It is if you don't likeit and need to come home. what I am getting at is it's one thing signing up for a training bond for a known quantity, and another for something that isn't! How much is it if you want out?

have'nt you been watching the news lately?

BO,

It seems that you're offerning advice on something that you don't even understand. I guess you have good intentions, and it's good for people to be cautious. Misinforming people, however is not a good thing.

Back to the original point of the thread - Pay for a TR at Ryr or be a second officer at QR. I can't offer much information about Ryanair (so I won't try - note that, BO) but I have been through the SO program at QR so I have a bit of knowledge on that.

Yes the training takes a long time, the number of sectors as a second officer (and therefore on lower pay) is a lot higher than at Ryanair. However, at QR you will be paid from day 1 (I had already been paid half the cost of a 73 TR before I got in an aircraft). And once you start flying on the line (on full FO pay) and gain more experience, you will realise how valuable that training is.

Well, why not try to find out, before you start shouting about it?

For me, I do consider it to be free as I don't plan to leave within 5 years (the bond is longer for a second officer than a first). Even if you left Ryanair you couldn't leave behind your loan repayments, or the investment you'd made.
I can't remember of the top of my head but I think it's about 30,000 or 50,000 USD. This reduces as you complete the time on the line and would be paid back in monthly installments if you leave.

As long as you have worked some time as an FO you will not pay back the full amount. No interest is added on top as it would be if you took a loan to pay up front for ryanair, and you will be paid from date of joining, even while waiting or doing training.

Yes there are downsides.
The roster can be tough, especially on the 320 fleet but then personally I think that's a good thing while you're young and gaining experience and I don't know how the ryanair roster compares to that (so I won't comment).
The country is different from Europe (obviously) and people who are not open minded to that will find life difficult. It can be difficult for a young person to move across the world away from their family but that's down to the individual.

Erm... yes, I have. But bearing in mind we're talking about Qatar, and not Bahrain or Egypt or Libya (which if you aren't aware are different countries and in some cases different continents!) I feel no unneccessary concern. I certainly feel safer in Doha, than I do in London despite growing up in England. No, I'm not naive, that's my personal feeling.

Bottom line - I'm happy in Doha, I have friends who are happy there (and some who aren't). I got a job with no costs upfront and was paid from day one at a time when others are still unemployed. I enjoy my job, and I enjoy my career prospects.

As for the cabin crew thing, if that's what you care about (rather than having a job, earning money, flying!) then just put your uniform on and walk around the airport - what do you even need an aircraft for?
As has been said, discretion is key. Certain amounts of freedom are extended to westerners and non-muslims, some don't even notice the restrictions - but it is a muslim country, so have the intelligence and respect to not take the p*ss. Do what you want, but don't shout about it.

Sorry this was so long, I hope people who are generally interested will find a useful point of view. I don't usually reply, but people forcing uninformed rubbish and misleading others annoys me.

QR
 

1 cap,

Don't apologise for the length of your thread, it was very informative. Balls Out all points taken into consideration, I think your still being breast fed and haven't taken out a map in quite a long time.
The ME is not for everyone. If you want to PM me feel free. I have some experience in the decision your making.

No matter what I wish you all the best,

Listen Guys, I am not offering any advice other than to think carefuly before moving thousands of miles and sign up to a big bond, to live and work in a culture you know nothing about, and may not like. I certainly am not forcing missinformed rubbish on anyone! Fortunately I have never had the missfortune to need or have to pay for a type raying at any time in my long carreer, even at FR and have always been paid from day one. Having said that, for me, I would have to be desperate before I looked out to the sand pit. I would probably pay for a type rating to work nearer home myself.
With regards to being breast fed, I have flown for many major airlines and would say there is no where you are less breast fed than at FR.
10 thousand US troops eh, without a UN resolution they would stand back and watch the fireworks mate and defend no one except themselves and US citizens. Isn't there a big US base in Egypt too?

Ballsout buy an atlas and read a newspaper. Doha is not now and never was a war zone. Its not even close to one!

I'm not the one that needs to read the papers. the whole of the Muslim Arab world is looking like it may well be heading towards political melt down, regardless of it's geographic location. Just a matter of time. In my opinion of course!

You could be a Daily Mail journalist BALLSOUT. Just like how the UK is in meltdown due to paedophile, benefit swindling, immigrants who killed Diana.

If you ignore the British gunboat diplomacy in 1821 and 1841 when it was bombarded. But as the Royal Navy is now somewhat smaller, probably no chance of a recurrence.

Now don't get me started on those paedophiles or swindling imigrants, and of course we all know who killed Diana!

The bloody Irish did!:8

Ballsout is not afraid to show the world just how stupid he is!

I'm not the one who needs to resort to insults. That realy would be stupid wouldn't it!

It's only an insult if it's not true, so you don't get an apology. Like I said before STUPID. Should have listened at school and learned where Qatar is before blabbering on here. Here's a tip, stop posting on this thread you're embarrassing yourself and your profession

It was in the middle east when I went to school, where is it now then, have they moved it?

Ballsout,
A little neck retraction would be good.
The revelation that you are stuck in Poxair speaks volumes in itself!

Ballsout, you're only embarrassing yourself here with your lack of knowledge.

The Qatari people are the most spoilt lazy smug race in the world, they are collectively incapable of doing anything other than texting each other on their blackberries, admiring their mullet cuts and aviator shades in shopping mall mirrors, and driving Lexus Landcruisers up and down the Salwa road at mach nine speeds. Every other job in the country is done by imported wage slaves. They're certainly not interested in starting a revolution unless they got a few thousand Bangladeshi labourers to do it for them.

And 1cap - good post and a good attitude, I'm glad it's working for you. I had to get out of there for the sake of my family and my sanity, but seriously if anyone's a position to get a cadetship out of them you'd have to grab it with both hands

So you would have us all believe that if it hits the fan out there in the middle east, everyone will have to make a run towards qatar where they will be safe. Wake up and smell the coffee!
By the way, I am not stuck at Ryanair, I am there out of choice.

Balls you are not just stupid but an idiot too. The flying time between Cairo and Doha is 3hrs Tripoli to Doha is 6hrs and to go anywhere else in the gulf is approximately another 50mins. Please tell us where in the territory of EK QR or EY is the sh1t going to hit the fan? That's right, NOWHERE! The fact you work willingly for FR speaks volumes of their selection process not to mention their route structure. FR flys to Malta, I suppose that's 1000nm from a war zone in your world.

Now I freely admit that I have not flown in the Gulf for thirty years but when I was based in Bahrain, it was my understanding that the Al Khalifa family in Bahrain (Sheik Isa was the boss man at the time) were the cousins of the rulers in Doha.

I can remember reading that they weren't on great speaking terms but are the two sections of the family no longer related?