Rejoining/returning to CX process
 

After sometime away from CX and HK decided we actually want to go back.

To those of you who successfully returned back what was the process? I have heard mixed things.
For some who are returning to CX as DEFO or DEC it was a 30 min teams interview and offered a position/start on spot. Others it was a 30 minute teams interview with a follow up in two weeks and a trip to HK to do a medical etc.

Those of you who rejoined CX please share your experiences.

You have to start with such great lines as:

We couldn't survive back on the beach at Sunshine Coast without a helper
Driving is so scary back in (add in any western city) , thankfully there's the bus and taxi in Hong Kong, only an hour to get anywhere on the bus
I wanted to get a job as a DEC at Air NZ, QF, BA but I couldn't, it's confusing
The taxes, oh the taxes, I want to live somewhere where I have all the things the taxes pay for, but pay no tax to support them
I'm bored back home, have nothing to do, need a 110 hrs a month roster to have a life
I hate mowing the lawn, apt living is way better
Luckily ARAPA is gone, way better getting 30% of the old scheme in cash
No one earns more that $10k a month as a Senior CN anywhere else, I've read current legacy carrier contracts

I really don't care where you go to be happy at work but the delusion that CX in 2024 is better than it's ever been could come down a notch.

Best reply I've seen in a long time

A straw poll would suggest that the four pre-requisites are:
1. You own your own accomodation in HK that you hung on to when you were tossed in the bin.
2. Note-to-self to only read your roster and delete all the other copious amounts of comms emanating from the new "blame culture" management system.
3. Treat it as a contract (and I use that term loosely) job and invest zero emotional energy in the company and its predicament.
4. Commit to doing all the things in HK that are worth doing like spending time with friends, hiking, boating and eating! Plus some cultural and community stuff.

So... What CoS policy improvements have tempted you to go back after the decimation of your contract that caused you to leave?

I really enjoy Hong Kong. But you’ve got to seriously consider the rostering at CX now. OK if you’ve got no money, go back. FFS make some this time! Or you couldn’t find aviation prestige for your ego outside of CX, go back and pretend.

Most former colleagues I know didn’t get passed the rostering before even considering the other pitfalls.

In Australia, the Labor government has mandated ‘Same job, same pay’.

In HK, Swire through COS18 has mandated ‘Same job, half the pay’ and no contract to boot.

So going back now must taste even sweeter that the first time….

However, going back as STC like some have must be a good thing for them financially? Granted no work life balance. Each to their own I guess.

Correct, they are doing 130-140 hours a month

Some of these checkers look like they about to collapse in front of the sim panel

Work yourself to death and take all that cash to the grave

How many times have we heard this “I just gotta do another 5 years and I can retire…”

AUD is now less than 5 HKD. That is sweetening it for a few.

Honestly this just came off as such an LBH response- I asked about the process to those who have rejoined.
We never had a helper in HK - But sounds like that’s important to you since you mentioned it first thing. Get out from under the LBH troll bridge and go enjoy HK.

Honestly after 3 years in the U.S. on reserve at different carriers, knowing what your roster will be- is a luxury even if it is lots of flying.

Also HK is closer to our home countries so we actually saw our families a lot more than we do now (excluding covid times in hk of course)

The wife has been asking the last three years to go back as she did enjoy our life in HK a lot more. We really loved the hikes, easy to make friends and endless food options. Of course we know lots of things have changed but the grass isn’t as green outside of HK.

The US is a big country. If you aren't completely happy where you are, move to an entirely different part. Montana is wonderful, parts of the Mid West are very pretty and inexpensive, Phoenix is a good choice as well. If family is in Oz though, then I understand nothing above mentioned can fix that. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

We’ve lived in 3 different states in the U.S. I feel we’ve given it a good shot. Yes there’s so much to do in the US, we have enjoyed sightseeing but seeing our family is important. It’s hard to make friends over in the U.S. We really did love our life in HK though.

Sent a PM

If you "really" don't care then maybe don't bother with a long passive aggressive post showing just how much you actually DO care? :rolleyes:

I have 4 friends who have gone back, and I hear different stories. There are 2 who say they are making good money but didn't realize how bad it would be to get on staff travel to go home and see the family now they are at the bottom of the seniority list. They claim CX management still have the same mindset, they are stuck in a small rental in Tung Chung with min days off, and apparently HK is not the same blah blah and bitterly regret returning.

The other 2 friends who've gone back absolutely love it. Yes, they are at the bottom of the seniority list, but they are making good money and when they have annual leave. they just buy full fare, so it's really no big deal. They realized after they left, just how much they missed HK, enjoyed flying for a legacy carrier, and that the grass was definitely not greener. They now see life in CX in a different light and are very happy to be back..

