who claim otherwise are stupid enough to think that they can scare enough pilots away that they will be able to improve their own package.