Of All Middle East Airlines... which (if any) are most recommended to fly with?
 

Greetings fellow aviators:
I'm looking at some options over the next 12 months and am quite curious about flying in the Middle East. I have several friends going to an Emirates interview with one already being hired and but delaying start till early next year.
Anyways, may I have some of your opinions on which airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Gulf Air etc... would you rank as one of the better, or lesser of evils if you will, ones to fly for than the others and more importantly, why.
Sounds like Qatar and Emirates doing the most growth for the forseeable future.
I'd be curious as to what happens if the economy goes south in the lands of these fast growing airlines and how crews are furloughed seeing they have Direct Entry Captain positions.
So, anything you'd like to say would be appreciated and helpful
Thanks ahead of time and if you'd like to respond privately, I'll put my email address below.
Patrick Lane
[email protected]

In order of priority:
1. Emirates
Pros:
Emirates has been there for 2 decades, a mature and well structured company, a making money by spending more money kind of company. One of the world’s leading airlines. If you come from big airline you want this type of organization. Good career path ahead, type rating will be provided. Dubai is an interesting city to live in. Out of the world kinda city. Wanna fly A380? Maybe the only airline will give you the chance.
Cons:
You're just another number. You better not be a DEC. Dubai getting expensive every day and the roads regularly turned into car parks.

2. Qatar
Pros:
Another airline with massive expansion plan. One of the five star rated airlines (only four in the world, Emirates only rated a 4 star). Not as organized as Emirates but you’ll manage. Good prospect for career path. DECs are still welcome and type rating will be provided. If you come from a medium size airline, Qatar will be more than acceptable to you. A city which is good for family life. Nice friendly people.
Cons:
Skyrocketing rental with very limited supply of accommodation. You work more for the same money compare to the other 2. Small2 things which nothing you can’t handle.

3. Etihad Airways
Pros: Very well funded airline among the 3. Fast growing airline with only 2 years of experience. You’ll grow with the airline and be one of the pioneers building the airline from the beginning.
If you do your math correctly, you may find you’ll get more cash compare to the other 2. Abu Dhabi is still a nice quiet city for raising a family. Very well equipped jetliner, one of the best.
Cons: Like Qatar, Etihad is facing their own kind of problem with housing. Need more time to be a well organized company. Type rating not provided. Unclear company objective.

Whichever you decide, it is your expectation that really matters. If your expectation is high, be prepared to be disappointed at door step. Depending on where you come from, don’t expect a great lifestyle here. Make your money, pack up and go home. The good thing about this place is, you can have your family with you and enjoy the benefits provided. If you have a young family, it is highly recommended.

Gulf Air is in the downslope trend but they'll survive and maybe with flying colors. The book is still in red.Has been in the industry for 5 decades. Good money and good city to live in. A lot of happy pilot in GF.


These airlines (other than Gulf Air) will provide you a better job security if that what you looking for. If the economy go south, you probably see they'll be the only airline expanding where others are downsizing.

These are all good airlines. Unless you are into office politics, you'll find it nice to work with. Is the same everywhere. Do your own homework of what you'll get and what you won't get from them.

Kamaciwa, what the f*** have you been smoking??

Wathever it is I want 3 Lbs of it it's f####ing good!!:}

So now I'm confused...

Kamaciwa seemed to say a lot of things which I was looking for.... Yet other posters make me question some of this...

What gives here, guys? Just looking for some info like Kamaciwa provided. Is he out in left field on this one? What's the scoop.

Pat

Well CAPt737AA it depends what are you priorities, and why you want to move to the middle east. if it´s for the money, better you avoid Qatar as you may spend at least 1/3 of the salary just for renting a decent villa, and it seems that the company doesn´t want to do anything for it as long as they can hire "cheap" pilot...Some Pilots are leaving just because of this problem.
Unless you are single than you may find a small flat,but qatar is definetly not a good place for single people!
Dubai is a better place to stay,much more open and cosmopolitain!
Unless you are philipino,indian or pakistani then you will feel like at home in qatar.
I known one captain(he is the only one), he "left" emirates for Qatar,... he regrets his move!
It´s a tax free salay:= ..but believe me it´s hidden tax here!

>>You better not be a DEC<<

A strange statement, no doubt from a no-nothing junior First Officer who has a chip on his shoulder.

