CX or JQ, what wouldyou take?
 

Hi, I have a hypothetical scenario I would like to post here for a friend seeking opinions directly relevant to the scenario given.

The scenario is as follows. The friend currently has two job offers commencing around the same time. 1. Cathay Pacific 747-400 S/O and 2. Jetstar A320 F/O.

He is unsure which to accept, they both have their obvious advantages and disadvantages but he would like to get feedback from the general aviation community on what they would do.

The way I see it is as follows;

Cathay
Pros
No endorsement costs
Ok money
Excellent fleet of aircraft
Cons
7-10yrs for cmd up grade
Living in HK (objective)
2-3yrs as an S/O

Jetstar
Pros
With the nature of the industry and airline rapid expansion, a relatively quick command could be on the cards (around 3 yrs – same time as CX S/O to F/O)
Ability to have lifestyle and live in Aus (objective)
Cons
Endorsement costs
Everything else that comes with a low cost carrier

Ok, now what would you do in his shoes?

CX

how many leave cx to go to jq? and vice versa?

I am not sure if this is a wind up or not, but for the record, CX. No brainer for me anyway. But it depends what important to "your friend".

Bulla

no wind up!
 

CX, is this even a valid question?;)

Too easy - Cathay.

Pornstar

Because :
- I want to live in Australia
- I don't want to fly long boring sectors, esp as a SO
- I want a quick command

No offense meant to any JQ drivers but CX every day of the week.

D:ok:

Cathay. Do I see a trend?

CX

If he wants to stay in OZ then wait a few months for QF mainline.

Easy choice. CX.

DM

More questions...do you have kids and a wife that works? Have you spent some time in HK to see if you like it?

If your single and your primary aim is $$$ I reakon CX is your answer, otherwise the answer gets more difficult.

Both of them suit different people IMHO
JQ - Aus Basing, easy for partner to work, home nightly, schooling cheaper
CX- HK basing, harder for partner to work, lots of overnights, schooling V expensive

A lot of people that have spent 0 time in HK think everything is fine there, some people adapt well to it, some don't. We live in some of the least densly population parts of the world, parts in HK are the most densly populated areas in the world.

I've been there about 5 times, love it, to visit, I would never 'personally' want to live there. Check out the CX forums if you think it's a utopia any different to the problems faced by the operators in Oz. There are guys leaving CX to go back to the UK and the USA all the time, much the same as there are leaving EK as well.

Different strokes for different folks

Have any of the pro CX posters here actually worked for CX or lived in HKG or more importantly worked for both CX and JQ and and therefore have a balanced view. Or is it all based on looking from the outside at the big green jet that visits oz each day?

CX aint what its cracked up to be.

CX, quick commands are long gone, here's why:

Last guy on at JQ was 420ish, last command in the low 200s.
So anyone who starts now needs 200 guys to get commands ( yes, there are 60-70 Q numbers in there, but my, are'nt they starting to flood over )
lets say 150-160 for arguments sake, at the moment, rumours aside there is 9 320s ( 45 commands ) and 15 787s ( 105 commands ), thats 150 commands give or take a few over the next 2-3 years.
Anything else is pure rumour and conjecture and I would advise against basing a career decision on them.
Add into the equation, X amount of DECs on the 787 ( depending on how many blue shirts are willing to come from Emirates ) and its not looking too good for a " quick " command.
Of course, its aviation, could all change tomorrow and have'nt taken into acct guys leaving.

John Citizen

As 'cunninglinguist' said ... commands long gone!

Go where (even with recent losses) you are paid well enough and treated with at least a smidgen of respect.

CX 4 sure!

Kinda sums it up really...:rolleyes:

The very fact that you have joined PPRUNE in May of this year under a handle of CXorJQ shows this to be a wind up rather than a valid question.
If your mate isn't experienced enough to decide for himself, he doesn't deserve a job at either!

If you think 7-10 years for a wide body command at CX is a 'CON' then I guess you won't be applying to QF :ugh:

Depends where you want to live. Being in your own country with family and friends close-by is important for a lot of people. Not everyone wants to live in a foreign country as an ex-pat.
A lot depends on your attitude, age and ambition. Young bucks with the world at their feet and a life that revolves around the job...go CX.
If there's more to your life than the job, then maybe JQ would be more attractive.
Once you go to CX there's probably no coming back...once hooked into the system it's a big call to bail.
Good luck.

I turned down an interview with Cathay 8 1/2 yrs ago. To stay in OZ I have not regretted my descision for one second. But I have kids and a family. 10 acres 2 horses a happy wife and kids is pretty high on my list of priorities.

I love flying but I do this to be paid a wage to provide the lifestyle with which I can educate and bring up my kids in a safe environment Ask yourself. Where do you want to be in 10 years. The aircraft you will fly be it a dash 8, 737,747
will just be another bit of tin after a couple of years.
Good luck with your descision and hopefully it will be the right one
cheers