Emirates average days off
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 320
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From: i don't know
This is actually not a big issue at EK, imho it's quite good here.
It depends somewhat on the equippment you're pushing and on your bidding style. A guy only 330 qualified tends to do more shorter flights, to build up hours he therefore works more shorter days giving him sometimes the minimum 8 days off. But I have to admit with the staffing getting better, this does not happen too often. The guys on the T7, and to a certain extent the 340 x-q-ones, can fly 2 ultralong trips plus one or two shorter ones, and they're done for the month, giving them up to 18 days off. Bidding helps to either avoid or desire ultralongs.
It depends somewhat on the equippment you're pushing and on your bidding style. A guy only 330 qualified tends to do more shorter flights, to build up hours he therefore works more shorter days giving him sometimes the minimum 8 days off. But I have to admit with the staffing getting better, this does not happen too often. The guys on the T7, and to a certain extent the 340 x-q-ones, can fly 2 ultralong trips plus one or two shorter ones, and they're done for the month, giving them up to 18 days off. Bidding helps to either avoid or desire ultralongs.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 320
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From: i don't know
Warlock
As I complain feverishely about the crap salary adaption to the crap dollar/dirham, I nevertheless try to give a balanced view of what's on here. And days off are as good if not better than what I had with my previous employers. True this might be momentary, but I take it.
As I complain feverishely about the crap salary adaption to the crap dollar/dirham, I nevertheless try to give a balanced view of what's on here. And days off are as good if not better than what I had with my previous employers. True this might be momentary, but I take it.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 259
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From: here
OBOGS - glad to hear you got 45 days leave in 2007, but before you start jumping for joy think for a moment of the other guys like me who are still owed 23 days leave this year, to be used by end of march which is not going to happen!! There are two sides to every story........................................
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 35
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From: el paso texas
thanks for the information.
i have an interview in febuary and wanted to know if i would get the same amount of days off as i do at my current airline( about 14 days off)
do the days off you speak about include days off between trips..ie back to back trips
i have an interview in febuary and wanted to know if i would get the same amount of days off as i do at my current airline( about 14 days off)
do the days off you speak about include days off between trips..ie back to back trips
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 233
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From: the world
Sealy,
A lot depends on what you are planning on doing on your days off. For those happy to hang around Dubai, then it is actually quite good once you get the bidding figured out.
If you want them in a block so you can commute - you are not going to find it easy.
EK have a peculiar "rotating seniority" system (that the newbies love) which means that in your "top" two bid months you can hold about 6-10 days off in a row.
BUT you then get shafted in your bottom bids and are compelled to do a five weeks on Reserve every year. The Reserve can work out OK, but you cannot plan anything at all.
BTW - think long and hard before coming here. It is no longer as good it has been/could be.
Good luck with the interview - and Merry Xmas to all those on here.
A lot depends on what you are planning on doing on your days off. For those happy to hang around Dubai, then it is actually quite good once you get the bidding figured out.
If you want them in a block so you can commute - you are not going to find it easy.
EK have a peculiar "rotating seniority" system (that the newbies love) which means that in your "top" two bid months you can hold about 6-10 days off in a row.
BUT you then get shafted in your bottom bids and are compelled to do a five weeks on Reserve every year. The Reserve can work out OK, but you cannot plan anything at all.
BTW - think long and hard before coming here. It is no longer as good it has been/could be.
Good luck with the interview - and Merry Xmas to all those on here.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Desert
Average about 15 days working a month. Those 15 days working can be in the middle of the night (2am -3am) and through muliple time zones.
Most of the pilots here come from low tier airlines and they are happy with working "only" 15 days a month but as any wise airline pilot knows the kind of flying we are doing we should only be working 8-11 days a month. That is a far cry from what we are actually doing.
Most of the pilots here come from low tier airlines and they are happy with working "only" 15 days a month but as any wise airline pilot knows the kind of flying we are doing we should only be working 8-11 days a month. That is a far cry from what we are actually doing.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 32
From: Blighty
14 days off or thereabouts is what i have been getting. If you are in training (why i can't figure out), you will get MAX of 5 days in a row. Unless you step down for that month, without pay of course.....
EGGW
EGGW
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 233
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From: the world
Sealy,
It varies a lot mate. Last two months was cr@p - block of reserve and then a bunch of night turnarounds. On my top two bid months can usually hold 8-10 days in a row, if simulator etc does not interfere.
