Cathay Interview Change?
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 112
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From: Nimbus
But seriously, how long do you think it will take you to get that salary?
Because for the first... 15 years(?) , you surely won't be getting as much.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 5
From: London
PFV. Entertainment (far more expensive than you realise), travel, clothes, toiletries (expensive)....and numerous other costs that 'just happen'...as most of us who have been alive a while know all too well about. Mngmt mole is spot on. You will live like a $50K/yr pilot in the USA, or with wife and kids be effectively at the poverty line.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: www
You can argue statistics any way you wish. The reality is that the present package is barely adequate.
For a single person, it is livable. You don't really care that you live in a 400 sq ft shoe box. You have enough to enjoy yourself a few nights out a month. Can barely save any money.
For a married person, it is questionable. You may accept it because you are 'trying to establish your career'. Your wife however will feel claustrophobic within 6 months, and constantly be bitching to you that she never gets to go anywhere and hates the apartment/chinese/weather/etc. You will save a little perhaps for a rainy day fund.
For a married person with children. Welcome to hurt city. You will spend all your time dealing with a desperately unhappy wife, confused children and a very fragile home life. You will be crippled by the cost of schooling (if you can even get them into one), your wife will hate that you have no money to do anything, your kids will resent you because you can't provide them the life that many of their classmates enjoy. You will save nothing for the future.
There is not a recognisable package in HK that addresses the issues of retirement, medical and long term savings. CX expects you to have just enough to get by. After that, they really couldn't care less about your family's happiness or your need to plan for the long term. That's the reality.
If you come over, don't bother complaining to your colleagues how 'tough you have it'. There is plenty of info out there, so it's way past time where ignorance is an excuse.
For a single person, it is livable. You don't really care that you live in a 400 sq ft shoe box. You have enough to enjoy yourself a few nights out a month. Can barely save any money.
For a married person, it is questionable. You may accept it because you are 'trying to establish your career'. Your wife however will feel claustrophobic within 6 months, and constantly be bitching to you that she never gets to go anywhere and hates the apartment/chinese/weather/etc. You will save a little perhaps for a rainy day fund.
For a married person with children. Welcome to hurt city. You will spend all your time dealing with a desperately unhappy wife, confused children and a very fragile home life. You will be crippled by the cost of schooling (if you can even get them into one), your wife will hate that you have no money to do anything, your kids will resent you because you can't provide them the life that many of their classmates enjoy. You will save nothing for the future.
There is not a recognisable package in HK that addresses the issues of retirement, medical and long term savings. CX expects you to have just enough to get by. After that, they really couldn't care less about your family's happiness or your need to plan for the long term. That's the reality.
If you come over, don't bother complaining to your colleagues how 'tough you have it'. There is plenty of info out there, so it's way past time where ignorance is an excuse.
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
From: lagos
Your toiletries and random expenses are not covered at 900hkd a day ? And the 10,000 miscellaneous I just presented ?
You really pay 1000hkd a month for phone Netflix and tv?
Wow the cabin crew and ground staff must really be eating cup noodles all day long ...
You really pay 1000hkd a month for phone Netflix and tv?
Wow the cabin crew and ground staff must really be eating cup noodles all day long ...
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Fragrant Harbour
The hyperbole in the arguments against coming to CX isn't really helping because it's so ridiculous that even the valid points are easy to dismiss. 25K/month for a place with a dorm fridge? Uh-huh, sure.
I couldn't agree more that coming to CX on the current package with a wife and kids is a stupid idea, but for a single person or a couple not planning on having kids anytime soon it's okay as long as CX is just a stepping stone.
Do not come here for a career unless you love pollution and are confident you want to be single forever.
I couldn't agree more that coming to CX on the current package with a wife and kids is a stupid idea, but for a single person or a couple not planning on having kids anytime soon it's okay as long as CX is just a stepping stone.
Do not come here for a career unless you love pollution and are confident you want to be single forever.
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
From: lagos
Zero interest in joining Cx, I'm just trying to make a point that for a single guy or gal the salary works .
I'm not denying the fact that your basket case management has taken advantage of you and are squeezing you out.
Coming from Africa, I know what real poverty looks like . These salaries are no where close to the hardships that people face on a daily basis.
I'm not denying the fact that your basket case management has taken advantage of you and are squeezing you out.
Coming from Africa, I know what real poverty looks like . These salaries are no where close to the hardships that people face on a daily basis.
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
From: lagos
I really don't mean to be rude but nobody here has shown me the numbers otherwise except that random costs for a single person just comes up..
I agree completely that the management has to get their act together but the numberes make sense , it ain't going to make you baller but people live their lives in Hk for a lot less ..
Perhaps it's financial planning in addition to the bitching that will make life more happy, my two cents of course
I agree completely that the management has to get their act together but the numberes make sense , it ain't going to make you baller but people live their lives in Hk for a lot less ..
Perhaps it's financial planning in addition to the bitching that will make life more happy, my two cents of course
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 43
From: US
The airline business is all about seniority in general. In other words, gains in seniority are essentially a part of your pay and govern every aspect of your life at a career airline.
