EK Notification
 

Any idea how long it will take to get a yes or no back from EK recruitment after going through the interview. and what procedure do they follow checks reff etc after the interview.. I got the medical done as well i hope thats a good sign.
Thanks anyone.

Hi,

I had the interview 4 weeks ago.I got a job offer this morning.A friend of mine in the same interview group got the answer last week.So I think it depends.
About the medical as far as I know everybody gets the medical if time permits.
Good luck.

Cheers

Thrustidle

Oh,I forgot...About the refrees they do contact all of them.(By phone in my case)And if they contact within 10 days its a good sign that they are intrested in you.

Cheers

i came back from DXB the 18 of November and had a "yes" 11 days after....

Really fast?

It's been 4 weeks since my interview, and still no joy. So far none of my refs have been called. Feeling very small right about now.:ugh:

To Palm
 

Palm,

Can you check your personal messages.

Thanks
BDD

to Palm
 

Check your PM, pls.
Cheers,
Bugs

ek interv
 

Interviewed 3 weeks ago. One from my group got the ok the rest havent heard yet ? Is this a bad sign for the rest of us?
any one with insight.

The last advise I got was "No news is good news". If they wanted to cut you, they could do it very fast.

A friend of mine just got into the next Airbus course which starts in May 2005. B777 might get it sooner.

good luck to you all, 6 month after you start you will all be crying that you have to wait 7+ years for your upgrade.
I hear on every flight :If I would have known I would have never left my previous job.

Such excitement for all. Let's all see how long the smile will stay on your faces after the sand settles. Do some serious homework lads before you make the move. Big shiney planes, max 8 days a month off and requiring permission from the headmaster to leave Dubai on these few days and total dictatorial rule. It will be a big ask for Pilot's to do, but start and pull the bloody blinds off your eyes.

It just never ceases to amaze me. We have Captains leaving to join the likes of Ryan Air ( no offence) We have guys giving up their commands to be Fos in other companies. We have pages of information about the demise of EK and STILL THEY COME!!!
Are you guys from another planet? If our guys that HAVE commands here are leaving what makes you think you are going to be so different?
Sometimes I despair! As a professional body we sometimes act like a bunch of bemused schoolkids.

Sit on your hands assess the facts then make an informed decision for you will certainly have time later to regret it.

Sorry didnt get layed last night;)

Let me get this, GTP lives in the UK must have over 4000 Hrs a jet type rating and 2000 Hrs on Comercial aircraft. He is leaving his job to take up a position with EK to earn GBP 2319 per month or GBP 27800 at todays exchange rate. which he can earn in any UK jet operator and a few Turbo guys + approx a minimum of 600 quid a month flight pay. He is happy to wait 7+ years to get a command and does not mind working upto 50% more than he would be legaly allowed to do so in the UK for the salary. !

Oh add to that the 7 years may be optomistic because as the airline goes down the !!!!ter monthly in terms of the way its being run ,that he might be lucky if half the aeroplanes on order are not sold on to other operators as they were bought so cheaply, since all the US plans have been postponed maybe never to return.

I just dont get it myself, !

Just thought Id add the differance in pension contributions alone between EK and the average UK operator at 42K for an FO is 3100 GBP per Year as an FO and 5.9K as a CP on 66K .

At last another thread goes down the emirates slagging route.
Dontya love em.;)

wise words mister jagger, ratpoison.

during the last month a few EK captains left to be F/Os with virgin and dragon air. one left for a command with ryan.
a few EK F/os are leaving as well after they found out time to cammand is at least 5 years for them who joined a year ago, new joiners are looking for 7 years.
ek will continue to hire DEC because its much cheaper.
do your maths before you come guys.
EK was good untill 4 years ago then TCK came and had no union to fight with and he loved that.

Anyone interviewed in December or January heard anything yet, and how long did it take ?

Oh i forgot, they called all my references the week after my interview.

Here we go again
 

By all the negative posts towards EK it is quite obvious that many pilots are unhappy. BUT! Let's stick to the facts instead of talking garbage:
Fact. EK has about 1000 pilots and would like to have 2000. 1000 Capts/ 1000 FOs. Most Capts are 35-45. Few retirees. 3 years to upgrade?
T/C are constantly changing - unfortunately for the worse. Nothing you can do about it since you have a US$26000 bond + +,
Roster - Expect no more than 8-9 days off pr. month and lots of flying with very little rest. (double rest/ minimum rest)

My advice - Unless you are desperately looking for a job. At least talk to somebody down there before joining.

