EK(Emirates) whats the point joining?
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dubai
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EK(Emirates) whats the point joining?
To all EK wannabees,
Been asked heaps of questions what EK is like in hotels and from friends
The Good,
The guys (fellow Pilots) really great guys !
Good and clean planes (fellow pilots leaving the flight deck clean)
The audi that drives you to and from home, if the car goes i resign
!
Not bad routes and always somewhere new to fly to
Bad
1) they mess around a lot with what we had been given when joined years ago, seem to just keep taking from us , but not really breaking our contract, (as the over time) just a FOM page that gets replaced.
2) fly your ass off so all these new places you go to you tend sleeping in the room,
3) layover money very well reduced and some places taken away,
4)Basicly you cannot plan you life or you future as they change your benefits daily , guys with kids in schools are bleeding , now the dewa bills on top of that , so as a FO you are squeezed a lot ! no savings and Dubai is not cheap anymore either.
5) long wait for the upgrade for new joiners , not that thats a bad thing but you really squeezed for money as a FO.
6)Warning letters or even getting fired is as easy as just walking out of your house , as soon as you get into the audi till you get dropped off you are not safe, Forget your hat at home and you will get a letter, take a photo of the plane you just flew - fired, walking through the security scanners at EK they start treating you like sh1t , you get shouted at and spoken to as if you are dirt, complain and you are the wrong one.
7)Junior cabin crew reports the pilots and everyone as this way they can get points with EK they think!
8)Dubai safe as far as crime goes- but you are NOT safe in your job and you cannot trust the police either , you tell them a girl got raped or hurt , she gets kicked out under her arse, you just look at the wrong guy and you will be jailed , NOT safe and NOT secure
ALL i can say if you do have a job , do NOT come to the middle east as these guys do NOT honour the contracts and they will treat you like a house maid !
Good luck to all , EK will just get worse this year , wait and see
Been asked heaps of questions what EK is like in hotels and from friends
The Good,
The guys (fellow Pilots) really great guys !
Good and clean planes (fellow pilots leaving the flight deck clean)
The audi that drives you to and from home, if the car goes i resign
!
Not bad routes and always somewhere new to fly to
Bad
1) they mess around a lot with what we had been given when joined years ago, seem to just keep taking from us , but not really breaking our contract, (as the over time) just a FOM page that gets replaced.
2) fly your ass off so all these new places you go to you tend sleeping in the room,
3) layover money very well reduced and some places taken away,
4)Basicly you cannot plan you life or you future as they change your benefits daily , guys with kids in schools are bleeding , now the dewa bills on top of that , so as a FO you are squeezed a lot ! no savings and Dubai is not cheap anymore either.
5) long wait for the upgrade for new joiners , not that thats a bad thing but you really squeezed for money as a FO.
6)Warning letters or even getting fired is as easy as just walking out of your house , as soon as you get into the audi till you get dropped off you are not safe, Forget your hat at home and you will get a letter, take a photo of the plane you just flew - fired, walking through the security scanners at EK they start treating you like sh1t , you get shouted at and spoken to as if you are dirt, complain and you are the wrong one.
7)Junior cabin crew reports the pilots and everyone as this way they can get points with EK they think!
8)Dubai safe as far as crime goes- but you are NOT safe in your job and you cannot trust the police either , you tell them a girl got raped or hurt , she gets kicked out under her arse, you just look at the wrong guy and you will be jailed , NOT safe and NOT secure
ALL i can say if you do have a job , do NOT come to the middle east as these guys do NOT honour the contracts and they will treat you like a house maid !
Good luck to all , EK will just get worse this year , wait and see
Join Date: Sep 2006
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modesh,
nobody will believe you just like you didn't believe it when you were warned, everybody who joined after 2003 shouldn't complain because it was all over the net how bad EK became, you own fault if you don't do a little research.
nobody will believe you just like you didn't believe it when you were warned, everybody who joined after 2003 shouldn't complain because it was all over the net how bad EK became, you own fault if you don't do a little research.
