Qatar Airways " Think long and Hard"

[Porkling]

Food for thought Ladies and Gentleman. With the state of recruitment here in the UK and throughout Europe, I know many of you may be considering heading out to take up a job with Qatar Airways. Lots of great selling points; very modern fleet, good salary, accommodation allowance, sunny warm days, swimming pools, Golf Club etc etc.But it's not quite what it says on the tin !!!! This is not a rant of a bitter person but rather a warning for those considering going out there.
Remember, It’s a job and we all need a job and and we all love flying. But the caveat is, it should come with a Health Warning.

1. Staff accommodation is not always available and if it is, they do not provide what is stated on the contract. If staff accommodation isn't available the allowance falls short of finding a reasonable equivalent. When you ask, they are not interested.
2. The Bond is also manipulated in their favour. Re-payments start immediately, but the bond period doesn't start until the end of your line training and that can be as long as 6 to 12 months ( longer in some cases) after your arrival in Doha. Making the Bond period 4 years in effect not 3 years.
3. Crewing in general is not helpful, so any idea of being able to pop home on rest days, forget it.
4. They can and have changed peoples leave periods while actually on leave eg 14 days suddenly cut to 7 days without notice.
5. You can literally spend weeks and months on arrival before actual type training starts.
6. They take your passport away which normally takes 6 weeks to get back.
7. During probation period FO's can be and have been fired if their Captain makes a mistake.
8. Captain’s with no blemish on their record and years experience with the company have been fired for the smallest of infringement. This also has been know to happen to FO's, frequently.
8. Crew on annual vacation who had to undergo surgical procedures outside Doha have found that they lost their jobs.
9. Crew members requesting compassionate leave because of sick relatives back in their home countries being refused, even when they have offered to take the leave with no salary for the period.
10. Salaries and privilege’s stopped without informing crew members these actions have been taken or will be taken.
11. Staff members while on line training being subjected to abuse and bully tactics, being told that they are stupid and lazy.
12. Unlike here a European carrier, the culture is a Blame, Blame !!!!!

The problem is that they do not really care for their staff, the way they treat people is unprofessional and morally wrong, you are just a number who can be replaced at a moment’s notice. Money is not a consideration, as they keep telling you; they have bags of the stuff.

Should for any reason your face suddenly doesn't fit they will get rid of you in a heartbeat, without any concern for you or your personal circumstances, how it will affect you career, your family and your future.
They will if required fabricate the issue, in order not to lose face at the consequence of the staff member. A lot of occasions the staff member has only his/her word against his/her line manager.

To cover the accusation of being defamatory, I have not been slanderous and everything mention here is back up and actual events as happened to friends and colleagues and continues to happen.

But if you treat it as a temporary measure until better positions start coming available back home or elsewhere, then get a enough hours on your type rating, keep your head down and be prepared to put up with the BS.
Good luck and enjoy.

[captplaystation]

Why oh why am I surprised (not !)

You are viewed in this company (and I could well imagine Emirates & the other one who cannot be named) as paid labour, nothing more, nothing less.

You are not one "of them" & your perceived status , for "them" is on the same level as a Filipino chambermaid.

If you for one minute imagine otherwise, you truly are dillusional.

[captjns]

Been told the same by a friend who has been there for a year and a half.

After all, what else can one say when dealing with a group dumber than dirt, realizing they are dumber than dirt. Dealing with a group that masks their inability to have rational dialog and decision making skills with wealth. As they lack the presence of mind when it comes to conflict resolution, they choose to eradicate the problem.

[fantom]

Before we tar everyone with the same brush, I have to say that during my four years with Kuwait Airways I was treated very respectfully indeed.

Shukran jazeelan.

[captjns]

I can remember years back when the demand was greater than the supply too.

[Iver]

3 QR Rosters Posted on Pprune in 2012

Anyone contemplating QR should expect to work hard as pilot productivity is apparently paramount (no surprise). I copied the following posts found on Pprune in 2012 (not my content - these are copied posts apparently written by QR pilots):



1. For those contemplating joining QR, here is an actual roster for A320 Captain.The month and specific destinations have been omitted to protect the innocent. All times are based on DOHA which is where your body clock will be.

