It’s called aviation poverty. It’s sad-it’s real. I’ve seen crew take passenger meals off the aircraft, to the hotel to make ends meet. This was COS 18 pilots pre-COVID and post-COVID in another life. Extraordinary and sad. Aviation poverty is very real and I guess you go on as long as the body holds out.

I’ve worked for five airlines. The one that sees high turnover & the potential for runners, had a bond. Originally KA didn’t have a bond. And if you did the command within a year or two the training investment was extraordinary. Towards the end, KA probably had a bond for COS 18 as we had guys doing runners after getting sign on bonuses as well as the new normal of losing guys in odd circumstances- a new joiner, a bit nervy of his check, smoked a few joints the night before and was caught in the testing; much to the shock of everyone but those on the line!

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Sure, if your child goes to school and that's around 140,000HKD a year so around 12000HKD pm, that still leaves you with 27000HKD extra per month. With "a child" in mind one has to take in the wife's salary surely?
I'm still not seeing how young people are going off the rails because they can't make ends meet? Are they spending way above their means and now blame the system, or maybe their wife stays home and spends a fortune to fit in?
The above scenarios in the thread still take into account zero housing allowance.

I dont know what schools you send your kids to but most cost nothing like HK$140K p.a. I have kids and grandchildren at school here Oli777 do you ?

Really? You looked at the fees for ESF? How about other international schools? Clearly you have no idea.

I know I don’t have to spend that much money for schooling and send my kids to a local school, but I want my kids to be able to think outside the box and succeed in their chosen career instead of rote learning everything.

During my time in Hong Kong, DBIS was a popular school for the plethora of CX families living in Discovery Bay. The current fees at DBIS range from HK$122,800 p.a for a five year old attending kindergarten, up to HK$185,500 for a 17 year old in Year 12. On top of that, there's a one-time non-refundable development levy of HK$60,000, payable on entry.

The Australian International School was another popular school. The fees at AIS range from HK$107K for a child in reception, up to HK$223K for a child in Year 12. There's also an annual capital levy of HK$22,000, or a depreciating debenture of HK$120,000 per student that must be re-purchased after eight years.

Things aren't much better at the ESF schools, where it costs HK$119,100 p/a for a child in primary school, up to HK$144,700 for a child in Year 12, plus a one-time non-refundable capital levy of HK$38,000 for a child entering Year 1.

So, for a family with two school age children, you could potentially be looking at paying anywhere between HK$214,000 p.a (HK$17,833 p.m) and HK$446,000 p.a. (HK$37,166 p.m), depending on the ages of the children and the choice of school, plus the capital/development levy.

BuzzBox - Sounds about right.

Oli777 - My kids are going to international schools at the moment and I can guarantee you the fees we are paying is much higher than what you quoted. Fortunately I left Cathay few years ago and the money I'm making right now is WAY enough to cover the cost. By the way, some women would choose to stay home and take care of their kids, because to them, those are the important time they do not want to miss. With Cathay's current package, I hardly think the mums could do that, let alone about buying a flat!

Nothing beats two parents working just to afford to survive living in HK in a tiny shoebox!

BuzzBox is bang on.

Kids and Grandchildren at school at the same time?
Have you been playing up down at the bars in "East Admiralty" you senile old git ?

OMG. I have many friends who are doctors, lawyers, engineers and I never heard of anyone saying anything about Bond. Pilots are under that "Professional" job category but they need to enter a Bond?? Wow. This is so new to me.

When I left HKG in the 80s, I second guessed my decision often. There were a couple of sh1tty years but things worked out well at the end.

Move on.

Veryoldchinahand you are absolutely clueless. Nearly all the international schools cost this amount or more in HKG.

You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about.

absurd
 

It's becoming more obvious that companies will do anything to enslave their employees!

and you would be an astronaut

Fire Wall
Yes, my youngest boy is still at school and my eldest boy has children. Is that so very odd ?
It is rather difficult to understand the motivation for your childlike rudeness but then there probably is no cohesive reasoning .
Possibly trip to your local shrink may prove beneficial as clearly you have issues that you find difficult to manage.
I fervently hope that you are not still flying.
Xindldg. I have been paying HK school fees for the past 29 years and over the years they have crept up beyond that I had realised and you are absolutely correct this year we are paying HK$140K for our youngest boy

29 years? I can't be the only one wondering about this :E damn boy

You're paying your grandchild's school fees?

Sweet deal for your son.

You can’t work out how someone might pay school fees for 29 years? I’d stick to the simple arithmetic of descent calculations if I was you. 😂

The simple answer to any mystery is very simple - several sons -two wives (the first one tragically past away at a young age). Eldest boy 32 youngest 16
No mystery here -move along please