Gulf Air Developments
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Middle East
HSBC?
IF you're looking to transfer money in other currency than dollars, have a look at some of the local banks. Ithmaarbank and Kuwait Finance House often offer FAR better exchange rates... and they pay in your salary quicker than HSBC.
IF you're looking to transfer money in other currency than dollars, have a look at some of the local banks. Ithmaarbank and Kuwait Finance House often offer FAR better exchange rates... and they pay in your salary quicker than HSBC.
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
From: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Best exchange rates for Euros, Sterling and Dollars is through BMI right in the Gulf Air HDQ. Yes, the service is perhaps not quite as good as HSBC, however it is extremely convenient and GF employees qualify for a no annual fee Visa card. There is an ATM just a few foot steps from Ops which dispenses various currencies.
Get a Diners Club card through BMI and it opens the doors to hundreds of Airport Lounges around the world (including all the Middle Eastern ones) for free. At 40BD per year, it offers a great value to fritter away the time in a more civilized manner as you sit around with your ID90 or Leave Ticket. While the other plebs are paying extortional prices for refreshments and nibbles and bits or trying to cozy up on the institutional-like seating in airports like Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, Frankfurt, Bangkok, etc., you can be enjoying a glass of wine, a light snack, surfing the free internet or even taking a shower before your connecting flight.
I used to be an HSBC customer for over 5 years in Bahrain but finally got fed up with their fees. Yes, it is a global bank but it is only as good as the employees at the local branch.
Had an auto-loan when I joined with Standard Charter. All I can suggest is stay far, far away from these BANDITS!!!
I defected to Khaleeji Commercial Bank with which I am EXTREMELY pleased. They only have a few branches but they make me feel like a VIP whenever I go visit their branch at the Financial Harbour. I can use any ATM machine in Bahrain at no fee. For squirling away money, I get about 4%-4.5% annual interest on one of their Mudarabah Accounts, as long as I maintain a minimum balance of at least 10,000 BHD throughout the period.
Get a Diners Club card through BMI and it opens the doors to hundreds of Airport Lounges around the world (including all the Middle Eastern ones) for free. At 40BD per year, it offers a great value to fritter away the time in a more civilized manner as you sit around with your ID90 or Leave Ticket. While the other plebs are paying extortional prices for refreshments and nibbles and bits or trying to cozy up on the institutional-like seating in airports like Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, Frankfurt, Bangkok, etc., you can be enjoying a glass of wine, a light snack, surfing the free internet or even taking a shower before your connecting flight.
I used to be an HSBC customer for over 5 years in Bahrain but finally got fed up with their fees. Yes, it is a global bank but it is only as good as the employees at the local branch.
Had an auto-loan when I joined with Standard Charter. All I can suggest is stay far, far away from these BANDITS!!!
I defected to Khaleeji Commercial Bank with which I am EXTREMELY pleased. They only have a few branches but they make me feel like a VIP whenever I go visit their branch at the Financial Harbour. I can use any ATM machine in Bahrain at no fee. For squirling away money, I get about 4%-4.5% annual interest on one of their Mudarabah Accounts, as long as I maintain a minimum balance of at least 10,000 BHD throughout the period.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Middle East
Definitely don't go to BMI or HSBC (or any other of the big banks: Standard Chartered or CitiBank for that matter) regarding exchange rates. 99.99% of the time it's the local banks that offer the best exchange rates on international transfers.
My advice check on the day of transfer with a couple of banks and compare their rates and you'll find some of the local banks work out cheapest!
My advice check on the day of transfer with a couple of banks and compare their rates and you'll find some of the local banks work out cheapest!
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
From: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Read on Flight Global that United Airways (of Bangladesh) recently got ruled by a court of law to change its brand name and repaint its aircraft after a case was brought against it by the US major airline United Airlines.
Court orders Bangladesh's United Airways to repaint fleet
It reminded me of this story which some of us will remember from during the Näf-era.
PICTURES: Gulf Air investigates as Paraguayan carrier shows off near-identical livery
It is flattering to know that others think that we have an attractive corporate design. And what has become of this clear-cut and blatent plagarism of an aircraft livery and theft of corporate branding? Well, here you go:
This photo was supposedly taken in Florianopolis on January 13, 2010.