DEC's?
Get used to 'em, there will be more on the way, I suspect.
What management wants, management gets, like it or lump it.

Ahh yes, yet another derailment by 411A of a well-meaning thread. Start your own thread if you want to spew. Maybe tattoo that onto your thick skull so you can finally remember that basic courtesy here, bub?

Capt737AA, use the "search" feature here. There has been LOTS of info posted on the various Sand-Land carriers. Some are good to work at, some are absolute cr@p. Depends on your view of things. We all have biased thoughts. Just use your own filter-factor and see what you come up with. Best of luck.

~ R.D.

411A and DECs don't have a chip on their shoulder? The DECs are the arrogrant ones. They are arrogrant in their beliefs that they can come and take our jobs. They are arrogrants in thinking they don't have to start at the bgining of the senority line.
Captain AA. You would not DEC in the states so don't do it here at EK.

LHRain, I'm sure when the time comes for you to make a decision whether or not to take a DEC job, you will do it because it's the best move for YOU! Declining a good job just so you don't piss off others doesn't make much sense.Anyway, working for a ME airline boils down to how much and what kind of **** you can take. There are some good benefits though.Lets say : you sell some of your freedom and dignity for a tax free salary:E

I think you had better hone up on your search skills there AA. Plenty has been said about all these carriers as well as the cities in these forums, most of it not very flattering.

If you trully want to come out to the the sand pit, you had better begin doing a significant amount of due dilligence on what you may be getting into.

I would suggest you start by taking of your rose coloured glasses and comparing Kamaciwa's glowing remarks with other things said about the same carriers on this very forum.

Capt737AA..................welcome to Pprune. The comaraderie overflows here.

Hello there!!!
 

:rolleyes: Hi Every1 !

I saw some nice posts and I was wondering if some of you could give some advice!!!
I got through the interview yesterday in Budapest, but I am not sure if its a good idea to leave my life and move to :confused:
Bahrain...If am right, the probation time is 3 months long.
But what happenes if I don't like it and I don't wanna stay/want to go home during the probation period???Do I have to pay some costs? Is it true that they take your Passport away for this time, while you are on probation time? Is that legal???
I was thinking that maybe I should go and check it out just for the probation time!!!But what if they don't let me home or they say I have to pay all my costs?Does anyone know anything about this???
And what about the money, is it really US$1200 for beginners?
PLEASE HELP ME !!!!!!

Thanx:)

Dear oh dear, how sad, how very very sad.:sad:

Jetjackal....

Tough crowd this PPrune. From now on, No more mister nice guy here...:}

SCAB?
 

So how is accepting a DEC position at an airline where industrial action is neither taking place and/or not allowed being a scab? Is that how it's viewed in general at EK? Or is it the few that feel they have been slighted? :suspect:

Quote
"Hey Pat,
Don't even think about being a scab at Emirates. You get in line like you do in the states. You would not dare be a scab in the states don't be a scab here. You got some nerve thinking you can come over here and take our jobs. We all know how AA flies airplanes. 13 haul loses in 26 years. You have killed more passenger than any other airline in the world because your atrocious training or lack of.
You better think long and hard about being a scab old man.
C.L"
Me thinks XXXXXXXXX is an ace, . . . . . . . . . . . what a tool head.:mad: :mad: :mad:
:D

Wondering what kind of pilot you are bluepacific...Being so scared that somebody may take YOUR job...!

Pretty rich bluepacific - you rant on about direct entry skippers with EK yet a brief search of your past posts reveals your keen interest in direct entry captain positions with, among others, Air Asia, RAK Airways, SAMA & Air Arabia. :bored:

On that note, as has been clearly indicated before, the use of the sc@b word on these forums will not be tolerated, please avoid using this word again.

4HP

I was commenting on the email that XXX made about AA airlines,( read Capt737AA previous post) not anything else. I thought it was a pretty crass email to send someone.
Relax already.
:ok:

Hey thanks theidler !! I haven't got a rating on the "quote" button yet. :O
BP

There are no Sc@bs in the Middle East
 

It seems that a lot of pilots do not understand the meaning of a true scab. Only an airline that is unionized is able to put out a hiring ban. A scab is a pilot that takes a position offered by the company against the opinion of its respective union. This pilot will take a job of a senior pilot' therefore this is not acceptable behaviour. A smart pilot would also avoid this because he will have many problems in the future with his colleagues, checks and possibly for the rest of his career.
Information on hiring bans are published for everyone at www.ifalpa.org

Applying as a DEC for Emirates is not considered a scab. Emirates and all the other Gulf Airlines have no unions, they have however a seniority list which is most of the times honored. Should the company however need DECs for the expansion then they are free to do so.

1. Emirates :ok:
2. Qatar
3. Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways
Emirates
Qatar??????

the order of greatness....
 

What about royal jet, air arabia, amiri crew, etc etc...........:confused:

gulfair?
 

Is Gulf Air anywhere nearby?

go to Sama if you are desperate they might start training soon but no licence, nice aircraft sitting gathering sand in jeddah

Qr No No
 

QR wouldnt recomend becouse thay fly with knifes in cabin to SANA ! Forced to fly by CEO !
And iligal transpotation of wepon to Sudan without informing capt of oprating flight .
Cabin crew is all yung and not experiance so thay evacuate without order from cockpit and people get in to hospital .
Cabin crew deflated more slides than any airline in the world .
Bomb treat CEO interfere and order capt where to land lol lol !!
Capt doesnt have a choice than to make what CEO tell or resign so only think he can approve is jump seat ! lol lol
What and airline !
Tehre is more and more but am shure FAA know it ! :*

....that´s why the ceo has said on a interview on CNN that he doesn´t "intend" to fly to US............:\ If it´s true.....what a lie!

Nice one!
 

Mutt, you just made my day with this statement!
Viewed from the management perpective, the pride of EK could include:
The author of ftl factoring;
Staff travel check in clerks;
The accommodation Dept;
etc
worthy of a new thread...
Cheers and thanks for the laugh!

I'm just sitting here wondering why nobody has ventured to mention Kuwait Airways within the meaning of this post.

I'm curious as to the current f/crew opinion of living and operating out of Kuwait.

Cheers, FD :\

I think because BEYOND QATAR airways as second or third choice there is a BIG BIG void!! Hence KUWAIT airways gets no mention.
however heard reasonable things about Air Arabia!:ooh:

gulfair
 

C'mon guys. How about one of the pioneers in the area, Gulf Air? Just because JH left the place doesn't mean it doesn't deserve mentioning!!

It's all in the perrspective. You'd have a hard time convincing me to leave Gulf Air for Qatar. Ethiad may be good now that Hogan is there, Emirates isn't a bad choice either. All of the ME airlines have their issues, pick your poison, no such thing as a perfect job anymore...anywhere.

That being said, although GF isn't buying up every shiney new aircraft that they can get there hands on, it's a pretty good place to work. Good group of guys in a relaxed but professional environment, least on the Boeing anyway. The pay is about the same as the others, housing/schooling a little worse, but cost of living and commute times are less in BAH the DXB for example. The days of 5 day layovers are gone, but you won't find that too many places anymore.

Dear Lhr Rain,

One More Time For You Wimp.

Dec`s Didnt Take Your Job. You Signed A Contract As A First Officer Not As A Captain. Different Duties Different Responsibilities.

Pls Check Ur Contract And Ut Fom.

I think this thread is a bit of track....

The question had been about differant ME carriers and which ones were good to fly with and T+C's etc.

I think arguing about DEC's and the rights or wrongs of such should be on another thread unless the subject has to with life as a FO or CAPT in an ME carrier.

Just a thought.

I quite agree with you. There is a good number of individuals in the forum that have a very good sense of helping others:ugh:... And there are others who prefer to start a new thread that is probably in page 3 or 5 down the line and just do not research. Again :ugh:. Let's not fuel the waste.:oh: It's just a matter of mind recycling.
Everyone in his/her own right state of mind would contribute constructively in here for the benefit of others and probably his/her own even if that's just a rumour. Why not keep that way? Tks.

Capt737AA

Welcome to the forum!! as you can see a happy bunch of people over here!! Consider this part of your psychological evaluation.

So.........who's the best?

The best at what? It depends on each individual, some may like EK better, i've known guys who left GF for EK or other airlines and hated it, others like it much better, it's an individual preference. All of them have various issues that affect the expat pilot community, and you either learn to adapt and live with them, or you get pissed off and leave. Up tp you.