Is the grass really greener? Perspectives from an escapee.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Leaving sucks
I had a pretty great gig with CX. I was based in America. My schedule was reasonable. I flew with pretty cool people. My paycheck was nice. What I didn’t have was confidence in my future. Things at CX we’re on a pretty steep slide and I decided it was prudent to jump off. I took a huge pay cut to join Fedex. That being said I believe I’ll make up that cut in three years. Also, I’ll be flying for an American carrier with proper work rules. Imagine that! I’ve been gone five months now and I’ve never regretted my decision to leave cx one second. My only regret is that I didn’t escape sooner.
Last edited by letsfly75; 29th Jun 2019 at 00:54.
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Thanks for posting. I guess things have changed a lot since most of these posts, given the unprecedented toll Covid-19 and it's global travel/lockdown/quarantine effects are having on the world's airlines. Some of those who have gone from being relatively senior in one airline, to move on to greener pastures and start at the bottom of 'the list' again, will now be out of work. Very sad times indeed.
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Not true
I left CX after 15 years am at SWA and am not getting furloughed. Not a chance. If I were at CX things would be looking pretty bleak. Thank God I left CX and Hong Kong.
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Right! Good for you, and thank you for setting the record straight. I’m don’t think a single major airline pilot in the US has yet to be furloughed. AA is only the only one potentially furloughing pilots next month...
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Seems like you left with an axe to grind..
I don't have any emotional attachment to my employer, just a job really.Happy to hear you found a better place, no hard feelings or envy. I actually would like to leave as well.
Maybe ask yourself though why you are so much happier? My impression is that the most prominent reason to leave is simply the desire to live at home or the threat of having to move to Hong Kong for a command. Imagine CX would offer the same conditions ( money and tax of HK, patterns of a local airline, etc) plus a base in your home town. Would it be such a bad place to work for?
My impression is you project your frustration on CX. The safety argument is not for real, the training and checking is bearable, the working times and long haul crew compositions are overall above average.
It all boils down to living in Hong Kong and working with colleagues from a different cultural background. It is hard for a guy like Cxorcist to sit 10 hours next to a Chinese or European who don't share nor respect his political views, don't care about his military career etc, and I don't mean to ridicule that. Social acceptance and company with people of your own tribe is an innate desire for all of us. Living as an expat can be terrible, no doubt.It is no fun to work and live with people who regard you as a primitive redneck, neither is the prospect of flying with what one regards as "marxist snowflakes".
But none of these problems are the responsibility of CX. It is not their fault they are based in HK, of course employ people from all parts of the world, face political problems, pollution,real estate craziness, uncertainty, riots etc.
I think it would be helpful for to identify and finally acknowledge the prominent factor of Hong Kong in that game, it could help you to find peace.
I don't have any emotional attachment to my employer, just a job really.Happy to hear you found a better place, no hard feelings or envy. I actually would like to leave as well.
Maybe ask yourself though why you are so much happier? My impression is that the most prominent reason to leave is simply the desire to live at home or the threat of having to move to Hong Kong for a command. Imagine CX would offer the same conditions ( money and tax of HK, patterns of a local airline, etc) plus a base in your home town. Would it be such a bad place to work for?
My impression is you project your frustration on CX. The safety argument is not for real, the training and checking is bearable, the working times and long haul crew compositions are overall above average.
It all boils down to living in Hong Kong and working with colleagues from a different cultural background. It is hard for a guy like Cxorcist to sit 10 hours next to a Chinese or European who don't share nor respect his political views, don't care about his military career etc, and I don't mean to ridicule that. Social acceptance and company with people of your own tribe is an innate desire for all of us. Living as an expat can be terrible, no doubt.It is no fun to work and live with people who regard you as a primitive redneck, neither is the prospect of flying with what one regards as "marxist snowflakes".
But none of these problems are the responsibility of CX. It is not their fault they are based in HK, of course employ people from all parts of the world, face political problems, pollution,real estate craziness, uncertainty, riots etc.
I think it would be helpful for to identify and finally acknowledge the prominent factor of Hong Kong in that game, it could help you to find peace.
Last edited by Sam Ting Wong; 20th Sep 2020 at 01:58.
Join Date: Aug 2020
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I have written in MY previous posts that I have already applied to FedEx, UPS, Delta and United, (just added US Airways to the list). I have also taken the kids out of school in Hong Kong., they will be starting school in january at home. My 750,000 dollar shoe box is for sale. So, yes, I am doing something about it.
