Emirates rumour mill 2
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
you clearly have zero idea how compound interest works as applies to basic pay versus inflation.
Bonuses are very welcome yes, but over 30 years your basic pay is slowly being inflated away.
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 138
Likes: 62
From: DXB
EK pay should be outstanding to reflect that it’s a lifestyle that let’s face it , the overwhelming majority of the pilot population don’t want, and you give up all rights to basically anything DAY ONE. 3 percent is very poor.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 329
Likes: 3
From: British
It’s not a bonus, it’s a profit share , and it’s contractual.
It was communicated to us (last year) via an update, that they were conducting a thorough review of pilots pays and allowances . This is the outcome. I hazard a guess that it hasn’t gone down well with the troops.
It was communicated to us (last year) via an update, that they were conducting a thorough review of pilots pays and allowances . This is the outcome. I hazard a guess that it hasn’t gone down well with the troops.
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 574
Likes: 429
From: Outbush
No?
Well leave then.
Simple
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 46
Likes: 29
From: In the sky
The usual saying in DXB „If you don’t like it, leave it!”
Well I did, after listening to it over and over again! Do I miss it? Nope…
If one does not like it anymore it’s a common phrase from the guys/girls not having a choice (for various reasons…)
Whatever…
For some it’s THE BEST job and it will be the best job, they will ever get in their career - as they don’t have a choice and anything else would be a massive step back or security issue (i.e. South Africa, South America [as a whole])!
For other’s it’s just a step/move in their career…
EK knows it, hence they will never run out of applicants!
Well I did, after listening to it over and over again! Do I miss it? Nope…
If one does not like it anymore it’s a common phrase from the guys/girls not having a choice (for various reasons…)
Whatever…
For some it’s THE BEST job and it will be the best job, they will ever get in their career - as they don’t have a choice and anything else would be a massive step back or security issue (i.e. South Africa, South America [as a whole])!
For other’s it’s just a step/move in their career…
EK knows it, hence they will never run out of applicants!
Last edited by FQT2YS; 9th July 2025 at 08:12.
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 93
Likes: 45
From: Palm
EK is no better nor worse than all the other majors around the planet, we just happen to have many mutts and whiners.
If it was not for the british guy at the top we would be in afar better position, we wouldn't have lost our jobs during covid.
But hey, why not spend all the cruise complaining about the indians and arabs?
So yes, if you don't like it leave! Not for us but for you, apparently you will not have regrets.
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 138
Likes: 62
From: DXB
so elsewhere the jobs are relational, deep and long lasting? Come on get real!
EK is no better nor worse than all the other majors around the planet, we just happen to have many mutts and whiners.
If it was not for the british guy at the top we would be in afar better position, we wouldn't have lost our jobs during covid.
But hey, why not spend all the cruise complaining about the indians and arabs?
So yes, if you don't like it leave! Not for us but for you, apparently you will not have regrets.
EK is no better nor worse than all the other majors around the planet, we just happen to have many mutts and whiners.
If it was not for the british guy at the top we would be in afar better position, we wouldn't have lost our jobs during covid.
But hey, why not spend all the cruise complaining about the indians and arabs?
So yes, if you don't like it leave! Not for us but for you, apparently you will not have regrets.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 163
From: Hong Kong
Last edited by TBL Warrior; 10th July 2025 at 15:04.
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 93
Likes: 45
From: Palm
if you don't like it leave!
I don't have an anti British stance, my opinions are based only on what I am seeing here in EK. If you are too blind to see it, that's your problem. Ciao!
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 93
Likes: 45
From: Palm
if you don't like it leave!
I honestly don't get what's your problem, you prefer western europe? ok then go there.
I happened to live long enough in western europe and the US and I know the differences in lifestyle and work ethics, yet again I still think I'm better off here. but if you don't like it leave
I happened to live long enough in western europe and the US and I know the differences in lifestyle and work ethics, yet again I still think I'm better off here. but if you don't like it leave
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 46
Likes: 29
From: In the sky
you don't have access to my logbook, you don't know my hours breakdown how many of these hours are above 20t, how many are above 50t, how many in biz jet and how many of these as PIC, how many FI hours etc.
I don't have an anti British stance, my opinions are based only on what I am seeing here in EK. If you are too blind to see it, that's your problem. Ciao!
I don't have an anti British stance, my opinions are based only on what I am seeing here in EK. If you are too blind to see it, that's your problem. Ciao!
Calm down.... I have worked for numerous companies in my career (one of them happened to be EK for a decade)... I left EK long before COVID but joined a British led company after that.
What can I say.
The best choice I could've ever made ( and I am not a Brit). The way how they handled COVID was second to none! Did not create any revenue BUT was on full pay for three months without a single question asked nor any threats being made. Still working for them and happy as a Larry....
You may blame the Individual but not the nationality... Just saying!
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 138
Likes: 62
From: DXB
I honestly don't get what's your problem, you prefer western europe? ok then go there.
I happened to live long enough in western europe and the US and I know the differences in lifestyle and work ethics, yet again I still think I'm better off here. but if you don't like it leave
I happened to live long enough in western europe and the US and I know the differences in lifestyle and work ethics, yet again I still think I'm better off here. but if you don't like it leave
Its not a black and white thing.
