Tax Equalization
From the website..
Q: How does the $82,000 annual tax exclusion relate to tax equalization? A: The objective of tax equalization is to provide the pilot with a "tax neutral" position as if he (she) remained stationed in the U.S. It is designed to yield neither a tax benefit nor loss to the employee for taking the assignment. Under tax equalization, the employee does not receive the $82,000 income exclusion, as would be the case if stationed in the US. The majority of pilots would incur a financial loss without the tax equalization mechanism regardless of the exclusion due to these factors:
If you go to CDG or HKG, you DO NOT remain in the USA. Therefore, YOU are entitled to the exclusion, not the company. Why in the heck should they get the benefit? Am I missing something here?