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I dont think its that bad, I quite enjoy it actually. Its not perfect but where is!!!
Lifestyle is good, a lot of good flying and the company does look after you.
Thats my opinion anyway.
Lifestyle is good, a lot of good flying and the company does look after you.
Thats my opinion anyway.
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Goretex is correct. If you joined after 2003 then you should not complain about changing conditions as the precedent was already set.
Overall, still not a bad place to be in but remember that things are always subject to change. Unfortunately most of the change is normally for the worse.
Overall, still not a bad place to be in but remember that things are always subject to change. Unfortunately most of the change is normally for the worse.
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I suppose the fact of the matter is that we are all adults and each individual will make the judgement call to join or not join EK based on their own personal circumstances.
With the amount of information given on these forums, one can hardly say they are not informed, however, EK can be a good transit point to gather ones thoughts etc.. before moving on. That would make it semi attractive, especially if your current situation is going tits up.
For my money, EK has certainly taken some major steps backwards from when I joined so many hot summers ago. Most of the what I read regarding the poor state of the working environment is true, the city of Dubai has gotten bigger but has lost it's soul and I seem to spend more time now reminiscing of the balmy nights camped at Mina Seyahi before the DIMC was built, than admiring another new skyscraper. Oops, was that another senior moment??
With the amount of information given on these forums, one can hardly say they are not informed, however, EK can be a good transit point to gather ones thoughts etc.. before moving on. That would make it semi attractive, especially if your current situation is going tits up.
For my money, EK has certainly taken some major steps backwards from when I joined so many hot summers ago. Most of the what I read regarding the poor state of the working environment is true, the city of Dubai has gotten bigger but has lost it's soul and I seem to spend more time now reminiscing of the balmy nights camped at Mina Seyahi before the DIMC was built, than admiring another new skyscraper. Oops, was that another senior moment??
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Just recently got an invite for interview but not sure if it is worth the effort after reading on these forums. Lived and flew in Bahrain 12yrs ago so dealt with the Middle East before, but much has changed since. Plus have family this time.
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You have to ask what guys are expecting when they join. You cannot change Dubai and underneath the veneer there is and undercurrent of vice and drugs but tell me where else this isn't the case. As to the locals being able to get away with anything, I would have said that was only partially true but having seen what happened to Shk Issar, it has made me less likely to stay for a full career if I can escape.
The reality of any of the expat jobs is that the days of being able to come to a country, live the life of Riley, save loads of cash and go home in 10 years has been long gone. The EK FO Salary in 1992 was about 15k, in 2000 about 17k (both with no flying pay), now it is 27k with a full months flying. Betweeen 92 and now prices in Dubai have increased by over 150% taking the official government figures. If you apply that to the FO pay in '92 it adds up to about 37k. The point is that a Captain now earns in real terms what an FO did in 1990 but that is probably true around the industry.
If you look at what EK gives it certainly isn't the worst but a demographic shift has caused problems. The school allowances are aimed at the Brit schools, the US schools can cost double; that is a serious issue if you are a septic with 3 kids. The time to upgrade has drifted from 18 months to probably 7 years. Essentially guys came to EK suffered a (back then) good FO salary for 2 or 3 years and got promoted to the land of riches. Now they will have to (in western terms) struggle for 6 or 7 years until they are promoted and then they will achieve a competitive global salary that is better than some and worst than the best.
The cost control and productivity measures over the last year have not been presented to the troops well but we all still have a job which is not the case at many other airlines. Coming onto PPrune and complaining isn't going to change much, what will is market forces. When other businesses start to expand and EK can't get the talent it needs it will up the package to attract recruits. Until then nothing will happen. However, the 90% that are on this site and think everything would be ok elsewhere need to wake up to the realities of the new airline business model. Low cost, low profit. As to fatigue, if you are unfit don't fly! Sadly many still will because they want the 45 AED/hour it brings. As long as that goes on the company knows cash is the real issue which they can afford to fix later.
A view from the other sand dune.
