Originally Posted by
Sike
As a CX Yank, I'd say you'd have to be nuts to join at this point. Six to ten years ago, when no one else was hiring, it was a pretty good deal. If you look at current wages on comparable aircraft at the U.S. legacy carriers, we're about 15% underpaid. Not to mention that on a base, it's probably the least satisfying aviation job there is, if you actually enjoy flying. The time off and "golden handcuffs" are about all that keep me here now.
On the flip side, if you're under 24 years old and have little to no flying experience, it might be an option. If you want a "free" education and have an interest in seeing the world at a young age, I think it could be fun. You could always return home after six years with widebody international experience. Although I'm not really sure how many U.S. legacies are hiring without the coveted 1000 PIC turbojet. In other countries, (read UK and AUS) I don't think that's so much of an issue.
What is being said is still far superior to what I may expect to earn in the US. First 3 years at a regional, then finally a start at a major US airline.
The biggest short coming at CX is obviously the social and family aspect. Really not a good idea to start a family living in HK.
I have checked things out and weighed one against the other. The money will be better at CX since the oppertunity to make real pay will come sooner than it would at a US regional.
Not saying CX pays better than a US major....Just that it will take at least 3 years before I may expect to get hired at a US major.
All all in all, I will stick to the US regional to US major route, because of the downside of living in HK and the not mentioned health issues of HK air polution. The WHO recently stated that air polution causes cancer....which we allready knew.
I don't agree that CX is only for younger guys....but I can see your point that it may be rather time consuming. Years before upgrade is achieved means less time left to get back to the US to start again at a US major.