So if it’s so bad....why aren’t you all quitting?
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I’ll ask and see what he says, but considering he chooses to remain an S/O on the T7, as far as I know he doesn’t exceed 8 sectors a month or so. Of course that is his choice... what a novel concept!
His choice for now is to remain a longhaul SO for the lifestyle and in order to reduce his daily commute, but with his seniority (4 years-ish) he is now looking at the possibility of a 320 command (2-4 sectors a day typically). His choice, again, depending on what his seniority can hold. And yes, they all (even the command position) mean a paycut compared to CX, but the amount of control he has over his roster/lifestyle and his career are well worth it to him when coupled with his kids growing up in their home country.
Again, amazing concept; you cede some control to aircrew and it turns out their increased job/life satisfaction means you don’t have to pay them so much... it’ll never catch on!
I’ll ask and see what he says, but considering he chooses to remain an S/O on the T7, as far as I know he doesn’t exceed 8 sectors a month or so. Of course that is his choice... what a novel concept!
His choice for now is to remain a longhaul SO for the lifestyle and in order to reduce his daily commute, but with his seniority (4 years-ish) he is now looking at the possibility of a 320 command (2-4 sectors a day typically). His choice, again, depending on what his seniority can hold. And yes, they all (even the command position) mean a paycut compared to CX, but the amount of control he has over his roster/lifestyle and his career are well worth it to him when coupled with his kids growing up in their home country.
Again, amazing concept; you cede some control to aircrew and it turns out their increased job/life satisfaction means you don’t have to pay them so much... it’ll never catch on!
Join Date: Apr 2009
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You can choose not to do your upgrade in CX too. You can choose whether or not to do a trip too.
you can choose to offload a trip in 3 different ways.
Forrest through the trees my friends.... Forrest through the trees!
you can choose to offload a trip in 3 different ways.
Forrest through the trees my friends.... Forrest through the trees!
Join Date: May 2009
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You can choose not to do your upgrade in CX too. You can choose whether or not to do a trip too.
you can choose to offload a trip in 3 different ways.
you can choose to offload a trip in 3 different ways.
How do you choose not to do a trip?
It is incredibly hard to offload a trip. With these CMP patterns almost impossible. You can swap something, that is not getting rid of a trip however. So what are the three ways you can offload a trip at CX? I know of only one guaranteed way, anything else is usually a frustrating waste of time.
Join Date: Sep 2017
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I am simply saying that while you seem to blow smoke up cx’s ass 24/7 and bitch about every other airline, such as training pay ect you are oblivious to the fact that CX essentially does the same thing to perfectly qualified pilots who have to do a stint in Adelaide. The one thing I do agree with you on is that this job is not what it used to be. However the difference is you still put up with the same bullsh*t everywhere else as well but you at least get to live in your home country and be able to have a good quality of life, not to mention spending 10 USD on a block of butter!
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As a matter of fact, i am convinced that MC is actually a group of desperate Swire managers who get together each day and group think the latest clueless response to a now uncontrollable resignation situation. At least it’s entertaining
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Also comical and ironic that MC chooses to illustrate his comments by alluding to "getting a mortgage from a bank" in Aus or NZ. At least back home in Oz or NZ I could have some hope of actually affording a home. Here in HK, a pilot can barely afford groceries, school fees and the odd night out with the long suffering wife. There is NO hope of affording a home in HK on the current package. The fact that MC chose that example just illustrates how out of touch the management are. Most of them are quite happily "getting by" on ARAPA (as am I I will admit, or the Swires on their cushy packages), not even appreciating the irony of one of their managers using the cost of housing as a way to somehow convince people to stay in HK. Deluded, or just abjectly stupid. Which (or both) accurately describe MC? 
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Btw MC, as far as lifestyle concerns, ANZ just implemented a new rostering package for their short haul fleet, which addresses the major concerns their pilots had. The company now compresses the flying into more efficient blocks, and thereby generates larger blocks of days off, allowing pilots much more time off and less cost involved to travel to and from the airport(s) for work. Imagine that, a management that actually acknowledges and addresses the lifestyle concerns of their staff. Might also explain why many Kiwis are planning on leaving soon (ask me how I know).
Lifestyle: synonym for "cannot" in Cathay Pacific. Available at another airline near you.