The reality of any of the expat jobs is that the days of being able to come to a country, live the life of Riley, save loads of cash and go home in 10 years has been long gone. The EK FO Salary in 1992 was about 15k, in 2000 about 17k (both with no flying pay), now it is 27k with a full months flying. Betweeen 92 and now prices in Dubai have increased by over 150% taking the official government figures. If you apply that to the FO pay in '92 it adds up to about 37k. The point is that a Captain now earns in real terms what an FO did in 1990 but that is probably true around the industry.
If you look at what EK gives it certainly isn't the worst but a demographic shift has caused problems. The school allowances are aimed at the Brit schools, the US schools can cost double; that is a serious issue if you are a septic with 3 kids. The time to upgrade has drifted from 18 months to probably 7 years. Essentially guys came to EK suffered a (back then) good FO salary for 2 or 3 years and got promoted to the land of riches. Now they will have to (in western terms) struggle for 6 or 7 years until they are promoted and then they will achieve a competitive global salary that is better than some and worst than the best.
The cost control and productivity measures over the last year have not been presented to the troops well but we all still have a job which is not the case at many other airlines. Coming onto PPrune and complaining isn't going to change much, what will is market forces. When other businesses start to expand and EK can't get the talent it needs it will up the package to attract recruits. Until then nothing will happen. However, the 90% that are on this site and think everything would be ok elsewhere need to wake up to the realities of the new airline business model. Low cost, low profit. As to fatigue, if you are unfit don't fly! Sadly many still will because they want the 45 AED/hour it brings. As long as that goes on the company knows cash is the real issue which they can afford to fix later.
A view from the other sand dune.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Good point: Non Punative Policy
You will be pleased to learn that EK has a non punative policy in regard to Flight Safety matters.
This was the statement made at the recent SMS seminar in Emirates Training Facilty Block B, to perhaps a hundred safety experts.
One can all rest soundly in our beds / bunks / bed spaces assured that should there be an incident, that EK will not dismiss us, but will investiage the incident, and put procecures in place to ensure enhanced safety.
Sleep well.
glf
This was the statement made at the recent SMS seminar in Emirates Training Facilty Block B, to perhaps a hundred safety experts.
One can all rest soundly in our beds / bunks / bed spaces assured that should there be an incident, that EK will not dismiss us, but will investiage the incident, and put procecures in place to ensure enhanced safety.
Sleep well.
glf
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Examples of the respect we earn as pilots at emirates
Just a couple of stories that illustrate the crap that we have to put up with here. Ill try and keep it short.
A flight proceeds to destination A in the middle east. Another proceeds to destination B. On arrival at destination B the FO hands his training file to the Capt to be signed off for that sector, only problem is said Capt is not a training Capt. This flight is now grounded at dest B.
Capt on flight to destination A (who is a training Capt) is contacted by company and told to return to dubai via Destination B to pick up the pax.
Capt does as instructed.
After return to dubai, some time later, Capt is summonsed to the police station. (maybe run a red light, speeding, who knows)
Actually what has happened is that a local passenger on board has spat the dummy over the inconvenience of having diverted and used his contacts in the police to haul the Capt in and have him interrogated over the matter. And NO it was not a talking to it was an interrogation.
The horse turns up and is told to piss off so said Capt has to put up with this **** all day until he gets released with the help of his own North American embassy.
No apologies from the police, the company, the management NO NOTHIN.
Said Senior Capt is due for leave and has time to settle down, and on return resigns from his training position in protest.
Story two...
Two Capts proceed through security to enter the police compound (EK briefing).
Both set off the metal detector, police respond with their usual manners (“SHOES, WATCH”) pointing at one Capt shoes, and the others watch. One Capt has the gall to ask why one has to remove his shoes and one his watch.
Said 20 something year old police person takes exception to this scum bag infidel pilot questioning him, and takes his details, then invites him to the interrogation room for questioning.
As a result of the delay the Capt is removed from the flight, and told to go home to be assigned another flight.
