Originally Posted by
Spudhauler
All you folks touting their arrival might want to do a little homework. Most guys I know that are flying for foreign carriers are dying to get back to the states. These carriers have few if any work rules, often don't honor seniority, and pay much less than their US counterparts. I worked for a regional and understand the angst with the downward spiral going on, but allowing foreign carriers to operate domestically will be a disaster for the US airline industry, and the overall pay and quality of life for pilots based here.
This is not accurate.
There are work rules, different ones, but work rules nonetheless. On some you would benefit from, some others you wouldn't.
From what I gather, they follow seniority, but not blindly, they honor abilities first. Some don't let substandard applicants upgrade just because their number is up. Seniority will get you an interview to upgrade to CA, if you show competence you advance to CA training, if not, go back to the line.
On the pay...not even close. An FO would have to wait 5+ years at Delta to make what he/she would make in EK/FD and even EY on year 1. And this is without even getting into the tax free scenario you'd be in UAE. Upgrade is much shorter on some of those carriers too compared to most majors here, throw that in there too to account for added income as a CA.
Expat flying in UAE is not all good or all bad. You can choose to be in favor or not of foreign carriers, but you can't ignore facts just to support your cause against them.