Lifestyle: synonym for "cannot" in Cathay Pacific. Available at another airline near you.
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They are introducing compact rostering to address that very issue. Let me spell it out for you: ANZ management at least are making efforts to address the concerns of their crew. CX management however activley agitate against any and all efforts to help our pilots have any semblance of stability and family life. They couldn’t care less. That is why a move to NZ makes sense....and our management know it.
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You can only bid for flights or for specific days off, then you are at the mercy of the roster system (which ultimately has the sole goal to produce a least cost/maximum producitvity roster) Requests are frequently denied due to inabilty to construct a feasible roster (read: lack of manpower). Rosters are full of single days off. Quite rare to get more than 2-3 days off in a row. There's also no proffering system and swapping can be difficult.
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Also comical and ironic that MC chooses to illustrate his comments by alluding to "getting a mortgage from a bank" in Aus or NZ. At least back home in Oz or NZ I could have some hope of actually affording a home. Here in HK, a pilot can barely afford groceries, school fees and the odd night out with the long suffering wife. There is NO hope of affording a home in HK on the current package. The fact that MC chose that example just illustrates how out of touch the management are. Most of them are quite happily "getting by" on ARAPA (as am I I will admit, or the Swires on their cushy packages), not even appreciating the irony of one of their managers using the cost of housing as a way to somehow convince people to stay in HK. Deluded, or just abjectly stupid. Which (or both) accurately describe MC?
Almost.
Every man and his dog is getting off the AirNZ shortHAUL fleet, meanwhile CX pilots quit to sign up on the 320 in droves.
Still waiting to hear a good paying, reasonable days off flying job.
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Going off the starting pay at jetstar on the 320 after a newbie had survived GA, they could borrow $460k on a 30 year. That would get them a 1 br apt in Melbourne.
Almost.
Every man and his dog is getting off the AirNZ shortHAUL fleet, meanwhile CX pilots quit to sign up on the 320 in droves.
Still waiting to hear a good paying, reasonable days off flying job.
77 hrs a month the 320 fleet is averaging and it’s a 50 minute sector AKL WLG. Slightly longer to CHC. I’ve seen the roster and it ain’t pretty.
You think it’s one return WLG and then 4 days off? Post a 320 roster then.....Air NZ can work you like a dog because you can’t complain, it’s the only gig in town.
Training pay for the first 6 months when you join is $20k a year, bwahahaha and guys line up to take it.
I couldn’t care who’s going, I’m just saying that they can pay whatever they want, roster you whatever they want and guys will sign up. You can go on about a sh*t deal at CX but the fact is aviation is a sh*t deal everywhere.
Best part is you think $40K a year under training is a great deal, and it only last 2 months. Ground school, sims, line training, checks in 2 months? It used to be no pay during training and still guys signed up. End of the day guys will join the Koru irrespective of Air NZ’s lousy pay and roster. Nothing CX can do to change that.
Best part is you think $40K a year under training is a great deal, and it only last 2 months. Ground school, sims, line training, checks in 2 months? It used to be no pay during training and still guys signed up. End of the day guys will join the Koru irrespective of Air NZ’s lousy pay and roster. Nothing CX can do to change that.
You're only on training pay during your initial induction and Type Rating. Line training is on Full Pay.
My highest sector count in the last 3 years on the A320 was 45. Mostly Domestic and was 75hrs.... believe it or not, we don't only fly to WLG and CHC.
Have had a few rosters in the low 80's but they had a lot more Tasman/Pacific sectors. Averaging about 65hrs at the moment.
The rosters get better with Seniority as your bidding power improves. Even a Junior Pilot who understands the system can bid to avoid certain characteristics with moderate success. Just don't waste your points on desirable specific TOD's you know you wont get.
All Shorthual jobs you work like a dog. That's the nature of shorthaul. You need more sectors for the same hours. For many, the Airbus might just be a foot in the door before bidding to a Widebody. I doubt anyone leaving the likes of Cx to join the bottom of our list are expecting a payrise.
We've all got friends everywhere.... I've got friends at Cx, I've seen their rosters. Yes, in many ways they're better than mine with Air NZ on the A320, but as they say "At least you're not living in HKG".... on a Widebody, I could live in Wanaka if wanted. Plenty do.