Some time later the Capt is asked to return to EK briefing in uniform. He does so, and is then bundled in a police car and driven to a police station for a further round of interrogation.
In the course of having to fend for himself, being abandoned by the company as usual, and having to sign statements written in arabic, the most insulting bit was being marched into an office and being told to salute the police man sitting at the desk.
Welcome to the middle east, and emirates
btw I suspect the company has employed a few spin doctors in an attempt to counter the negativity they have caused, as some of the posts recently don't seem quite Kosher.
A flight proceeds to destination A in the middle east. Another proceeds to destination B. On arrival at destination B the FO hands his training file to the Capt to be signed off for that sector, only problem is said Capt is not a training Capt. This flight is now grounded at dest B.
Capt on flight to destination A (who is a training Capt) is contacted by company and told to return to dubai via Destination B to pick up the pax.
Capt does as instructed.
After return to dubai, some time later, Capt is summonsed to the police station. (maybe run a red light, speeding, who knows)
Actually what has happened is that a local passenger on board has spat the dummy over the inconvenience of having diverted and used his contacts in the police to haul the Capt in and have him interrogated over the matter. And NO it was not a talking to it was an interrogation.
The horse turns up and is told to piss off so said Capt has to put up with this **** all day until he gets released with the help of his own North American embassy.
No apologies from the police, the company, the management NO NOTHIN.
Said Senior Capt is due for leave and has time to settle down, and on return resigns from his training position in protest.
Story two...
Two Capts proceed through security to enter the police compound (EK briefing).
Both set off the metal detector, police respond with their usual manners (“SHOES, WATCH”) pointing at one Capt shoes, and the others watch. One Capt has the gall to ask why one has to remove his shoes and one his watch.
Said 20 something year old police person takes exception to this scum bag infidel pilot questioning him, and takes his details, then invites him to the interrogation room for questioning.
As a result of the delay the Capt is removed from the flight, and told to go home to be assigned another flight.
Some time later the Capt is asked to return to EK briefing in uniform. He does so, and is then bundled in a police car and driven to a police station for a further round of interrogation.
In the course of having to fend for himself, being abandoned by the company as usual, and having to sign statements written in arabic, the most insulting bit was being marched into an office and being told to salute the police man sitting at the desk.
Welcome to the middle east, and emirates
btw I suspect the company has employed a few spin doctors in an attempt to counter the negativity they have caused, as some of the posts recently don't seem quite Kosher.
Last edited by allaru; 24th Jan 2010 at 00:56.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Regarding story 2 allaru - I always heed advice I was given years ago as a young laddie... Never argue with airport police, customs, security or immigration... As you can see it just ain't worth it
Take off the damn watch and shoes or they WILL give you a hard time
PS slip on shoes are a lot easier and one of my best investments
Take off the damn watch and shoes or they WILL give you a hard timePS slip on shoes are a lot easier and one of my best investments
allaru,
VERY interested to hear your source for those two stories.
I haven't been here that long, but was here and in traing as a TRI when the incident with the student and non-trainer happened. I have NEVER heard anything about anyone being hauled in by the Police about it, nor about what was outlined in story number two.
Do you have first hand knowledge of either, or are you simply perpetuating Urban Myths?
Plenty of bad stuff happens here. VA getting his wife slung in Jail, the recent British girl getting arrested after reporting a rape, certainly the list goes on. That doesn't mean any BS story should be perpetuated if it just aint true.
VERY interested to hear your source for those two stories.
I haven't been here that long, but was here and in traing as a TRI when the incident with the student and non-trainer happened. I have NEVER heard anything about anyone being hauled in by the Police about it, nor about what was outlined in story number two.
Do you have first hand knowledge of either, or are you simply perpetuating Urban Myths?
Plenty of bad stuff happens here. VA getting his wife slung in Jail, the recent British girl getting arrested after reporting a rape, certainly the list goes on. That doesn't mean any BS story should be perpetuated if it just aint true.
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You don't have the right to ask for an attorney?
If authorities/police have any questions about a flight, I would always refer to 'the company'.