Day 1. day off at out station in Europe.
Day 2. wake-up-call 2150 to fly back to Doha.
Day 3. Land DOH 0535, report again 2245 for Gulf turn-around (3h on gnd).
Day 4. Land DOH 0645, report again 0000 for Gulf turn-around (3h on gnd).
Day 5. Land DOH 0555, report again 1945 for Gulf turn-around ARR DOH 0000.
Day 6. report 1800 regional turn-around
Day 7. Land DOH 0015, report again 1345 for three-sectors (Gulf + layover),
Day 8. land at outstation 0120 (layover), wake-up-call 1500, land DOH 2230
Day 9. off
Day 10. off
Day 11. report 0650, four-sectors around the Gulf, land DOH 1700.
Day 12. report 2245 for Gulf turn-around (3h on gnd)
Day 13. land DOH 0645, report again 2345, two sectors for layover.
Day 14. land at outstation 0830 (layover)
Day 15. wake-up-call 0855, two sectors, land DOH 1910
Day 16. off
Day 17. report 2345, regional turn-around
Day 18. land DOH 0545, report again 1925, one sector for layover
Day 19. land at outstation 0055 (layover), wake-up-call 2300
Day 20. operate back to DOH followed by a Gulf turn-around, land DOH 1050
Day 21. off
Day 22. off
Day 23. ground school (ex. crm, security, dangerous goods)
Day 24. report 1045 Gulf turn-around plus regional turn-around, land DOH 2230.
Day 25. off
Day 26. off
Day 27. report 0700 one sector to Europe for 22h layover.
Day 28. wake-up-call 1030 fly to DOH plus Gulf turn-around, land DOH 2320.
Day 29. report 1230 one sector to Europe for 24h layover.
Day 30. wake-up-call 2200 to fly to Doha
Day 31. land DOH 0530.

This roster has the minimum eight days off, of which seven are at home and one is in a hotel (Day 1). 92 block hours and 160 duty hours (= salary QAR42,500). Generally it is unusual to get days off at outstation.

You will often get a 10-12 day pattern with a combination of day and night flying with the one legal day off in the middle. Rest of the month will obviously be better.

QR operates strictly according to legality. No regard is taken for family issues, fatigue-issues or the flight safety implications fatigue has. You will be tired beyond your imagination, but you will get a decent meal at 3am if you wish.

By the way, management cancelled one week’s leave for all A320 pilots this winter.



2. A330 Roster :-

2 x BRU
1 x ICN
1 x MNL
1 x DXB
1 x FCO
1 x ZRH + STR (3 sector day)

A return from LHR at the beginning of the month meant just over 99hrs flying.



3. Typical monthly Qatar 777 roster

2 JFK (3 Days trip)
1 MEL (4 Days trip)
1 BKK-SGN (4 Days trip)
1 PVG (3 Days trip)

2-3 days off between and some stand-by

Flight time 120hrs/ 75 logged hours

[THRidle]

The thing to remember is that airlines that hire expats do so because they have to NOT because they want to. Conversly, pilots who fly for these airlines, in the majority, do so because thay HAVE to, not because they want to. I'm sure the majortiy of pilots would like to be based in their home countries.

So basically we are like that other famous profession. They pay the money and we take it and thats it. If we don't like it we move to the next customer.

[illusion]

I guess what you are really saying is that if they did not have lots of oil they would still be living in tents in the desert shooting at each other and washing once a month.

[de facto]

Location: Australia
Posts: 180
I guess what you are really saying is that if they did not have lots of oil they would still be living in tents in the desert shooting at each other and washing once a month.

Maybe one should think long and hard into his own origins and country wealth development sources before making such idiotic and racist remarks.

[Wellington Bomber]

Think you will find it is Gas not Oil

[captjns]

Regardless the profession, expats in that part of the world are deemed a disposable and replaceable commodity. Its a pity that westerners in managerial positions are no better than their masters.

[JB007]

This isn't anything new, always been like this, especially regarding the original post about Qatar...

Been there...thought about it...went to the arse end of Germany instead!!!

[bacp]

And so begins another tirade on the inequities of working in the Gulf,Yawn!
Guys, you took their Shilling, live with it eh!
The ME employers are the same as European and American and Far Eastern Employers are like plus or minus a bit of employment legislation.
This is our brave new aviation world, just make sure your kids do something different.

[No RYR for me]

6. They take your passport away which normally takes 6 weeks to get back.

Is it only me who has always flow with two passports to prevent issue's like this and to prevent getting the occasional wrong stamp for certain countries...

Or as MasterCard would probably say it: "The look on their face when they realise they cannot stop you from leaving: priceless!"

[Deep and fast]

I terms of being slave drivers and aoles, are the non legacy European carrier management not far behind in their behaviour to pilots?

I worked for a regional in UK and hated them within 6 months! But hey I'm an irritable sod

[Porkling]

No RYR for me

Even if you have a second passport, you would have difficulty leaving unless you have managed to have got two entry visa on arrival, one for each passport ! If you try and leave and do not have an entry visa, " Good Luck "

[hawker750]

Two or preferably three passports is not a nice thing to have in this industry it is a MUST

[mikechekker]

"Is it only me who has always flow with two passports to prevent getting the occasional wrong stamp for certain countries...

Or as mastercard would probably say it: "The look on their face when they realise they cannot stop you from leaving: priceless! ""


I think you may find that they indeed CAN stop you from leaving if you present a different passport from the one you entered with. DOH

[No RYR for me]

I think you may find that they indeed CAN stop you from leaving if you present a different passport from the one you entered with. DOH

You can still leave but you must have the right story/paperwork at hand, not starting to think about it when you are at the airport... Travel for work/Medical emergency while the paperwork is sorted, etc all still do the trick Ohh and make sure your family is out of the country before you go

[No RYR for me]

Oh and don't forget to tell your next employer that a certain country needs to be on your no fly list.... That is the bit that sucks the most...