Are these people still in business or have they been taught a lesson?
Court orders Bangladesh's United Airways to repaint fleet
It reminded me of this story which some of us will remember from during the Näf-era.
PICTURES: Gulf Air investigates as Paraguayan carrier shows off near-identical livery
It is flattering to know that others think that we have an attractive corporate design. And what has become of this clear-cut and blatent plagarism of an aircraft livery and theft of corporate branding? Well, here you go:
This photo was supposedly taken in Florianopolis on January 13, 2010.
Are these people still in business or have they been taught a lesson?
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Persian Gulf
Hope I never get rostered....
8 suicide bombers, 10 others killed in attack at Kabul Inter-Continental hotel
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Eight suicide bombers attacked Kabul's Hotel Inter-Continental in a brazen, carefully orchestrated operation that began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, ending with their deaths and those of 10 others, officials said.
8 suicide bombers, 10 others killed in attack at Kabul hotel - CNN.com
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Eight suicide bombers attacked Kabul's Hotel Inter-Continental in a brazen, carefully orchestrated operation that began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, ending with their deaths and those of 10 others, officials said.
8 suicide bombers, 10 others killed in attack at Kabul hotel - CNN.com
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Middle of no where
Staff travel sucks....
Staff travel is for sure THE WORST department in Gulf Air, the staff are lazy make some stupid mistakes and they are NOT helpfull at all. The PC around are old and so hard to find the right "icon", the new manager are so busy with his "new friends" and pretty lost too......and we need to wait and wait ....what to do Iaaneeee.... 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Manama
HSBC Bahrain is the most appalling bank I have ever come across. There ave been 2 frauds on my account and the second one, the bank said it was me. I would avoid HSBC like the plague, absolutely dreadful people
I had charges on my credit card in bahrain whilst down route and they said I had used my card in Bahrain. drrrrrJoined: Aug 2007
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: way down south
So thanks to the COO N.S. decision last year to reduce to reporting times for crews in Bah-so that he can claim another bonus due to cost cutting, the managers(?) upstairs have finally realized that we don not have sufficient time in Bah to complete all the relevant preflight tasks. So now they are running a survey on "Utilising every minute" in order to point the finger at crews, once again, for our crap ontime performance.
When will any of our management(?) every grows a spine & stand up for the crews & more importantly safety.
Expect even more radical cost cutting & safety reducing measures from the desk jockeys upstairs.
As far as those of you looking to join GF-please use GF only as a stepping stone to a better career do not fool yourself into thinking it is a long term career option since thats what many of us have done & have become victims of circumstances. If you have any P1 time of A320s hold back on your application since very soon, contrary to DFO H.F., direct entry captains will be accepted soon.
When will any of our management(?) every grows a spine & stand up for the crews & more importantly safety.
Expect even more radical cost cutting & safety reducing measures from the desk jockeys upstairs.
As far as those of you looking to join GF-please use GF only as a stepping stone to a better career do not fool yourself into thinking it is a long term career option since thats what many of us have done & have become victims of circumstances. If you have any P1 time of A320s hold back on your application since very soon, contrary to DFO H.F., direct entry captains will be accepted soon.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: SandBox
Mephistopheles,
Have you seen my earlier post
( GULF1666 - Direct Entry Rated Captains for Airbus A320 - Gulf Air ) it is already happening, they will be here this month for the company course.
Have you seen my earlier post
( GULF1666 - Direct Entry Rated Captains for Airbus A320 - Gulf Air ) it is already happening, they will be here this month for the company course.
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: UK
Some more info here; Gulf Air to miss 2012 breakeven target, CEO says - Transport - ArabianBusiness.com
Breakeven not until early/mid 2013. More redundancies coming. (low numbers) If I read this right, does it mean there are 2 more E170's coming, totalling 4 E170's and 2 E190's?
Breakeven not until early/mid 2013. More redundancies coming. (low numbers) If I read this right, does it mean there are 2 more E170's coming, totalling 4 E170's and 2 E190's?