It happens too many times that silly departments/agencies/prosecuters etc.. start their own investigation without having proper knowledge and/or authority to support conclusions they already made up.
If authorities/police have any questions about a flight, I would always refer to 'the company'.
It happens too many times that silly departments/agencies/prosecuters etc.. start their own investigation without having proper knowledge and/or authority to support conclusions they already made up.
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'Heavens to Murgatroyd' wizza fuzz what does a guy have to do to be believed...there have been as many cadet/training captain incidents, as there have been 330 only rated pilots turning up outstation to find a 340 parked on the bay, or worse still a 777.
Climb 2,
Thanks for that.
allura,
If you make a quote like that, you really ought to be sure about your own facts.
Yes, there have been such incidents, as there have been at every airline I have worked for.
You story specified that a Captain was dragged in by the local plod because he obeyed a company direction. I find that hard to believe and the fact that you haven't said you have first hand knowledge of the people involved indicates to me that you are probably spreading a basless rumour.
Like I said, plenty of bad stuff happens in the UAE, and I take 410s word if he knows the guy concerned in your second story, but I don't think the first one is true, and you don't seem to be able to back it up.
Thanks for that.
allura,
btw I suspect the company has employed a few spin doctors in an attempt to counter the negativity they have caused, as some of the posts recently don't seem quite Kosher.
Yes, there have been such incidents, as there have been at every airline I have worked for.
You story specified that a Captain was dragged in by the local plod because he obeyed a company direction. I find that hard to believe and the fact that you haven't said you have first hand knowledge of the people involved indicates to me that you are probably spreading a basless rumour.
Like I said, plenty of bad stuff happens in the UAE, and I take 410s word if he knows the guy concerned in your second story, but I don't think the first one is true, and you don't seem to be able to back it up.
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Government inflation figures. If you actually go around the various shops you can get all sorts of different deals but that is not the point; it is magnitude and the Capt to F/O angle is about right.
As to the training incidents. Yeah there have been a few but the police story is just that. As to the UAE being all bad, try pissing off a security guard at JFK and see what comes back. As to
. That'll be not very many then but that is why the stars appeared.
It amazes me how a few guys wish to get the dirty washing out or even make it up and slag EK as if they are the worst employer ever. Try Qatar, JAL (15400 jobs gone), all the US majors who furlough at will, Sabena, SAS, Globespan etc etc etc. I'd rather have the job I have now than any number of other jobs around the industry for one reason alone; security. Many carriers didn't just not pay the increment they ditched 20% of the junior pilots and the pension schemes to boot.
Please tell me which jobs are so much better; why and why everyone isn't flocking to them all together. Korean, Turkish.....great if you need to commute and are prepared to eat sh1t to do so otherwise what planet are you on. Virgin, they looked after the crews nicely in 2002...not! I am not blinded to shortcomings nor any less frustrated due to some of the changes than the next guy but get real if it really is as bad as some say why would anyone stay?
I'll now listen to the usual Ed's stooge arguments or that I made a fortune in the property market blah but nothing could be further from the truth. My kids get a decent education, my family likes being here, I've got some good mates and get to escape every now and then for a holiday. I can't afford to go out as often as I used to and would love to be a banker getting a 10mil bonus but I am certain all the bitching in the world won't make it happen but it will make me a sad cynical tosser. My priorities will change, my kids will grow and I will eventually move on but I doubt the decision I make will have anything to do with going to a significantly better job but rather a lifestyle change for the family.
A view from the other sand dune.
As to the training incidents. Yeah there have been a few but the police story is just that. As to the UAE being all bad, try pissing off a security guard at JFK and see what comes back. As to
there have been as many cadet/training captain incidents, as there have been 330 only rated pilots turning up outstation to find a 340 parked on the bay, or worse still a 777.
It amazes me how a few guys wish to get the dirty washing out or even make it up and slag EK as if they are the worst employer ever. Try Qatar, JAL (15400 jobs gone), all the US majors who furlough at will, Sabena, SAS, Globespan etc etc etc. I'd rather have the job I have now than any number of other jobs around the industry for one reason alone; security. Many carriers didn't just not pay the increment they ditched 20% of the junior pilots and the pension schemes to boot.
