I did read that the Swiss pay the lowest taxes in Europe (25%). The Germans pay the highest (50%). Is this really true?

I could get along with 130k € (200k CHF) pretty well - and I life downtown Zurich. The problem is not the end salary, it is the time to get there which troubles me the most...

Isn't the top of the payscale after 25 years at SWISS? I would have to say that here in the US the plus side is that you top out around 12 to 15 years. Some are only 6 years. But quality of life at most airlines here isn't very good.

Time to max pay is correct. Additionally, not everyone get's there...
In your situation, I wouldn't put much emphasis on the end of your carrer when you haven't even started.

What do you mean that your quality of life in your US airline isn't good. The life in a big US airline isn't much different that one in Europe.

Dani

You do have a point, Dani. It appears that management at airlines all over the world want to screw the employees. I can't undertsand why since the employees are the very "heart" of the company. Management should treat them well if they want their company to prosper. I hope things change soon enough. Here in the states, lives have been ruined because of the piss poor management at most of the airlines. Not sure if it's to that degree in Europe?

When have you guys last left the couch, watching Big Brother? Or the SAir Group 1998 yearbook?
You know, there is a global economic crisis going on outside and America has a new president.

Get a life, it's hard enough, wherever you are, without that geriatric CRX/SWR crap. :ugh:

Flugmaschine, of course pilots all over the world do not enjoy the privileges and benefits they used to have in the 1960's. That doesn't mean that they are really poor. If you want a representative comparison of your state of life, compare it with other professional groups like physicians, layers or bankers. There is everywhere an up and down, and altough some may have more than others, you cannot talk of ruining one's life, at least not what I see. You also have to consider that some pilots are complaining about their decay of life style, and they are doing it rightfully, but from a very high level.

If you want my advise, I would need more information about your career, but how I see it, you are a young FO in a regional airline. In Europe we also have better and worse airlines, but generally in Europe the pay is a bit better. Low cost airlines have created some quite good opportunities in the last 10 years. But also here people are complaining, and partly also with a reason.

Have you ever thought of checking out Asia? You get some very good opportunities in the middle and in the far east. After a few years, with experience and type ratings, world looks quite different. You always have the chance to get back to your home country. And maybe you will have learned to enjoy a lot of things at home.

Enjoy while it lasts,
Dani

You are assuming a lot in your last post, Dani. I'm not going to let this escalate into a debate. I simply posted this thread to get info on SWISS and I hope to hear more about them. Danke! :)

Worth a surf...
 

Flugmaschine

You can surf following links to get more specific infos regarding Swiss...in German though...

Pilotenboard.de :: Pilotentest (DLR-Test, Lufthansa, AUA, ...) Infos, Ausbildung, Erfahrungsberichte :: Index
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FI

Vielen dank, flare! I apprciate your help!

Here's one for you SWISS lovers. Despite the mixed reviews I decided to apply anyway, and had my flight and hotel booked. Last Thursday I received this:

Sehr geehrter 7 7 7 7,

Wir beziehen uns auf Ihre Bewerbung als Verkehrspilot bei SWISS.

Zum Zeitpunkt Ihrer Bewerbung war die Stellenausschreibung der Kategorie "Direct Entry Swiss International Air Lines" auf der SWISS Homepage publiziert.

Das Management der SWISS hat nun vergangene Woche entschieden, die Kategorie "Direct Entry Swiss International Air Lines" per sofort zu schliessen.

Demzufolge können wir das Assessment nicht mehr hinsichtlich einer späteren Anstellung als Verkehrspilot bei Swiss International Air Lines durchführen.

Gerne machen wir Sie jedoch darauf aufmerksam, dass wir zum heutigen Zeitpunkt noch immer offene Direct Entry Stellen bei Swiss European Air Lines ausgeschrieben haben. Detaillierte Angaben finden Sie auf der SWISS Homepage unter:
Cockpit crew

Wir bitten Sie, uns umgehend schriftlich mitzuteilen (email: [email protected]), ob Sie unter den neuen Bedingungen an der Fortführung des Assessments hinsichtlich einer späteren Anstellung als Verkehrspilot bei Swiss European Air Lines weiterhin interessiert sind und Sie demzufolge den Termin für die erste Stufe vom 17. Juni 2009 wahrnehmen werden oder Sie den Rückzug der Bewerbung bevorzugen. Sollten Sie sich für das Assessment für Swiss European Air Lines entscheiden, so freuen wir uns, Sie an oben genanntem Datum in Zürich begrüssen zu dürfen. Falls Sie hingegen den Rückzug der Bewerbung bevorzugen, werden wir Ihnen Ihre Unterlagen zu unserer Entlastung zurücksenden.

Wir bitten Sie um Verständnis für die veränderte Ausgangslage und grüssen Sie freundlich
:hmm:

My German is bad but from I gather, SWISS doesn't have the direct entry position anymore and they offered you a place at SWISS European? Im assuming with the thumbs down you are not going to take the position?