As far as the seniority trap...there is no seniority at cx, what there are are golden handcuffs. But what few fail to realize is yes one makes a good amount of money, 10 year SFO, plus housing plus schooling and that all adds up to more than any Captain at the above airlines, HOWEVER...Hong Kong, as you all know, is extremely expensive so any money made is spent.
So yes...I am leaving. I have no bad feelings for CX, I enjoy flying the routes, I enjoy flying with the great guys and gals..I just can no longer take living in Hong Kong.
If only the bases had opened, but waiting 3 plus years for a so called announcement is enough. I am not getting any younger...and the carrot is not getting any closer...
As far as the seniority trap...there is no seniority at cx, what there are are golden handcuffs. But what few fail to realize is yes one makes a good amount of money, 10 year SFO, plus housing plus schooling and that all adds up to more than any Captain at the above airlines, HOWEVER...Hong Kong, as you all know, is extremely expensive so any money made is spent.
So yes...I am leaving. I have no bad feelings for CX, I enjoy flying the routes, I enjoy flying with the great guys and gals..I just can no longer take living in Hong Kong.
If only the bases had opened, but waiting 3 plus years for a so called announcement is enough. I am not getting any younger...and the carrot is not getting any closer...
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Join Date: Jan 2018
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Never ceases to amaze me how a person can justify how grand it is to be a slave to such a company because they fly a widebody for a company in a once exotic, now ordinary, city in the Far East.
Ironically it’s been mostly the Americans who have left the British (Chinese) company in pursuit of a better life instead of staying in hopes of false promises and ever declining conditions promised by the managers playing musical chairs.
At least we will die on our feet instead of live on our knees.
Ironically it’s been mostly the Americans who have left the British (Chinese) company in pursuit of a better life instead of staying in hopes of false promises and ever declining conditions promised by the managers playing musical chairs.
At least we will die on our feet instead of live on our knees.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Lot of (bragging) words.
Could have just said:
”I’m allright Jack. And I don’t care what happens with the aviation industry after I’m gone”.
By the way: FULL schooling? Or just 75%?
Details are important, especially when you’re talking about HKD200,000 school bills.
Could have just said:
”I’m allright Jack. And I don’t care what happens with the aviation industry after I’m gone”.
By the way: FULL schooling? Or just 75%?
Details are important, especially when you’re talking about HKD200,000 school bills.
Leaving HK had nothing to do with the Airline, the people I flew with, any yearning to fly with my own "tribe" etc etc. It was plain and simple for me, HK is a polluted craphole and I wasn't willing to poison my family (and myself) for a few extra bucks. That's not my opinion, it's fact that you are living in one of the most polluted cities in the world for a few extra bucks. Then of course there's the population density, the tiny flats, the expenses etc etc, but that is just my opinion, some might like living in each others pockets
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Sucks to be at CX, eh?
Cos 20 was bound to happen the vid just accelerated it.
Been gone 6 years and don't mis a thing about it. The grass IS greener, no doubt.
Later to all you conformists. Good luck surviving on that pay.
Cos 20 was bound to happen the vid just accelerated it.
Been gone 6 years and don't mis a thing about it. The grass IS greener, no doubt.
Later to all you conformists. Good luck surviving on that pay.
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Very sorry to hear what’s going on over there. It’s a sad state of affairs indeed for the industry. I wish everyone well and especially those who have dedicated and sacrificed so many years for CX. I have some great memories of Hong Kong and many mis-adventures during my time there
Join Date: Jul 2018
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Looking back to those years in CX I am now confident to say that these were by far the worst in my career. Words cannot describe the pain and desperation the prince of darkness and his bunch of terrible people have done to my wife and myself. It took me many years to recover from the climate of fear that was prevalent in this airline. Some trainers used their head start of having done the type rating a few years before to intimidate me to compensate for their inferiority complex instead of training to confidence. I quite liked Hong Kong and its people but I despise this kind of company culture. If justice had been done, those responsible would be in jail.
I have done the right move at the right time, now flying through COVID uninterrupted and at full salary. If I stay healthy, I will retire from my last landing reaching the age limit without a single day of unemployment.
To the protagonists and to the people who kept their mouth shut: I was down, but I was not out.
I have done the right move at the right time, now flying through COVID uninterrupted and at full salary. If I stay healthy, I will retire from my last landing reaching the age limit without a single day of unemployment.
To the protagonists and to the people who kept their mouth shut: I was down, but I was not out.
