Clear_sky

crwjerk -
If you join on the new deal you ain't getting a house cleaner anytime soon. The air con bills as stated above will take care of that cash.

Harbour Dweller

Who needs a maid for 400 sq ft of apartment anyway.

There is no space for even the dust to sit

The Wraith

It is genuinely sad that CX have sunk to this level....a once Career airline who EVERYONE wanted to join. Now it will attract the desperate and ill informed, those who will convince themselves that they CAN survive in HKG on this "package". Tyler and Co will go down in history as the people who finally engineered the end of a once proud airline. Sure, they are too arrogant and out of touch, and will be too busy counting their "Bonuses" to care, but they will be judged nevertheless.
It is a sad time in the Airline's history, and it's founders would cringe, but that is the caliber of the "modern" manager.

crwjerk

As I was trying to tell him.........

flyinryan76

So I posted the following questions below on the wannabe's forum but never received a response. I am simply trying to find out the FACTS! There are a lot of people bemoaning CX (and I'm sure there are some good reasons) but there are only a few people giving specific numbers and reasons. Could someone please provide me with answers to the questions below so that I could make my own decision in relation with my specific circumstances. Thanks!


hey guys,

Been following this thread for a bit and had a few questions. I was offered a stage 1 interview in SFO next month and would like to have a better idea of what the T&C's are for this job. I realize I could probably read through all 119 pages to find the answer but I don't have that kind of time! So....

1) What is the basic pay for those who are hired as a SO in the cadet program fast track? I have my ATP and 3,000 hours... not sure if that makes a difference in the pay stucture.

2) Commuting possible? Some of my family lives in Taiwan and am wondering if it would be possible to live there and fly to HKG?

thanks for the help!

crwjerk

1. Around 65K USD total. Pay structure is the same whatever your experience, only the training time varies.

2. Yes, should be quite easy to commute on an S/O roster. Many have done before and Taiwan is very accessible from HK as you know.

Mooseflyer

If you have an interview in SFO, it may be assumed that you are probably used to commuting by pitching up at the gate, flashing your ID and medical, and getting on the jumpseat of just about any carrier you want to get to work. Just be warned, that's not the case at CX. There are ID90, ZED, etc travel benefits, but travel is not free as you're likely used to. Probably not a huge deal from TPE, but from North America it would likely be a big challenge. I don't have too many specifics as I don't commute - perhaps someone who does will chime in.....

flyinryan76

Thanks crwjerk! Does this include the 10,000 housing allowance or is this basic salary?

crwjerk

Yes I included the allowance. Ballpark figures though.

Voiceofreason

Actually, I think it's closer to USD 75k with the 10k housing and HDP, and about USD 140k for FO year 1. Not too shabby. Course, no telling how long to wait until you get to FO.

broadband circuit

Whatever you're on man, cut the dose!

Although your location says Hong Kong Voiceofreason, the fact that you're referencing the package in US$, plus your lack of understanding of the cost of living in HK for expats, I wonder if you really are in HK.....

Voiceofreason

Was replying to crwjerk's quoted figure of US$65k

I am, and have been for most of my life. Although I'm not Chinese, I'm also not an expat, and therefore admittedly have no reference point "back home" to compare cost of living, although I did live in the UK for a while - talk about expensive!

I'm managing ok right now with a mortgage of just over HK$12k for a 1400sqft apartment - not too much difference when I look at prices in Sydney or Vancouver (I stand to be corrected) - and more than made up for by the massive difference in tax rates.

My big qualifier is that I don't really know what a "back home" quality of life is. But for some (like me) Hong Kong is a pretty good place to be.

Sorry for the outburst of optimism! I know, it's unseemly on this forum.

lost&found

lamma, Tung Chung or New Territories?

Voiceofreason

None of those, but does it matter?

lost&found

depends on the standard/ type of lifestyle you want....

does a young SO, new to HK, want to live out of town, amongst the local communities of HK, away from the great attraction to HK - its social scene...? if so maybe you could point out where you live, Voiceofreason...

or

does this young SO want to be in the heart of the atmosphere, close to his/her social scenes...? Most people that come to HK are leaving families and friends, the first thing they are going to look for is a social network and accesibility to it.

im not sure you can find a rental apartment the size you are in (1400sqft) for anywhere below 30,000HKD, close to town. However, if im wrong i, and most people on this forum, would love to know where you got such a great bargain!

Voiceofreason

I guess one of the great things about Hong Kong is that many places are not that far from town. I live less than 45 minutes from SoHo etc. which is a reasonable trip in any city. In fact, I would compare it to a choice between living in, say, central London or Sydney and living the high life, but paying for it, and living out in the 'burbs and having more space but less enjoyment. Perhaps this isn't the right analogy though - as I say, I've never really spent a significant part of my life anywhere else.

Also, that young SO may well want to spend his first few years in the heart of town, but he may not. Depends if he's married or not I guess (and with or without girlfriend...!)

I'd agree that on the Island, that size would be tricky to get for anything less than $30k in mortgage - except maybe South Horizons I guess.

All I'm saying is, I'm managing it, enjoying it, and others I know do too. I'm married with a kid on the way, and with these new allowances, I'll be doing pretty well. Certainly it's expensive here, but the tax helps - on the flip side, I just can't see how GA or regional pay rates get you anywhere in Oz/Canada/US with 40+% marginal rates.

lost&found

yes it is a reasonable trip... i think the chinese border is less than 45 minutes away.

Its an exspensive beer with your mates when you do choose to come into central though!

we have drifted off the post a little...

Voiceofreason

Again, when I lived in the UK, it cost me at least GBP10 to get into town and back followed by GBP4.50 for a pint. Just saying...

I thought we were talking about the Wannabes and what they might face in choosing the iCadet package? Seems to me the price of beer is pretty relevant!

crwjerk

Sorry to start a currency war, I was merely quoting in his home currency for ease of understanding.

flyinryan76

Thanks to all who have contributed... I'm finding the information very helpful. A few more questions/comments....

In regards to the person who mentioned commuting.... I currently do not commute and am thankful for that! Are you saying that there are zero ID90 tickets to travel to and from work? You mean I am paying for a ZED fair which basically means I will be paying for the taxes? No doubt this is something to consider but I would imagine that this would still be relatively cheap as Taiwan is quite close. At any rate, it is something to definetly consider!

Living costs in HK...
To be honest, the idea of living in the city is somewhat of a turn off to me. I would much prefer to be 45 min to 1 hour outside and commute in. Am I to assume that voiceofreasons 12k for 1400 Sq. Ft. is a reasonable price if you live outside the main city?

Finally, taxes! Living within HK I am to assume everything is taxed at 15%?