Please tell me which jobs are so much better; why and why everyone isn't flocking to them all together. Korean, Turkish.....great if you need to commute and are prepared to eat sh1t to do so otherwise what planet are you on. Virgin, they looked after the crews nicely in 2002...not! I am not blinded to shortcomings nor any less frustrated due to some of the changes than the next guy but get real if it really is as bad as some say why would anyone stay?
I'll now listen to the usual Ed's stooge arguments or that I made a fortune in the property market blah but nothing could be further from the truth. My kids get a decent education, my family likes being here, I've got some good mates and get to escape every now and then for a holiday. I can't afford to go out as often as I used to and would love to be a banker getting a 10mil bonus but I am certain all the bitching in the world won't make it happen but it will make me a sad cynical tosser. My priorities will change, my kids will grow and I will eventually move on but I doubt the decision I make will have anything to do with going to a significantly better job but rather a lifestyle change for the family.
A view from the other sand dune.
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There is no point in joining EK (unless of course your are so desparate you can't feed your family)
I suspect that even pilots from areas of the world with a currency much lower than the DHS, and lifestyles (crime rates etc), not conducive to a happy existence....... will soon learn that Emirates and Dubai are not conducive to a happy existence either.
After a few years (months usually), the shine wears off and you realize you are trapped here and wish you never came. Honestly, Dubai is a nightmare in many respects.
Emirates Airline's treatment of pilots has to be in the bottom 5% of all airlines in the world, in spite of the fact, that they don't have to, based on economics and profit, but simply because they choose to do so!
Emirates Airline's approach to management of pilots is actually worse than companies who have somewhat justifiable excuses to destroy Terms and Conditions and hence lifestyle. EK does it because they can get away with it and they perceive it will increase their profits.
I have had a couple 'desparate' times in my airline career, but knowing what I know now about Emirates Airline, this place would never be on my list of options.
Seriously... it would take an entire book to explain the negatives about Dubai and this job. Yes there are some good points, but most of those are continually being eroded.
-death on the road is a possibility on each drive
-Police intervention that probably won't go in your favor regardless of the laws
-T&C's that change weekly, and always towards the negative
-FATIGUE FATIGUE FATIGUE
-a rostering system that favors the few and punishes the majority
-a rostering department that is not only incompetent, but also arrogant and UN-accountable, which coincided exactly with the time frame they were taken over by 'LOCALS' without a clue or regard for flight safety.
-****e layovers now, min rest and occasionally the worst hotels imaginable (NBO for eg.)
-a management team who decrees that we act as leaders, yet they have no concept of what leadership means
-corruption akin to earlier days of Gulf Air
-Flight Time Limitations that defy logic
-10 daily rants from the 8000 local establishments of religious zeal, ..... over Dolby Surround Sound speakers. It's mind boggling except it does achieve the goal of brainwashing
-Flying with generally good guys until you upgrade and fly with a surprising percentage of extremely inexperienced guys who are also handicapped because they are so bitter about their lives in Dubai. (understandable actually, but not conducive to Flight Safety)
-flying with the NEW generation of Emiratized cadets, who are about 50% less competent as previous generations of cadets.
-dealing with cabin crew who simply don't understand the chain of command, how to deal with issues and most importantly, would not perform admirably in an emergency scenario.
-very very very little time off, to interact with friends and family
-YOU will not have a good life in Dubai other than some good destinations but with minimum time off. But your life IN Dubai will not be a happy existence, regardless of how hard you try to take advantage of the perks. You will be too tired and pissed off to make the effort!
-Agreeably, there are really decent, intelligent and nice pilots and cabin crew at EK, but that percentage is declining as well. This company takes what they can get now, without due regard for the implications.
I could go on and on, especially regarding our T&C decline but most people already know about those facts.