Only commutable if you are going to Europe. Getting on an airplane on an ID 90 is another matter.
It varies a lot mate. Last two months was cr@p - block of reserve and then a bunch of night turnarounds. On my top two bid months can usually hold 8-10 days in a row, if simulator etc does not interfere.
Only commutable if you are going to Europe. Getting on an airplane on an ID 90 is another matter.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 441
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For once I find myself in agreement with LHR Rain
In total this month (Top Bid), I will benefit from 17 days free from work including a couple of rest days (and yes Sealy they are days at home - we are never down-route long enough to have days off there!)...
Sounds great huh?
You'd think so wouldn't you...?
However I am absolutely 'kin knackered. for the past 11 weeks, I have done nothing but lay-overs both East and West, European and ULR and my sleep patterns are completely screwed, so yes I tend to get a fair bit of time off, but alas I seem to spend most of it recovering!
And yes, I was only awarded 32 days leave (out of 45) this year. However last month (and purely by chance), I happened to spot a block of available leave suddenly appear on the leave bidding portal thing, so grabbed the opportunity to pounce on it before anyone else did! Yes its unfair, right place right time though
Merry Christmas boys and girls
Take care
In total this month (Top Bid), I will benefit from 17 days free from work including a couple of rest days (and yes Sealy they are days at home - we are never down-route long enough to have days off there!)...
Sounds great huh?
You'd think so wouldn't you...?
However I am absolutely 'kin knackered. for the past 11 weeks, I have done nothing but lay-overs both East and West, European and ULR and my sleep patterns are completely screwed, so yes I tend to get a fair bit of time off, but alas I seem to spend most of it recovering!
And yes, I was only awarded 32 days leave (out of 45) this year. However last month (and purely by chance), I happened to spot a block of available leave suddenly appear on the leave bidding portal thing, so grabbed the opportunity to pounce on it before anyone else did! Yes its unfair, right place right time though
Merry Christmas boys and girls
Take care
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,777
Likes: 0
From: uae
I checked a few friends rosters because I wanted to see for myself if the other fleet was worth bidding.
15 pilots both 777/AB DEC/NOV bids
Dec total days off 147, Nov 97
more Vacation awarded in DEC than NOV
most days off ( not including rest days ) 14 and that was an AB guy
some guys only getting 2-4 days off in vacation months and they were 777
No idea which bid groups, know for a fact that some know the bid system very well
15 pilots both 777/AB DEC/NOV bids
Dec total days off 147, Nov 97
more Vacation awarded in DEC than NOV
most days off ( not including rest days ) 14 and that was an AB guy
some guys only getting 2-4 days off in vacation months and they were 777
No idea which bid groups, know for a fact that some know the bid system very well
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: In the State of Perpetual Confusion
A few things to think about:
By all accounts it is going to be a difficult year for recruiting. Quoted numbers are on the order of 550 to 600 pilots.
I have heard but not substantiated (this is a rumour network after all) that the above numbers include the use of flight time factoring for calculating required crew. (You remember when we were told that the company "didn't want to do it but the GCAA was making them."
)
The Virgin Australia/Korean/SIA factor. Depending on who you talk to and how it really pans out, resignations may pick up after the 2nd half of the year for folks departing to the above airlines. Resignations have been rather slow this year.
We will see what really happens but I certainly see the potential for it getting ugly in late 2008. For you starry eyed newcomers, ask some of the guys who were on the Airbus back when factoring was in full force what it was like.
By all accounts it is going to be a difficult year for recruiting. Quoted numbers are on the order of 550 to 600 pilots.
I have heard but not substantiated (this is a rumour network after all) that the above numbers include the use of flight time factoring for calculating required crew. (You remember when we were told that the company "didn't want to do it but the GCAA was making them."
)The Virgin Australia/Korean/SIA factor. Depending on who you talk to and how it really pans out, resignations may pick up after the 2nd half of the year for folks departing to the above airlines. Resignations have been rather slow this year.
We will see what really happens but I certainly see the potential for it getting ugly in late 2008. For you starry eyed newcomers, ask some of the guys who were on the Airbus back when factoring was in full force what it was like.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: In the Air
Rest days, how does that work? Are there so many days off you need between trips? OR after trips?
How many days off do you get between trips on average?
If someone wants to post there schedule here that would be great as well.
Thanks,
R or F
How many days off do you get between trips on average?
If someone wants to post there schedule here that would be great as well.
Thanks,
R or F