That was close and seaman, thanks for your replies. I am certainly not blinded by the fact that there are issues there and yes over time my opinion may change however this is something I need to try for myself. It’s something I’ve committed to and I will therefore go in with an open mind and give it my best.

Seaman your comment about me knowing better is a bit offsides because the reality is that I don’t. This is a big change for me but you cannot expect someone to know everything by what is said on here. It will work for some and it won’t work for others and that (in my opinion again) applies at any company one works for. You have no idea what research I’ve done (of where to move and who to fly for) and what conditions I currently live/work under so I don’t know how this comment is justified. I also have not replied with “well then just leave” and to be honest I’m sorry you’re going through a low.

Hi all EK pilots,

I would like to get an honest response from all pilots on here working for the EK.

I'm currently thinking about applying and have read through all these threads hearing a lot of bad and not much good. I know each company has there flaws and working conditions aren't good for pilots anywhere anymore. I'm just trying to get a full lifestyle review from people over there. The working conditions that I face in my country is continuous duty flights where you go in at the end of the evening and operate back first thing in the morning with 4-6 hrs rest. At the bottom of the senority probable for the next 5 years. I'm Captain now but will likely never see Christmas or Prime Summertime off for the next 6 years. I can't progress to anything bigger with my current company, not that I care on which machine I fly, but pay also lacks topping out at about $130,000 in 20 years from now. Right now after paying taxes I only see about $60,000 as a Captain.

My big questions are:
Expected timeline to Captain after start date at Emirates?
Are you type Frozen on the 777 when you start if you want to switch to the A380? And if so how long?
What are the layover times (ie: DXB-SEA 14hr 10 min flt, or DXB-SFO 16hr 40min flt)
Is the housing allowance gone now and unable to opt out of the company crew accommodations and get your own place? (ie: the $5100 dollar house allowance)
How much can you actually save a pay check? (Assuming an average lifestyle nothing to extravagant)
I did the math based on a 2% increase yearly and a upgrade after 3 years that you could presumably save $3.32 million if you stayed 15years and saved every penny.
How expensive are groceries if you wanna lead a healthy lifestyle? (Average weekly costs)
Do they actually charge a 150% VAT on alcohol now on duty free if you bring some in from a pairing? Also how expensive is it to go to the liquor store with your liquor permit card and discounts through Emirates?

My big questions are:
Expected timeline to Captain after start date at Emirates?
5-7 years depending on experience and compitence

Are you type Frozen on the 777 when you start if you want to switch to the A380? And if so how long?
You are frozen on type for 5 years (from memory, and to move types it is on company requirement not personal preference)

What are the layover times (ie: DXB-SEA 14hr 10 min flt, or DXB-SFO 16hr 40min flt)
48hrs on these two, but there are other equally long flights with only 24hrs. Majority of layovers are 24 hours.

Is the housing allowance gone now and unable to opt out of the company crew accommodations and get your own place? (ie: the $5100 dollar house allowance)
Only get the allowance if you opt to buy a property in Dubai. You don't get it to use for rental. Also the allowance is NOT $5100, more like $4400 but as I said that is only for property purchase. To buy a property in Dubai you will need to factor on around spending 30% of the property price in costs and minimum deposit.

How much can you actually save a pay check? (Assuming an average lifestyle nothing to extravagant)
Depends on you, if you have a family, wife, kids etc. Dubai is very expensive. As an FO not a huge amount. As a captain a little more. Don't expect huge savings. So many think this but it is not a reality.

I did the math based on a 2% increase yearly and a upgrade after 3 years that you could presumably save $3.32 million if you stayed 15years and saved every penny.
I don't know where your maths get that figure. A captain living in company accommodation earns around 45,000 Aed a month +/-. 540,000 per year. 15 years =8,100,000 Aed or $2,205,000. Thats if you joined as a captain and spend NOTHING, not $1. Still a million short of your $3.2. You MAY get the 3% annual increase, you may not. It has happened several times that you get nothing. Inflation in Dubai is high and is higher than any 3% increase.

How expensive are groceries if you wanna lead a healthy lifestyle? (Average weekly costs)
Expensive and it varies where you cost. Think of New York, London prices. If you drink at all then its far higher. $20 a beer for example.

Do they actually charge a 150% VAT on alcohol now on duty free if you bring some in from a pairing?
Yes, but not 150% VAT but ancillary charges that are in effect 150%

Also how expensive is it to go to the liquor store with your liquor permit card and discounts through Emirates?
Very! This is probably why they put all the charges on bringing in duty free. The crews would buy overseas so they didn't have to pay the sky high alcohol prices.

Is the housing allowance gone now and unable to opt out of the company crew accommodations and get your own place? (ie: the $5100 dollar house allowance)

My funds were calculated on the Canadian dollar not US. I recently went to a road show in Toronto so that's what I based my figures on from the slide show and upgrade after 3years which seems unlikely.
So do you physically have to buy a place in order to get the housing allowance and renting does not count?

Do you guys know how many guys are leaving a month on average, due to unhappy working conditions?

What is the enhanced package? Money wise? (Ca) asking for a friend.

OW

No it is not on the website. “You may be entitled to an enhanced package” no mention of what that is, on mobile site...

Thanks Mmmbop, will pass info on. I’m already on T7 in the region just not at EK (no intentions of applying either).

OW

Sobering statistics indeed.

The fact that EK pilots are no longer allowed to use their accommodation allowance for renting is pure evil genius. Here’s the plan -

1. Build pilot ghetto with Emirates money,
2. Use your mates to build ghetto. They make money.
3. Force pilots to live in sand blasted pilot ghetto.
4. Realize a virtual profit from saved accommodation allowance.
5. Repeat.

Hello -

I am a captain at a regional airline in the United States, and my wife may have an opportunity to take a promotion in the UAE at her company (she works in oil and gas). I never have considered Emirates, especially after hearing how fatigue inducing the rosters are, and the lack of pay/housing increases. That being said, how would it work if my wife’s firm was to pay for housing, expatriate benefits, etcetera. Would Emirates give us the money should we decide to buy, or are we just ‘out’ that aspect of compensation? Finally, would the freighter side be a better fit in my situation? I don’t have a Boeing or Airbus type so don’t know what opportunities other than EK would be possible.

Thanks!