EK Staff travel with kids
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EK Staff travel with kids
I have seen some conflicting info on staff travel with kids. Apparently, kids not allowed J class for F/O's, so does this mean that if Y class is full, you won't get on with the family even if there are empty seats in J or F? Would they not bump up revenue passengers instead? If this is the case, do some staff consider other airlines like BA for staff travel on ID90 as as they DO provide business seats even for kids if no economy is available?
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It's true that F/O's kids cannot use J class (stupid rule!!), but if you have a firm ticket, they should not be bumped off the flight.
If you only have a Standby ticket, by the very nature of standby, obviously they can be bumped!
This is why when travelling with the kids, I would only book confirmed unless the flight is wide open (which rarely happens!).
Hope this helps?
If you only have a Standby ticket, by the very nature of standby, obviously they can be bumped!
This is why when travelling with the kids, I would only book confirmed unless the flight is wide open (which rarely happens!).
Hope this helps?
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The way I understand it, it's that you can't even buy Cat C tickets in J class for kids because of the staff age limit?
The way I understand it, F/O's kids ride in Y no matter what, unless you buy full fare. Am I wrong?
The way I understand it, F/O's kids ride in Y no matter what, unless you buy full fare. Am I wrong?
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Commanche,
Not only that the kids are in cattle class ( for FO's) one parent must be there with them as well. makes those 16 hrs LAX/SFO/IAH's more joyful.
Of course on upgrade, it's J class but no F for the kids/one parent.
And no, they will not upgrade you on space available basis and they will not upgrade passengers to make room for you either.
Not only that the kids are in cattle class ( for FO's) one parent must be there with them as well. makes those 16 hrs LAX/SFO/IAH's more joyful.
Of course on upgrade, it's J class but no F for the kids/one parent.
And no, they will not upgrade you on space available basis and they will not upgrade passengers to make room for you either.
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Comanche
You're doing the right research before you make the decision, some guys just jump at the job and never stop whining.
Keep exploring area's that are not clear to you. My advice, if you're out of work right now, then come across. If you have a job, forget about the temptation of flying a new wide bodied aircraft at EK, it's only another aircraft, think out your lifestyle that will change.
You may find that your salary could double by coming here but it's the price that you pay for being here, in my opinion they don't pay enough.
Good luck with your decision
You're doing the right research before you make the decision, some guys just jump at the job and never stop whining.
Keep exploring area's that are not clear to you. My advice, if you're out of work right now, then come across. If you have a job, forget about the temptation of flying a new wide bodied aircraft at EK, it's only another aircraft, think out your lifestyle that will change.
You may find that your salary could double by coming here but it's the price that you pay for being here, in my opinion they don't pay enough.
Good luck with your decision
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By joining EK as an FO, my take-home pay now as a skipper would be divided by almost 50%. However, when making a decision I only take into account disposable income. So I compare the money I have to spend in DXB and here in Europe after paying my mortgage, council tax, utilities and schools. Also, if I want to send my kids to good schools here in Europe they would take a very big chunk out of my income. HOWEVER, if I cannot even get my kids into an affordable school the first year in DXB because most are all full, I would be very frustrated to begin with. Add on that being denied boarding a flight with family on SBY tickets because there is no space in Y class, with still empty seats in business, that would really not make my day. Don't care too much about flying a shiny wide body, the ones I fly now are shiny anyway, but getting tired of doing the same 12 - 15 (ultra) short routes all year long from my base. Spend about 10% of my block hours in cruise, the rest in stepped descents, climbs, taxiing and stressful turnarounds.
So just to clarify......if I turn up with kids on non-firm tickets say going on holiday to Mauritius, do they turn me away even if there are seats in business? That's certainly not the way other airlines work. Very few would leave behind staff (even other airline staff) with still unfilled seats in the A/C.
Some may say I am overthinking this too much, but it is better to know the the facts before joining so there are less nasty surprises.
So just to clarify......if I turn up with kids on non-firm tickets say going on holiday to Mauritius, do they turn me away even if there are seats in business? That's certainly not the way other airlines work. Very few would leave behind staff (even other airline staff) with still unfilled seats in the A/C.
Some may say I am overthinking this too much, but it is better to know the the facts before joining so there are less nasty surprises.
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Hi Comanche,
You are a wise man to ask lots of questions. Wish I did before joining.
In relation to staff travel, they WILL leave you and the family at DXB or in Mauritius even if there are seats in Y class if you haven't got firm tickets.
Why? Because they can.
You are a wise man to ask lots of questions. Wish I did before joining.
In relation to staff travel, they WILL leave you and the family at DXB or in Mauritius even if there are seats in Y class if you haven't got firm tickets.
Why? Because they can.
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Well, I beg to differ. Although I know of one Purser who was left in Singapore because the agent was a jobsworth, I know of many more cases, myself included, where we got on. Most outstations are helpful and the majority of staff check in agents here in Dubai are too. So, whilst they can deny boarding, often they don't.
In any event, whilst I think it important that all angles of the job are considered before joining, to base a decision mainly on this one aspect of staff travel may cause you to overlook the far bigger issues and concerns you may face on joining. I don't wish to put you off, but it's like you're trying to see if the headlights will work before seeing if the engine is working first.
Staff travel is not a major issue in this Airline.
In any event, whilst I think it important that all angles of the job are considered before joining, to base a decision mainly on this one aspect of staff travel may cause you to overlook the far bigger issues and concerns you may face on joining. I don't wish to put you off, but it's like you're trying to see if the headlights will work before seeing if the engine is working first.
Staff travel is not a major issue in this Airline.