Ok..let's stick to the facts...

I don't regard Ek as an airline that one has to be desperate before applying. I think each person is motivated by different reasons. It's not all about the upgrade and pay. Speaking about upgrades, there is no cross bidding for upgrades, so if u are on the Bus or Boeing, the upgrade depends entirely on the expansion of that particular fleet which may vary. Quality of life is different for everyone as well...definately depends on whether you are single or married/with kids. I have thought this through and think it's a good fit for me if the opportunity presents itself. And lastly out of the 1000 pilots at EK, how many post here? It seems that no airline in itself is the "best " place to be. Each has pluses and minuses. Seems that most people vent their frustrations on these forums just like my own airline's union website, but i think the bottom line is EK is not for everyone. I look at the opportunity to see if it works for me, having said that, if offered a job, i go in with an open mind and make the best of it. Despite the negatives, i think i'll enjoy it :) we'll see

Generally when you get the experience to move to the airlines like EK etc most pilots are looking for lifestyle, upgrades and other things may be secondary considerations.

What lifestyle do you get with the minimum eight days off each month? working 100 hours plus through the middle of the night? Having to ask permission to leave Dubai?

Roster stability, forget it! By the end of the month your roster will bear no resemblance to the roster that you bid for and were awaded at the start of the month.

The latest blow is despite being rostered for 100 hours or so of flying, instead of well earned days off, seemingly frivolous Reserve days or standbys are inserted into the roster because they no longer count towards your monthly productivity pay.

Ideally I would like to work in order to live the life I want, not the other way round living around work, constantly called by crewing on days off and trips always changing. Think hard

Enjoy the honeymoon!
 

Badda boom badda bing!

Enjoy the honeymoon period once you get accepted. Once you have settled in my friend, I give you anything from 6months to 18 months MAX. You will probably not post anything on prune, like most of my friends and colleagues. But unless you are joining as a DEC (Definately Not) you are in for an interesting time in your career choice.

Check your Six:ok:

Gentleman
 

Is the coments above valid for Fos and DECs?
Cheers:confused:

emirates upgrade
 

I must have been applying to the wrong companies can someone post a list of places I can upgrade in less than 7 years. I'm pretty sure it won't happen at Cathy, Dragon or even Virgin.Dosn't seem like Delta , AA or United will even hire in the next 7 years.

The comments are for all unfortunately.

1. Is EK a good company? Yes. The majority of the people are really an excellent group of folks to work with. EK has the potential of being no 1 in the world because of it's employees.

2. So what's the problem? An epidemic that seems to plague many airlines today. Ill management! This comes in a variety of forms.

Just dont come here expecting the world! come here to get flying my friends, plenty thereof and then some. And as far as pay is concerned? Well, we used to earn significantly more with the overtime scheme in the past. But when the airline had to start forking out serious money in overtime, guess what? It changed. How convenient? Does this remind you of anything you might have experienced before? I am sure it has.

At least the housing is subsidized, it use to be provided but has since become subsidized. Why? Because rentals in Dubai have shot up significantly, and some of our colleagues here were told that they had to vacate these villas and move at their own expense. Or if they did not want to disrupt their families, they could stay, but!! Ah yes, the but and the if! Pay the difference, which is what most of us do for schooling as well. Schooling was once upon a time also covered, at least when I signed my contract.
Which brings me to an interesting point, the contract you sign is simply an exercise in wasting your time trying to convince them at some point in the future, that this was not in the contract you signed. Good Luck.

But, hey! Things can only get better!! My friends have grown tired of hearing me say that and quite frankly, so have I!!

Check your six.

this thread is interesting because it baffles me how so many people can come up with some many answers about EK. Even at China, the best of the grumblers could come up with some of the reasons why they didn't like it. There were many reasons to complain, but at least you hd facts.

Anybody want to jump on these observations?

I thought I read that EK had less than 1% of Americans. I think the reason is that most do not want to live in that part of the world for safety fears. Now how, do you tell an America and why would they be good targets?

When in CAL, there were Brits, Aussies, Canadians, Brazilians,etc. and now one could tell until they began to use the English language.
We all got along well. perhaps speaking English out in the streets may be a dead giveaway and the accent narrows it down further. So I am not sure if that is why so few Americans have an interest in being there. Obviously, you are just as vulnerable on a layover anywhere in the world if someone wanted you that badly. I just saw on TV where Suadi Arabia has a PR campaign to tell the world that we are "good guys" with a few bad terrorists here and there.

Now on the comment of not being able to leave on your days off, is that true? Is any permission needed if you buy your own ticket?

One of the negative things about Taiwan is that there is no system there and other places in the world to use the North American jumpseat program. Pilots of the US and other places believe that the jumpseat belongs to the Captain and its use is a right. In defense of Taiwan and other places, there are customs rules to follow,but these always could be worked out. Even a mandatory uniform requirement is a pain,but often it makes things go smoother after 9-11.

One of the most frustrating things about CAL is that it took a Congressional Amendment to leave on a jumpseat (non-existant), but a reduced fare ticket, or have passes what most airlines in the world seem to have as unlimited passes (with or without a service charge) and ZERO problems writing on a blank company issued ticket with no preparation necesssary. One should not have to buy a full fare ticket to leave and there should be no permisssion required. is that true at EK?

Now I don't know what EK has for a physical, but Taiwan has an extensive initial physical and fairly strict by world standards after the first one. The government did them.

At least one Japanese carrier requires cholesterol under 200 as a condition of emplyment. Now many people can NEVER meet this requirement unless they existed on a water diet and even that may not be possible. The rest of us have no interest in aiming for some arbitary goal. As you get older, everything gets different for when you were 21. I'd sure rather have a 50 year old Captain with a 250 Cholesterol than some 21 year old with 150 flying my jet.

I thought I read where EK had a bidding system. I find it interesting and really sad where places in the world have not discovered seniority and a bid system. One of the thing that dooms places like CAL is that they wouldn't put Americans back to America, Canadians to Canada, Brits to EUROPE, and things like that. They claimed a pilot shortage and when you want to work and the you get 65 hours of pay instead of 90 when sitting around days at a time. I always wanted to work (and get paid) rather than sitting around unproductive with my time. The 8 days off per month were very dear when they came especially when you couldn't get back to your country for 22 or 23 days. That was fixable easily.

I am not sure what EK did. They told me I was too old at 55, so I went nowhere with it. At 56, I am probably too old too! DUH....

On the upgrade issue, why aren't people being upgraded? Perhaps this is one reason to not take a job as a F/O unless you have to. There are jobs I am looking at now, that say, "c'mon, its only for a little while that you'll be a F/O". Most of the ex-pats I saw at CAL were Captains in their former lives although on different airlines and they were likely just as qualified as I was and certainly in a few years.

Is the complaint of NOT upgrading at EK, real or do some really have to make a self assessment of why they aren't getting upgraded?

Anyway, it should be really easy to reach some conclusions about EK from those who know,but the facts seem very elusive to this casual reader.

To answer Jim's questions:

You need permission from the company to leave Dubai on days off (but not for annual leave) regardless of the type of ticket you are travelling on, or the airline you are travelling with. In practice permission is (correct me if I'm wrong guys) almost always granted. For now....

There is no jumpseat travel at EK. Only operating crew are allowed on the flight deck from pushback to chocks on.

Hope that's clear.:D

BIG Geordie...thanks for the info...Are EK worried about where their pilots are from a staffing point of view? Junior manning? Drafting? Extra Flights? is it a safety point of view?

<<<Only operating crew are allowed on the flight deck from pushback to chocks on.>>>

It is slightly off the subject, but you mentioned pushback to chocks on.

At China, they lock (electric on 747-400) door the minute the crew shows up to do a preflight and after the final checklist. I have never seen any carrier do that. Even the F/As have to knock or buzz to get in even :45 before DEPARTURE. You have to even buzz your own crew to get back to the cockpit :45 down to departure just to go to the bathroom.

Although my background is YANKEE,I have ridden on at least 15 international carriers. At all of them, most pilots like to stop in and say hello to pilots of another airline or country. Anyway just an observation

Badda Bing,
all I can say is that if you realy have good friends on the inside and if they realy like you, and want what is good for you, they will tell recruitment that you are totaly inept and make sure you are not recruited. In the long run, and even in the short term you will be better off staying were you are. I also came here and expected a great experience but instead I got to fly for Emirates.... What is consistent though within the airline is the new corporate marketing logo.... "Keep Discovering". You definetely are in for discoveries but unfurtunately they are not like the glossy pictures on the walls. You are completely on your own when things do not go as planned in all departments. Emirates is like all of Dubai in respect to after sales service, there is none since it is run by Subcontinent employees for Subcontinet consumers.... with Subcontinent expections and Subcontinent understanding. (I know I am politicaly incorrect but some times you have to call a spade a spade....)
As "Check Six" said great people to work with, good fun on the line (Maybe you can get lucky and get the cabin crew to come out and socialize, since most stay in their rooms to save their money, but hey EK management are about to introduce a new per diem system like the airlines in the former Soviet block with meal vouchers so the good thing of this new system might be that since no money can be taken back home we will all meet for a pint in the bar....) The aircraft are almost new so good fun there, you might get to fly the airbus and if you are as good as I am you will fly it in managed mode so that you do not get confused with the French version of aviation...
The Boeing Fleet is also good fun, though most of our real aviators are on that fleet.....
Emirates is going towards JAR OPS certification and though we cannot implement the FTLs or other aspects of JAR OPS right now since that would require additional pilots we have started with a JAA compliance look (Just Another Airline) to get people in the swing of things...
The two things I can quote to you come from the Book "All I realy need to know I learnt in Kindergarden" and the song "Sunscrean" "All that shines is not Gold, and the only realy good advice that I can give you is wear sunscrean"
So if you still want to join the award winning airline with the award winning service do not say that you have not been warned by those on the inside.
We all live here with the belief that one day soon things will get better and that management will understand what they are doing wrong and compensate us for what we are realy worth. Generaly people already here see Emirates for what it is but still expect to be treated for what it should be..... and are disapointed everytime they get what is coming and not what we diserve....
Cpt Kavla out
PS Some are talking about a 20% increase in salary,..... well if it does happen I would definetely welcome it, as that might start putting things on par with other airlines around the world but that will be the day Santa Claus comes and visits us in Dubai....:cool: :cool:

Sorry BigGeordie

Had Leave booked last year, had the misfortune to become ill longer than 2 days company would not let me leave Dubai until a clearance was received from the EK clinic, even though the Dr said it was fine to travel.

Clearance to leave Dubai for my leave was received at 4pm on the day before my leave was to commence.

Not what you really want when you book and plan leave, accommodation and travel arrangements months in advance with you and yours only to be told you can not leave Dubai until the company says its ok.

Keep Discovering

Cpt Kavla,

Just sweet wine from thy finger tips. Bloody well put.
Yes, 'KEEP DISCOVERING' Ha Ha ha Ha Ha

Rat

Hi Jim: Where have you been hiding the last few months ?

EK has just over 2% American flight crew right now with more coming. You can easily tell an American walking down the street, he'll be the one with Levi's blue jeans, a t-shirt, and white tennis shoes :D

Guys on the Airbus can not do transition upgrades to the Boeing and vice versa. This is an edict by the SVP E&O. As EK are getting mostly Boeings this year, the guys on the Airbus will not upgrade while the guys on the Boeing do. What makes this really bad is that EK will run out of qualified Boeing F.O.s before the end of the year. They will then resort to hiring Direct Entry captains while the Airbus F.O.s must sit in their seat and wait a few extra years until an Airbus upgrades comes along. Hopefully sanity will prevail and transition upgrades will be allowed, otherwise there are going to be some really unhappy campers in the right seat of the Airbus.


TP

Guys, the transition upgrades was stopped during TCK's time. At that time , a lot of guys on the Boeing were left behind for the upgrades. Now, it seems that the opposite will happen. Well, I think this is not foreign in big outfit like EK, the only thing missing from it is the by-pass pay ( my previous company have them ).
With 48 upgrades this year, I don't think we will run out of experienced FOs on the Boeing as yet. Lots of rated guys just joined recently........thats why its been very quiet on the DEC front !

"Keep Discovering"
 

Cpt Kavla,

Very well put Sir. Very well put.

With regards to Santa Claus visiting Dubai, he did once. He dropped off a note with a code written inside. The code read "B.O.H.I.C.A" Any idea what this means? :E

And 20% increase. Well the government employees will definately get that. And good for them. :ok: We will be told that we are lucky to have a job by some management types and by the management aswell! The only increase we will get my friend is in blood pressure!

Yes, so we were once known as the 'Finest in the Sky' and today we are told, "keep discovering" new ways to make you "lazy pilots" work.

Check Six Chaps, tally ho!

Cpt Kavla you are simply kavla!Dont you agree Check "Six"?

Capt Kavla and the rest of the guys,

I just want to thank you for your candidness and honesty, I don't think it's a great situation either, I am really thinking about my decision. I didn't mean to reenergize the topic of EK when i asked if anyone had heard from recruitment regarding DEC and JAN interviews :) I am seriously weighing my options, and i thank each of you for your input, i appreciate it! I guess if iam offered a position and a comitted decision has to be made, i'll do the right thing for me and my personal circumstances.

Ok, a few facts and a different point of view perhaps!

It is certainly true that your personal situation makes a big difference to the package when considering whether to move over to DXB.

I have a missus and 2 kids, the company pays for the schooling (and yes the education allowance does cover all the fees), I live in a huge villa (5 bedrooms/7bathrooms - yes we were lucky!) wich the company pays for (all of it!) and I dont pay for electricity, water, gas, or phone (EK pays), I get driven to and from work which means we only need 1 car (unlike the UK!) and the staff travel system is far superior to anything I've seen before!

Yes it is true that on face value the pay is crap for F/O's (about 2500 quid pm at todays exchange rate), however given the info above (ie what you earn is essentially spending money) you'd have to be a moron to think you are better off in the UK, as back home I reckon I had about 8 quid left at the end of the month! (not to mention the very low cost of living here compared to the UK)

With regards to days off, and I can only speak for myself on the Airbus, in Jan (I was top bid group admittedly) I had 16 days off (no leave just days off). This month I am bottom bid but still managed 10 days off (I think you other guys better learn to bid properly!). And anyway, what amazing airline did you guys all spring from where you all got considerably more than 8 days a month off (a non profitable one no doubt).

On the subject of profit, before I joined EK, I was with MYT, a company we all know has been teetering on the edge of self destruction for the last couple of years, and believe me it was not a nice feeling for me and my family, not knowing if the mortgage was gonna be paid at the end of the month! Its nice now to work for a company thats actually expanding.

Commands: it is true that time to command has increased signifacantly (forget the 3 year commands of old), but this is purely a function of the airline taking longer to double in size. Traditionally EK has doubled in size every 2 years, hence the quick commands, but with 80 a/c currently, its gonna be another 7 years before its twice the size it is today! Just pure mathmatics, so guys who joined last year are probably looking at 5 years to command...FACT! BUT, as someone already stated what fictional MAJOR airline (appart from Ettihad before some smart arse say's it), could you get a wide-body command in less than that time???

(BTW whoever said it is cheaper to employ DEC's than upgrade F/O's obviously doesn't have a scooby! DEC's start on at least capt payscale 4, so everything about them is considerably more expensive- including the training)

All I will say to the wingers (and trust me EK has its fair share), please do try and remember what it is like in the real world, as obviously you have forgotten!!

Before I get shot down in flames by the perpetual moaners (I doubt they'ed be happy anywhere otherwise surely they would have left by now??????). This post was just to redress the balance a little. EK is NOT without its (minor) problems, and as I mentioned it depends on your personal circumstances as to whether you can 'milk' as much as you can out the company.....Family guys win, single guys loose (appart from the shagging of course in UP towers!) simple as that.

Good luck to all the guy's (and hopefully girls some day), who have interviews, dont let the miserable gits get you down!!

Right, I'm off down the beach!

Cheers

BTW. did I mention the sun shines a lot here???

OBLAASPOP...no you didn't mention the sun...but next time you're out in it, try wearing a hat...

Dear Max:

Oblaas rightly judges it would take a moron to think you would be better off in the UK.

From the incisive brillliance of your riposte may we assume you are moving to blighty in the near future?

I think we should be told.:cool:

Oblaaspop don't know how long you've been here but whatever chemicals they're pumping into your Air Conditioning, it must be good stuff:D :D :D

Come on Guys! Every positve opinion ( and that's what it is, some individua'ls opinion) is shot down but the negative ones just seem to breed more negatives. Some may not agree but give the guys that do enjoy working at EK a break, like i said before everyone's situation is different and one man's garbage may be another's treasure, simple as that.

By the way.... I got offered a job !