I don't know ONE person who is working for Emirates Airline, who thinks this airline is headed in the right direction. That sentence should sum up everything about your decision to come here. Heed the warnings or suffer the consequences.
Dubai truly is a disgusting place for people with morals and values in life. If you are just passing through on the way to your next airline job, then perhaps your decision might be justifiable. Otherwise, RUN AWAY from this place as fast as humanly possible, haha
Just my opinion yes, and I truly hope I am wrong but for the life of me, I don't see a happy outcome for this place.
I suspect that even pilots from areas of the world with a currency much lower than the DHS, and lifestyles (crime rates etc), not conducive to a happy existence....... will soon learn that Emirates and Dubai are not conducive to a happy existence either.
After a few years (months usually), the shine wears off and you realize you are trapped here and wish you never came. Honestly, Dubai is a nightmare in many respects.
Emirates Airline's treatment of pilots has to be in the bottom 5% of all airlines in the world, in spite of the fact, that they don't have to, based on economics and profit, but simply because they choose to do so!
Emirates Airline's approach to management of pilots is actually worse than companies who have somewhat justifiable excuses to destroy Terms and Conditions and hence lifestyle. EK does it because they can get away with it and they perceive it will increase their profits.
I have had a couple 'desparate' times in my airline career, but knowing what I know now about Emirates Airline, this place would never be on my list of options.
Seriously... it would take an entire book to explain the negatives about Dubai and this job. Yes there are some good points, but most of those are continually being eroded.
-death on the road is a possibility on each drive
-Police intervention that probably won't go in your favor regardless of the laws
-T&C's that change weekly, and always towards the negative
-FATIGUE FATIGUE FATIGUE
-a rostering system that favors the few and punishes the majority
-a rostering department that is not only incompetent, but also arrogant and UN-accountable, which coincided exactly with the time frame they were taken over by 'LOCALS' without a clue or regard for flight safety.
-****e layovers now, min rest and occasionally the worst hotels imaginable (NBO for eg.)
-a management team who decrees that we act as leaders, yet they have no concept of what leadership means
-corruption akin to earlier days of Gulf Air
-Flight Time Limitations that defy logic
-10 daily rants from the 8000 local establishments of religious zeal, ..... over Dolby Surround Sound speakers. It's mind boggling except it does achieve the goal of brainwashing
-Flying with generally good guys until you upgrade and fly with a surprising percentage of extremely inexperienced guys who are also handicapped because they are so bitter about their lives in Dubai. (understandable actually, but not conducive to Flight Safety)
-flying with the NEW generation of Emiratized cadets, who are about 50% less competent as previous generations of cadets.
-dealing with cabin crew who simply don't understand the chain of command, how to deal with issues and most importantly, would not perform admirably in an emergency scenario.
-very very very little time off, to interact with friends and family
-YOU will not have a good life in Dubai other than some good destinations but with minimum time off. But your life IN Dubai will not be a happy existence, regardless of how hard you try to take advantage of the perks. You will be too tired and pissed off to make the effort!
-Agreeably, there are really decent, intelligent and nice pilots and cabin crew at EK, but that percentage is declining as well. This company takes what they can get now, without due regard for the implications.
I could go on and on, especially regarding our T&C decline but most people already know about those facts.
I don't know ONE person who is working for Emirates Airline, who thinks this airline is headed in the right direction. That sentence should sum up everything about your decision to come here. Heed the warnings or suffer the consequences.
Dubai truly is a disgusting place for people with morals and values in life. If you are just passing through on the way to your next airline job, then perhaps your decision might be justifiable. Otherwise, RUN AWAY from this place as fast as humanly possible, haha
Just my opinion yes, and I truly hope I am wrong but for the life of me, I don't see a happy outcome for this place.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DXB
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Both set off the metal detector, police respond with their usual manners (“SHOES, WATCH”) pointing at one Capt shoes, and the others watch. One Capt has the gall to ask why one has to remove his shoes and one his watch.
Pilots are often complaining about the lack of knowledge of security staffs but some aren't obviously familiar with these basic tools:
