No more duty free allowance for crew into the UAE
 

Latest reduction in T&Cs effective 1st Jan.

Although not the companies fault, at least we can pay the 5% VAT in Dubai!

here comes the cherry on top of the cream...

looks like barracuda will be having overcapacity 2018 onwards.

OK, it's now time to PANIC!!!!!!! I need my alcohol!!

I looks like there are bigger problems afoot, this is just a symptom, love the 3 day warning window though.This mandate had been issued by the Government of Dubai and Dubai Customs. I expect this desperation is not happening to the operator down the road.

It's clear that this is a push to generate revenue for the state, nothing more. Stand by for massive increases for alcohol and cigarettes with exceptions for uae citizens.

One can only begin to conclude that EK and the UAE in general are working to "convince" foreign workers to consider relocating to their home countries or elsewhere.

I'm certain that this will push out a few pilots and a load of cabin crew. The real scary thing is, "what is the next load of BS coming down the conveyer"?

And as usual announced late on a Thursday afternoon...

UAE citizens pay full taxes as well.
But yeah it is time to leave.

Wow, so much happening lately on all fronts. It does indeed make you wonder what's next. China is starting to look attractive.....

The banning of crew bringing back food from abroad.

The banning of crew bringing back food from abroad.

and suddenly nobody bids Frankfurt...

Outlaw has hit the nail on the head.

This is a bigger issue than Emirates Airline - which is bad enough.

Time to go.

The biscuit gets smaller and smaller as it crumbles around the edges. Petty and unnecessary.

Can't wait to get paid in Union Coop's vouchers

I think they have already included that as well. Any vegetables and prepared food stuff is covered as well.

Although raw meat should not be considered prepared but who knows how the Habibi's will interpret that.

The scales aren’t balancing. The ups and downs appear to be all on the same negative side of satisfaction scales.

Prices incl VAT UP

Fear Factor UP

Ticket prices UP

Customs restrictions on Crew UP

Panic FCI distribution UP (incl v2)

Briefs and cockpit chatter UP

Sackings UP

Hours Flown UP

Command age UP

Moral DOWN

Pay DOWN

Accommodation options DOWN

Decent Hotel locations DOWN

The list goes on and the scales are looking extremely low on one side.

Add to this that when not in the operating seats, your whole career is at risk while you sit on the jumpseat, unless you wakeUP and have as much responsibility from that seat as the front 2 seaters (while not on logged operating duty!).

J

Ya know. I’ve been at EK for a while. Been watching the terms and conditions steadily deteriorate and listening to the bitc$ing for a long time. But I do believe with this “no bringing in alcohol for operating crews”, the final straw has been reached. Interesting times ahead.

This should be a sticky on the 'Terms & Endearment' section.

As they seem to be desperately scraping the bottom of the barrel for revenue, things must be getting really bad: No free parking for motorbikes anymore

Nb. As a result, it's highly likely that take-away orders, etc, will take longer to deliver and become expensive.

There really is no point staying here any longer. Expenses are through the roof. People are leaving being replaced with people with lower pay scales. I went to the shop recently looking for a rolling pin. It took 3 people to tell me that they had none. I went to check the aisle myself and what do I see? A full shelf of rolling pins!

“Good news Thursday”
 

This smacks of some sycophant desperately trying to ingratiate himself to the perfumed princes higher up the food chain. He will have proudly pulled the infidels into line by banning duty free alcohol imports by crew and at the same time generating revenue to fill the rather deep pockets of the Dubai government. Perhaps to buy a few more Bugatti police cars.

Like most things UAE there is no clear stipulated policy about what a crew member is allowed to bring in. As mentioned above there is only a vague reference in the passenger duty free allowance guide. What we have been dished out in the usual Thursday “good news” letter is some Costa hero’s interpretation of the customs directive. Just like most policies here it sows more confusion than certainty.

Having said that it t is very unlikely that our Late’ lapping leaders will do anything about clarifying the situation as it does not affect them in any way. They will just standby and say we told you so when some vague rule is randomly imposed by a customs official having a bad day. Does anyone know what the cabin crew have been told? Their communication channels are often a lot clearer.

Our New Year visitor paid 140 AED for her Duty Free cigarettes last night - EK T3.
Doubled in price.