Emirates isn't perfect, no airline is. I generally tell people that if they had a chance to go to SWA, jetBlue, Fedex, UPS, or Airtran that I would choose them over Emirates. My point in posting the information here is that it is another option, especially since the options are so limited in the States these days.
Pilotguy makes the suggestion to look at the PPrune Middle East Forum for postings on Emirates. Notice that the great majority of the negative posting is coming from about 10 guys.
Main reason is that the upgrades are non-existant
Huh
At this point upgrades on both fleets are at three years. That will definitely continue on the Boeing for the next few years. The Airbus is another matter because of the policy on no transition upgrades. I agree, it isn't fair, especially for the Airbus guys. The same VP that made the decision not to hire RJ pilots is the one preventing transition upgrades. As I said in the first post, there is a chance that Flight Operations will split from his department and the policy will change. Right now it doesn't really need to because the Airbus guys are still upgrading at the three year point. If there was a hug disparity between the fleets then there would be more cause for concern.
As in any airline job, you roll the dice and take your chances. When I was hired by brand X in 1989 they said I would upgrade in five years. Here it is 16 years later and I was never even close to an upgrade with them. Do I hate them for it ?, no.
There is apparently no aircraft type movement.
That is not exactly true. There has been lots of type movement since I've been here. When I first joined they were doing transition upgrades from the Airbus to the Boeing. Then they ended up short of Airbus pilots and moved those guys back to the Airbus as Captain as well as offering any Captain who wanted to, the opportunity to go to the Airbus. Quite a few guys did because they have SJS and want to eventually fly the A380. Now it looks like we'll be short of Boeing Captains and it is very possible they will offer some Airbus Captains the chance to move over to the Boeing.
The company policy is that you are seat locked for 6 years as a Captain. So any Captain on the Airbus who has been there for six years could theoretically bid over to the Boeing if there are any openings.
Again, I wouldn't choose Emirates as the place to make a career, especially if you are younger. It is, however, a good airline that can provide a decent standard of living and some good experience.
Typhoonpilot