I love it when an Italian start explaining how life is in Cambridge, always makes me chuckle
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 182
Likes: 20
From: Internet
Yes, we all were very happy with the Profit share, it was not a bonus. It was a share of the profit! We worked very hard, and we got paid for the profit the company made..
However if you ask pretty much everybody at Emirates, they would ask for a decent pay raise (10%-15%) and a reduced profit share. Emirates has not given a decent meaningful pay rise for many many years.
For those that have no idea about ek pay steps vs pay rise I’ll try to explain:
Ek used to have pay scale steps. These steps were 3%. Like most companies, the expectation was that after each year you would go up a step in pay I.e. as you got more senior automatically you got paid a little bit more each year. However, what most people forgot was that this step was and has always only been given by the grace of the Sheik. So if EK got a pay rise eg 4% it would actually be made up of a step 3% plus +1%. In most companies with automatic yearly steps, a 4% pay rise would be 4% above the yearly step so maybe 3%+4%= total 7%. At Emirates total 4% pay rise actually means +1% pay rise! I hope that makes sense.
However some years on a number of occasions no step was given, obviously, this created angst because people who were (wrongly) expecting a step every year.
This angst about 3% is that we have only been given the yearly step increase in basic pay, this increase in pay is something most legacy carriers would automatically give. Be very clear it is NOT 3% on top of the yearly seniority step increase in pay.
5% on flying pay! Well, it might sound good but is a minimal amount.
No increase in utility allowance is poor. Prices are rising around Dubai..
Likewise, every year school fees, go up in Dubai. Years ago surprisingly, school fees went up at exactly the same rate that emirates got a pay increase! Nowadays they go up more than Emirates pay rises. Again, very poor.
nb
1. Emirates does not have a pension scheme for non locals. Locals retire on a percentage of the final salary, . For Non locals, emirates pays a percentage of BASIC PAY into the provident fund each month. By minimizing the BASIC PAY increase, they minimize the extra amount they have to pay into the provident fund!
2.Flying pay, is not taken into account for provident fund payments, so any increases to flying pay does not mean you get extra money in your provident fund
3. Years ago, Emirates was quite open with the payscales, every year you would get letter showing which pay scale you were on which step you were on, and how many steps that were in your rank. Increasingly over the years, this has become secret.
there is also a suggestion now that the step system has been very quietly abolished as can be seen from this pay rise with no step!
However if you ask pretty much everybody at Emirates, they would ask for a decent pay raise (10%-15%) and a reduced profit share. Emirates has not given a decent meaningful pay rise for many many years.
For those that have no idea about ek pay steps vs pay rise I’ll try to explain:
Ek used to have pay scale steps. These steps were 3%. Like most companies, the expectation was that after each year you would go up a step in pay I.e. as you got more senior automatically you got paid a little bit more each year. However, what most people forgot was that this step was and has always only been given by the grace of the Sheik. So if EK got a pay rise eg 4% it would actually be made up of a step 3% plus +1%. In most companies with automatic yearly steps, a 4% pay rise would be 4% above the yearly step so maybe 3%+4%= total 7%. At Emirates total 4% pay rise actually means +1% pay rise! I hope that makes sense.
However some years on a number of occasions no step was given, obviously, this created angst because people who were (wrongly) expecting a step every year.
This angst about 3% is that we have only been given the yearly step increase in basic pay, this increase in pay is something most legacy carriers would automatically give. Be very clear it is NOT 3% on top of the yearly seniority step increase in pay.
5% on flying pay! Well, it might sound good but is a minimal amount.
No increase in utility allowance is poor. Prices are rising around Dubai..
Likewise, every year school fees, go up in Dubai. Years ago surprisingly, school fees went up at exactly the same rate that emirates got a pay increase! Nowadays they go up more than Emirates pay rises. Again, very poor.
nb
1. Emirates does not have a pension scheme for non locals. Locals retire on a percentage of the final salary, . For Non locals, emirates pays a percentage of BASIC PAY into the provident fund each month. By minimizing the BASIC PAY increase, they minimize the extra amount they have to pay into the provident fund!
2.Flying pay, is not taken into account for provident fund payments, so any increases to flying pay does not mean you get extra money in your provident fund
3. Years ago, Emirates was quite open with the payscales, every year you would get letter showing which pay scale you were on which step you were on, and how many steps that were in your rank. Increasingly over the years, this has become secret.
there is also a suggestion now that the step system has been very quietly abolished as can be seen from this pay rise with no step!
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 46
Likes: 29
From: In the sky
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 89
Likes: 49
From: Australia
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 93
Likes: 45
From: Palm
Funny how you’ve deliberately overlooked my reply.
To answer the discontent about EK pay and benefits.
Annual salary is upward of 110k including flight pay, you then get company accommodation, you get education allowance for your kids, 42 days of holiday, profit share, transportation and more
Last I checked neither british, qantas, ita, air france nor klm give anything comparable.
Again the problem in EK are not the money but some people working here.
To answer the discontent about EK pay and benefits.
Annual salary is upward of 110k including flight pay, you then get company accommodation, you get education allowance for your kids, 42 days of holiday, profit share, transportation and more
Last I checked neither british, qantas, ita, air france nor klm give anything comparable.
Again the problem in EK are not the money but some people working here.