A 777 skipper once told me “You can't come back unless you go away." I do believe that to be true. Only you can decide if returning is the right thing. Sit and write down the pros and cons, and make the best decision that you can. I left 3 years ago, and I'm very happy with my life in the US, but I do miss Hong Kong and the expat life. I can understand why people return, and I'm happy for them. My only words of caution are, if you do go back, don't go expecting it to be the way it all was pre-2020.

The fleet you return on also makes a huge difference, from what I hear the Airbus and 777 are flying a lot, with not many days off but are making good money. The 747 guys are not doing many hours but get more days off, with many commuting.

I would also only go back if you can afford to live on the basic salary, as with your contract being 'policy’, there's a possibility that the thresholds may change in the future. Financially, plan on only what you’re guaranteed, which is the minimum salary. If that works for you, then go for it and enjoy being back in HK. Great hikes, great taxes, great people, great global position, and despite what others may say, you're still working for a pretty good legacy carrier. Some will criticise me for saying that, but I guess they probably haven't seen life on the other side.

I wish you all the best in your decision.

Best post so far on this thread. Balanced and factual.

I have a “returnee” mate who’s actually way happier in CX now than he was before leaving. Conversely others are quite content with their new jobs in EU or US. Do your due diligence, and make your decision with eyes wide open.

The decision that works for some will not work for others, but that doesn’t mean you have to pi$$ all over your colleagues who opt for a different option from the one you chose.

Overall a good post, but we are NOT guaranteed even basic salary. EVERYTHING is just policy. EVERYTHING is subject to change at the sole discretion of the company, without prior notice. You must be happy to work without an employment contract for utterly immoral scum and take it month by month.

I cannot understand how you can leave an airline due to your dissatisfaction with the conditions, then return, losing all your seniority, much lower pay and benefits and somehow be "happier". In some bizzaro world I suppose that makes sense. That is a special level of delusion...

Does "Corona" and "Travel Restrictions" ring a bell, Mole?

PS pay is the same, give or take.

MM, to be fair some did not leave because of dissatisfaction with conditions, but because they’d had enough of HK’s insane Covid restrictions. Others were non-PR holders on bases and let go.

Some indeed left due to POS18 conditions, tried jobs abroad and found it was just a different shade of brown in the end, leading to them returning ironically more content than before (also because objectively COS18 has somewhat improved).

Would I recommend a career here for a younger person? Absolutely not: all is policy, no guarantees or security, eye-wateringly expensive rents, no way to build a life or start a family. They cynically ripped up our contracts and our few certainties, rapaciously decimating our package. They will do it again at the next crisis.

But for an oldie looking to rejoin (after experiencing some of the crap contracts and companies out there) and do a few years at say CN3 or 4, why not. It will work for some.

In truth the entire profession is going down the drain worldwide, and it can feel like a game of frogger, jumping from log to sinking log (and sometimes the “log” is not a log)

It’s called Stockholm syndrome.

"PS pay is the same, give or take."

Maybe for you. My pay is about 25% less than I used to get, in spite of flying many more hours. In fact, I used to earn more as a FO in 2014 than I do now as a CN2.

Returning to CX
I guess for some that bypass pay ran out
But my favourite those who sledged the place on leaving “you’d be a fool to stay” “better jobs out there”
Now instead of million dollar morons now newly minted morons and training to boot

I saw some of this after 9.11 in the regional in US
Some people who had move on to Majors were back in the crew room later "What happened Dutch"?
Furloughed from AA, DL, UA... back to t-prop FO
What does seniority mean at CX these days?

Appreciate this reply, this has been the most proficient and insightful response.

Finally common sense and honest review/advice of HK/CX status. Let me just add, if you had a connection with HK more than go back to your flat and eat Mc Donalds, is a great place, otherwise you'll be miserable. If you expect the company to change, to improve, to respect you, to treat you like a son... you'll be miserable. If you have your friends and you take the job as job, come back. As mentioned, unfortunately you have no choice on fleet and it can be a nightmare FO A330 roster, from what i see, that doesnt last more than a couple months. DO NOT ACCEPT/BELIEVE ANY PROMISES, IF YOU DO TELL THEM TO WRITE IT DOWN IN CONTRACT.

Personal circumstances makes a big difference. If you are alone or you have a partner that will fully integrate with HK life, is a bonus. However having to support a family... i wouldnt do it, Mainly because you'll be short of money and if you lose your job, you wont have any savings.