Given the way things have been trending you have to ask yourself is this going to be a viable career. Or have you heard ONE person say (again given events as of late) it's likely to be somewhere you'd want to spend the next 20 years of your life given the information you now have at present ? If your plan is try it and bail, remember that you've given up any seniority anywhere else and are kinda 'stuck' offshore far away from opportunities at home. And the 'Las Vegas' syndrome can be a powerful force in clouding future decisions.
The opportunity cost you have by coming to CX is the years you might be gaining seniority somewhere else. The equipment you operate or experience you gain will likely be worth diddly squat in career opportunity terms on a follow on carrier, although they (and bouncing around Asia and some other countries) might be a personal adventure for you.
If you have ulterior motives for coming to Asia you might have a marginally livable life under conditions which have been trending downward (more work for less pay and benefits). There is no rational reason to expect things to get better. You personally have little negotiation position to reverse this, and in HK can have work conditions (and your continued employment) essentially imposed on a whim. There are pie-in-the-sky promises of future 'stuff' but none have any validity until they actually happen; and historically when they have happened have been small opportunities for those at the top of a list on which you are at the bottom. And the history has been long on promises but way short on delivery.
So good luck; you have been well advised of the potential pitfalls of giving it a go.
Given the way things have been trending you have to ask yourself is this going to be a viable career. Or have you heard ONE person say (again given events as of late) it's likely to be somewhere you'd want to spend the next 20 years of your life given the information you now have at present ? If your plan is try it and bail, remember that you've given up any seniority anywhere else and are kinda 'stuck' offshore far away from opportunities at home. And the 'Las Vegas' syndrome can be a powerful force in clouding future decisions.
The opportunity cost you have by coming to CX is the years you might be gaining seniority somewhere else. The equipment you operate or experience you gain will likely be worth diddly squat in career opportunity terms on a follow on carrier, although they (and bouncing around Asia and some other countries) might be a personal adventure for you.
If you have ulterior motives for coming to Asia you might have a marginally livable life under conditions which have been trending downward (more work for less pay and benefits). There is no rational reason to expect things to get better. You personally have little negotiation position to reverse this, and in HK can have work conditions (and your continued employment) essentially imposed on a whim. There are pie-in-the-sky promises of future 'stuff' but none have any validity until they actually happen; and historically when they have happened have been small opportunities for those at the top of a list on which you are at the bottom. And the history has been long on promises but way short on delivery.
So good luck; you have been well advised of the potential pitfalls of giving it a go.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 10
From: Egoli
Could any of you guys living and working in Hong Kong come up with a figure, you think is enough and justified for the job we are doing to have a normal live in Hong Kong !!!! Would be interesting for us guys who are planning to move there. Captains and FO's inputs would be great !!! Thanks !!
Last edited by volare_737; 21st April 2017 at 13:51.
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Here
Could any of you guys living and working in Hong Kong come up with a figure, you think is enough and justified for the job we are doing to have a normal live in Hong Kong !!!! Would be interesting for us guys who are planning to move there. Captains and FO's inputs would be great !!! Thanks !!
2. If you come here with no experience, then the salary you will receive is FAR IN EXCESS of a fair amount. It's obviously not about the money, so come anyway. You can save some yes, but be prepared to spend a lot more than what is quoted here. You are one lucky SOB to walk into an airline job without doing anything to achieve it. Suck it up and please don't complain to me.
3. If you are indeed experienced, then please have an open mind, it is not the be all and end all anymore.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 10
From: Egoli
I did not really ask what a Cap or Fo at Cathay gets. Just a general salary required for a good live in HK. No matter if you are a pilot, teacher, bank executive or what ever !!!!!
Just a number would be good !!!!
Just a number would be good !!!!
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
At least 25K/month in rent
Owing a vehicle is basically luxury.
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Hong Kong
Ok, I'll give it a try.
HKD180,000 per month will give you a "good live" in HKG.
That amount would approximate a comfortable life a decent upper middle-class (if there is a such a thing anymore) family would achieve in Aus/NZ/Canada.
HKD180,000 per month will give you a "good live" in HKG.
That amount would approximate a comfortable life a decent upper middle-class (if there is a such a thing anymore) family would achieve in Aus/NZ/Canada.
Last edited by OK4Wire; 22nd April 2017 at 02:10. Reason: added stuff.
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Nimbus
Zero interest in joining Cx, I'm just trying to make a point that for a single guy or gal the salary works .
I'm not denying the fact that your basket case management has taken advantage of you and are squeezing you out.
Coming from Africa, I know what real poverty looks like . These salaries are no where close to the hardships that people face on a daily basis.
I'm not denying the fact that your basket case management has taken advantage of you and are squeezing you out.
Coming from Africa, I know what real poverty looks like . These salaries are no where close to the hardships that people face on a daily basis.
Not now, not even in 10 years.
Joining salary: 36000hkd + 10000hkd housing (before 12% tax - or 24% tax the first year)
How's that working with your numbers?