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Having been here a while and travelled around both with kids and sans, the aircraft will never depart with any empty seats if there are standby staff waiting to get on. Skywards pax will be upgraded to make way if space available, from economy to business or from business to 1st, because as has been mentioned already, it is income for them. They won't upgrade staff, but will downgrade if needed and given the OK by you. I've found most outstation staff very good - the worst by far are in Dxb.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Never had a problem when traveling with the kids - both as F/O and now as captain... If a flight looks tight, try another day! And if Mauritius looks busy there's always Seychelles, Sri Lanka or the Maldives!
The other option as an F/O is the cheapo CAT 99 firm ticket... We used it to Oz from here for five of us. No problem... Just bl00dy cramped for these long legs
The other option as an F/O is the cheapo CAT 99 firm ticket... We used it to Oz from here for five of us. No problem... Just bl00dy cramped for these long legs
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BYMONEK, yes I know staff travel is only a minor aspect, but I am asking questions on ALL aspects of the job. Have already posted other threats and asked EK pilots about more important aspects. Staff travel, schools and living in an expat community are major positives for me when looking at joining. I am basically going through a GRADE process (or DODAR if you will) and continue to gather, analyse and review info. I HAVE a well paid flying job now as a skipper on shiny new A320's, but need to wonder where I want to be 5-10 years from now. EK is the only airline I can join where I can have better schooling for kids, international staff travel, without eroding my disposable income. However, I will still end up in the right hand seat for 5-7 years working for an airline in a part of the world where you have few rights and will probably end up being more tired than I am now. If the wife sitting at the pool all day and going to the malls and cinemas with other expats ends up being happier, perhaps it is worth it....
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777boyindubai
Curious to know if this occurred at the same location, ie both here in DXB or both times at the same outstation. If both were at the same airport, I wonder if someone is making life difficult for you/us on purpose.
I have literally just come off the phone after speaking to one of our airport managers (WE) who I know personally. He assured me that unless there is an embargo, is weight restricted or has been instructed from the top, there is no reason why staff should not be accepted for flight, even if their cabin is full. Ground staff have the empowerment to upgrade PAX to facilitate staff in their designated cabin and will do so on the basis of several criteria as to which passengers are upgraded. Staff are not supposed to be upgraded as there is no authority or guidance to do so.
This idea about ground staff fearing for their jobs is simply bulls**t. If they want to help, they can.
Comanche
Hopefully, if you do eventually decide to come, your wife will get a little more out of Dubai than just Malls, cinemas and sunbathing.
Curious to know if this occurred at the same location, ie both here in DXB or both times at the same outstation. If both were at the same airport, I wonder if someone is making life difficult for you/us on purpose.
I have literally just come off the phone after speaking to one of our airport managers (WE) who I know personally. He assured me that unless there is an embargo, is weight restricted or has been instructed from the top, there is no reason why staff should not be accepted for flight, even if their cabin is full. Ground staff have the empowerment to upgrade PAX to facilitate staff in their designated cabin and will do so on the basis of several criteria as to which passengers are upgraded. Staff are not supposed to be upgraded as there is no authority or guidance to do so.
This idea about ground staff fearing for their jobs is simply bulls**t. If they want to help, they can.
Comanche
Hopefully, if you do eventually decide to come, your wife will get a little more out of Dubai than just Malls, cinemas and sunbathing.
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"Hopefully, if you do eventually decide to come, your wife will get a little more out of Dubai than just Malls, cinemas and sunbathing."
Is there anything else to do in Dubai for the wives? Not being sarcastic here, but speaking to other pilots at EK it seems that is all they do, perhaps I forgot the lunches and gym? Eventually, I am sure she would like to work, but that topic perhaps belongs in another thread.
Is there anything else to do in Dubai for the wives? Not being sarcastic here, but speaking to other pilots at EK it seems that is all they do, perhaps I forgot the lunches and gym? Eventually, I am sure she would like to work, but that topic perhaps belongs in another thread.
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White Knight
Not sorry to disagree. Also had this happen to me where there were seats in business and none in econ and my family got bumped in Singapore.......for 2 days. (I was on an ALT and they were Sby). They ended up flying Singapore Airlines home full fare!!
They will NOT upgrade full paying passengers to accommodate staff unless you know the ground staff and they have big enough kahuna's to risk their job!!!!!
I have felt more empathy from other airlines than my own when in this situation.
Welcome to EK staff travel.
To think otherwise is a misconception.
Not sorry to disagree. Also had this happen to me where there were seats in business and none in econ and my family got bumped in Singapore.......for 2 days. (I was on an ALT and they were Sby). They ended up flying Singapore Airlines home full fare!!
They will NOT upgrade full paying passengers to accommodate staff unless you know the ground staff and they have big enough kahuna's to risk their job!!!!!
I have felt more empathy from other airlines than my own when in this situation.
Welcome to EK staff travel.
To think otherwise is a misconception.
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Sheikmahandy - I only state that if you choose where and when you'll have no, or little, problem!
The CAT99 is firm... Just not so easy to get these days
I'm sorry you had to cough up full fare! i seem to recall doing the same on my BA supposedly annual FIRM freebie and having to pay Emirates to get me back to UK some years ago. Swings and roundabouts.
I also believe the Singapore flight-crew only get economy - all of the time. Is this correct?
The CAT99 is firm... Just not so easy to get these days
I'm sorry you had to cough up full fare! i seem to recall doing the same on my BA supposedly annual FIRM freebie and having to pay Emirates to get me back to UK some years ago. Swings and roundabouts.
I also believe the Singapore flight-crew only get economy - all of the time. Is this correct?