QR.........
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: the world
Bufe01 if you have a family, or you want to have a life...have a look at the "wet t-shirt contest in company housing" that should give you a good insight to "life" as we know it in qatar. The airline itself is like any other, but with tons of money to spend......life however is a whole different ballgame. depends on what your expectations are and how tolerant you are. 
let me just sum it up with this......get used to the color black. and leave all your normal shorts, t-shirts, dresses, bathing suites at home. they won't be needed or welcome here
let me just sum it up with this......get used to the color black. and leave all your normal shorts, t-shirts, dresses, bathing suites at home. they won't be needed or welcome here
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,068
Likes: 21
From: WORLD
Hello gents,
actually getreal I found that thread refreshening! Someone actually managed to keep a sense of humour! Thanks for the tips everybody!
How about company housing? Any good tip, description, types, where?
I'm married no kids.
Thanks
Bufe
actually getreal I found that thread refreshening! Someone actually managed to keep a sense of humour! Thanks for the tips everybody!
How about company housing? Any good tip, description, types, where?
I'm married no kids.
Thanks
Bufe
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: venus
..Tons of money to spend..Sure,..But just a few grammes for the crew...!.NO bonus!,NO profit share!No increase!No pension! just a Skinny end of service benefit!
Qatar .."liberal" country..?...well..compared to Saudi:yes..compared to any other place in the gulf :No .
Qatar .."liberal" country..?...well..compared to Saudi:yes..compared to any other place in the gulf :No .
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: qatar
QR cool airline
QR is the best airline .
You spend 6 y as F/O and when you reach a point to go for command OOOPS ther eis an intervew where any question can be trown .
You been waiting for 6 y and then what happen ? FAIL on intervew !
You think we joke ? Aske others : there is 32 % chance for you to pass.
You spend 6 y as F/O and when you reach a point to go for command OOOPS ther eis an intervew where any question can be trown .
You been waiting for 6 y and then what happen ? FAIL on intervew !
You think we joke ? Aske others : there is 32 % chance for you to pass.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: the world
bufe01 dude...glad you liked the thread and that it made you laugh. but keep in mind, i was talking about a company housing. the situation with the swim rules appear to be under control. the compound is really nice,,,,so less complaints
in my opinion all depends on if you come as a capt or f/o. f/o...dont bother
capt....different story. also depends on the flexibility of your wife. this place is not for everyone and the women tend to get board and shop
.
all in all....there are better places that are hiring at the moment
in my opinion all depends on if you come as a capt or f/o. f/o...dont bother capt....different story. also depends on the flexibility of your wife. this place is not for everyone and the women tend to get board and shop. all in all....there are better places that are hiring at the moment
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 0
From: middleast
Indeed Tomuchwork...People from the "euro" zone should stay away from here unless they like to loose money everyday...While some people don't even feel the pain of the devaluation of the U$...(and the Qatari riyal), others have seen their salaries devaluated by more than 40%!!!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Qatar
True facts from a non pilot point of view
I have been in Qatar now for a few years, now these are a few true facts about the country and about Qatar Airways. I am employed on the Technical (sorry, Engineering) side of the company.
Housing allowance at the moment includes a temporary allowance, including this temp allow it is still impossible to find accomodation (without sharing with other familes as our Indian colleagues do) due to the expense.
It is now rumoured that any wage increase (not before, quote 1st July as company is re-evaluating the complete package/structure unquote) will also result in the removal of this temp allow so therefore there will in effect be no wage increase as we will have to subsidise our rent out of our own pockets.
The company has an unwritten rule, you work late, usually 7pm every day and Saturdays also even though your contract states 3.30pm finish and Friday and Saturday off, the company does not pay overtime pay. If this is not acceptable to you, leave or be fired! The Indians will do this so it makes you look bad!
There has been no pay increase for the last two years even though inflation is running at 14% per year.
The only cheap commodity is fuel.
European swimwear is quite acceptable on private (hotel) beaches or public beaches, the only problem with women wearing bikinis on public beaches is invariably a Qatari will park at the edge of the water in his Land Cruiser watching and waiting for the woman to come out of the water so that he can ogle.
Litter on the public beaches is a very big problem, biggest culprits being the Qatari's and Indians.
Driving, is quite safe as long as you have your wits about you, you not only have to think about what your going to do next but try to predict what the two or three cars around you are going to do next and as they don't know how the hell do you?
The Qatari's drive fast and have to be first, this you get used to, they come behind you and flash their lights, just ignore them, stay in the lane your in if your driving at the maximum speed limit (if that's possible due to the queue's), they will just drive around you, the most dangerous drivers are the Indians, they truly do not know what they will do next, they approach roundabouts in the right hand lane and exit at the left hand exits cutting in front of anyone going straight ahead without warning.
They also sit in the centre lanes when both lanes either side are free because they are told at the time of their tests that this is safest, for them maybe, but they only prove to frustrate everyone else who then proceed to overtake on both sides of them.
Nobody uses indicators, nobody! except when there's fog and then the hazard warning lights come on, without putting headlights on, even when turning, so basically know one knows that they are going to turn.
Parking is impossible except at Villagio Mall which has a large car park.
Simple tip when driving is be aggressive, especially at roundabouts, get your nose in front and then you won't be chopped in.
To live here, basically, you get used to it, smile at the Qatari's and they smile back, sure they are arrogant but you get used to it.
The country in itself is ok, it's the Qatar Airways pay and in particular the housing that makes it difficult and makes everyone unhappy, if the company looked after you, treated you fair then life out here would be good but they don't, they just don't care which is very sad, so many people from all sectors are leaving every month thus costing the company money, if they looked after their employees (quote 'our employess are our No1 priority' unquote...that is one absolute bull!!!!! statement) the company would benefit.
Finally, beware, anyone planning to come to Qatar Airways, the Indians will stab you in the back, they believe that it is the only way for them to progress in the company and they are encouraged to do so.
Other than that, it's great here
)
As a footnote, I have no immediate plans to leave, I live in hope that the company will recognise us all financially...we can all dream can't we?
Housing allowance at the moment includes a temporary allowance, including this temp allow it is still impossible to find accomodation (without sharing with other familes as our Indian colleagues do) due to the expense.
It is now rumoured that any wage increase (not before, quote 1st July as company is re-evaluating the complete package/structure unquote) will also result in the removal of this temp allow so therefore there will in effect be no wage increase as we will have to subsidise our rent out of our own pockets.
The company has an unwritten rule, you work late, usually 7pm every day and Saturdays also even though your contract states 3.30pm finish and Friday and Saturday off, the company does not pay overtime pay. If this is not acceptable to you, leave or be fired! The Indians will do this so it makes you look bad!
There has been no pay increase for the last two years even though inflation is running at 14% per year.
The only cheap commodity is fuel.
European swimwear is quite acceptable on private (hotel) beaches or public beaches, the only problem with women wearing bikinis on public beaches is invariably a Qatari will park at the edge of the water in his Land Cruiser watching and waiting for the woman to come out of the water so that he can ogle.
Litter on the public beaches is a very big problem, biggest culprits being the Qatari's and Indians.
Driving, is quite safe as long as you have your wits about you, you not only have to think about what your going to do next but try to predict what the two or three cars around you are going to do next and as they don't know how the hell do you?
The Qatari's drive fast and have to be first, this you get used to, they come behind you and flash their lights, just ignore them, stay in the lane your in if your driving at the maximum speed limit (if that's possible due to the queue's), they will just drive around you, the most dangerous drivers are the Indians, they truly do not know what they will do next, they approach roundabouts in the right hand lane and exit at the left hand exits cutting in front of anyone going straight ahead without warning.
They also sit in the centre lanes when both lanes either side are free because they are told at the time of their tests that this is safest, for them maybe, but they only prove to frustrate everyone else who then proceed to overtake on both sides of them.
Nobody uses indicators, nobody! except when there's fog and then the hazard warning lights come on, without putting headlights on, even when turning, so basically know one knows that they are going to turn.
Parking is impossible except at Villagio Mall which has a large car park.
Simple tip when driving is be aggressive, especially at roundabouts, get your nose in front and then you won't be chopped in.
To live here, basically, you get used to it, smile at the Qatari's and they smile back, sure they are arrogant but you get used to it.
The country in itself is ok, it's the Qatar Airways pay and in particular the housing that makes it difficult and makes everyone unhappy, if the company looked after you, treated you fair then life out here would be good but they don't, they just don't care which is very sad, so many people from all sectors are leaving every month thus costing the company money, if they looked after their employees (quote 'our employess are our No1 priority' unquote...that is one absolute bull!!!!! statement) the company would benefit.
Finally, beware, anyone planning to come to Qatar Airways, the Indians will stab you in the back, they believe that it is the only way for them to progress in the company and they are encouraged to do so.
Other than that, it's great here
)As a footnote, I have no immediate plans to leave, I live in hope that the company will recognise us all financially...we can all dream can't we?
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 0
From: middleast
Dune surfer..
Just be careful ..you dare to criticize Qatari,indian way of driving.....How comes...?!
Sure some people will come here and say that you have to accept like it is...and that YOU are wrong....not them....Of course!!
Have to admit that after so many years here,i'm still amazed(daily) by the stupidity, selfishness and caotic way of driving here...
Still i can't understand what's happening in the brain of those drivers...
Just be careful ..you dare to criticize Qatari,indian way of driving.....
How comes...?!Sure some people will come here and say that you have to accept like it is...and that YOU are wrong....not them....Of course!!
Have to admit that after so many years here,i'm still amazed(daily) by the stupidity, selfishness and caotic way of driving here...
Still i can't understand what's happening in the brain of those drivers...
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: mostly on earth
Here comes another first world citizen bragging about how great and perfect he is and how imperfect the others are - Mr. Righteous Dune Surfer..
Watch out poor third world citizens as working long hours is a bad thing to do..and dont you know how to drive?
Lets ask Dune surfer to stop working and teach the world how to be perfect and make it a better place to live in.
Dune Surfer, if you were a wee bit educated the first thing they would have taught you is ' DONT GENERALIZE'.
Cheers and Out.
Mav.
Watch out poor third world citizens as working long hours is a bad thing to do..and dont you know how to drive?
Lets ask Dune surfer to stop working and teach the world how to be perfect and make it a better place to live in.
Dune Surfer, if you were a wee bit educated the first thing they would have taught you is ' DONT GENERALIZE'.
Cheers and Out.
Mav.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: MIDDLE EAST
The dune surfer post is delicate and stereotypes are bad, but accurate mostly, believe it or not , some people live in other 3rd world countries with less than 9 people in the same room, and you dont have to have an economic degree to know that if the average salary income in a country is 30us they come to doha and earn 200us a month is still a good deal!! so have respect to one persons opinion based on his background
Sadly just go around the offices and ask for any service from the secretaries or staff, first answer is NO but if you rise your voice and act like locals do they run and go crazy, and after talking to 5 to 10 subcontinent individuals you get what you need..... These staff are not qualified, they are in their positions because they have lived long enough to climb in the posts, why because their background allows them to survive the abuse and shortcomings of their salary.
Sadly just go around the offices and ask for any service from the secretaries or staff, first answer is NO but if you rise your voice and act like locals do they run and go crazy, and after talking to 5 to 10 subcontinent individuals you get what you need..... These staff are not qualified, they are in their positions because they have lived long enough to climb in the posts, why because their background allows them to survive the abuse and shortcomings of their salary.