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.

I recommend ALL crew should bring items back!! Can you imagine the the carnage when they have to inspect every suitcase!!!!

We should all bring back 4 litres of water. That'll teach them!

i would be seriously intressted in how much a training of on pilot until his command will cost.
How much money could they safe in keeping pilots instead of train year by year hundreds of people to compensate those are leaving.
Further i would like to understand why HH is satisfied with the performance of the 3rd floor if the calls on places like this are so bad.
even tough u cant believe everything here, it is bad enough to scare of people even they believe only 50% - how can a top manager let it happen that employees have such a bad opinion about their employer.
i really like to understand why the top management, does not want their current employees being the asset to attract the so much needed work force. i really dont get it - but maybe i am just naive.


Happy New Year

When department heads are set (bonus dependent) cost cutting targets for the current financial year, then the business model tends to force them to discount next year as next year's (or someone else's) problem.

Unless or until there is a different business model put in place and a different culture instilled in the way our managers manage the only change will be things getting even worse than they are now.

They brew some good stuff in saudia by themselves. Should be in the FCOM or an FCI coming soon how one can brew his own alkohol here :8

good idea.

2 different Cabin Crew have asked customs officials about the new rule and customs officials are saying that the rule has come from EK.

I’ve called Customs twice, and spoken to two different people, who both advised that the allowance for pax and crew is the same ... 4 litres, etc.

Maybe the new restrictions will filter down to the minions in time but at the moment it’s ops normal.

Is it true this doesn't apply to Etihad and other airlines in UAE?

I spoke to them too. There are no changes to their customs rules. He didn't know what I was talking about. He only said that the rules for Emirates operating crew must be down to a separate, internal agreement between Emirates and Dubai Customs. Operating crew for other airlines obviously will not be subject to these restrictions.

So this has come from Emirates, Dubai Customs couldn't give a cr@p I don't think.

It affects your little brother accross the road too.

Make it zamzam for good measure :E

"Duty free allowance for crew in UAE".

Well, looks like a real big problem.

Otherwise everything is fine in UAE......OMG:ugh:

Come on now...we still have Barracuda!

Although Barracuda is cheaper, some of their stock is often past its sell by date (beer) or very close to. I would rather spend my money on booze outside UAE where possible. Love me some craft beers Habibis :ok:

I think this is more of storm in a tea cup and will pass as lets face it the nice Customs guys n gals are more interested in the contents of their phones 99.999% of the time.

SyB :ugh::ugh:

I’m doing it on my next layover, trying to find something posh resembling a Champaign bottle

Pelligrino or a 6 pack of cola etc etc.

Appletiser. The big ones :E

If you set out to annoy the customs officers by wasting their time investigating water etc. you will simply antagonize them into enforcing the rules that, at the moment, it would appear they are happy to be quite relaxed about, where crew are concerned.


From my several years living and working in the Gulf it was ever thus.

Just past customs with a few test bottles.

No issues.