I disagree with your disagreement
I just moved ( my choice ) 7 months ago. I moved into a brand new villa that is on at least a 5 year lease. A government villa that will not be subject to stunning rent hikes like the private ones are. The majority of new joiners for the next year or so will go to Silicon Oasis, which is on a 15 year lease.
Perhaps in 4.4 years I'll be asked to move, but I doubt it. Rents have most likely reached their peak for the next five years. House prices are in the same boat. If I'm asked to move in 4.4 years I might just end up buying a place, which is another option. If prices plummet over the next few years I may do that anyway.
You guys keep with all the negativity in order to scare people away from joining. I've worked for 6 airlines and can say without a doubt that EK is a good airline to work for and the compensation package is reasonable. Could it be better? Absolutely it could, but compared to what else is available EK is very competitive and it provides a good life for me and my family.
And I disagree with your disagree of my disagreement! (I think LOL!)
Why did you decide to move so soon after arriving? Was the accom they assigned to you when you first arrived not suitable? What was wrong with your old place that you had to get out of it so soon? Did you have to pay for this move yourself or did the company cover your expenses? What was the total cost to you to make this move?
Great you now have a 5 year lease. What happens to those who join now and are put into villas with 1-2 year leases remaining (what you said is incorrect; they are still putting new joiners in numerous scattered villas throughout the city and not all in Silicon Oasis ). What happens in 2007/2008 when they are asked to either pay for the difference themselves when their lease comes up for renewal or move again? Maybe they should know this before they come in so they can try to get accom to provide them with accom that has a long term lease? Maybe they should have a good idea as to what this place is going to cost to live in. Would this not be good for them to know?
The bottom line TP is I find your posts for the most part pollyanna, one sided and not indicative of the true nature of Dubai and Emirates. I swear you at times sound like either a Stepford wife, an EK recruitment plant that is getting a commission on every "enlistment" or heaven forbid another Brian!
I'm very glad you enjoy your job and your villa (and for the most part I do as well). HOWEVER because it seems to have worked out for you
does not mean it has worked out for others (if it had there would be no DEC's that jumped the established seniority list, there would be salary increases that kept up with inflation, there would be reasonable working conditions that addressed the long haul operational aspects (fatigue) we encounter, etc). I can tell you (and all those reading this post) that I can honestly say when I talk to both the F/O's I fly with daily and the Capt's I drink with occasionally that the enthusiasm you display is truly in the minority. My guess would be about 20-30% who really agree with your view on life at Emirates. About the same as George Bush's support ratings I would guess.
What about the American f/o who was forced to move from very near your location to the "closed compound" concept of Silicon Oasis due to numerous break-ins, anti-American graffiti on his wall (the "pig" they drew looked like a cat; guess they hadn't seen a real pig in this part of the world
) and the high end Merc with blacked out windows who was trolling in front of his place on a regular basis in search of his teenage daughter. Not an isolated event either (this also happened to my teenage daughter several years ago and is currently happening to the wife of an f/o I flew with last week); should this sort of information not be provided to potential new joiners just because it may not have happened to you and is what you describe as "negativity"?
What about the appeals process you alluded to in your last post with one of our American DEC's? Did it have to happen in the first place? Did it have to go as far as it did? Is the individual concerned happy at the outcome that the appeals process is so great (as you say) and merrily continuing along in his career with Emirates (real story; family left back in the States as a result of the event, individual very unhappy at EK and looking for a new job just as soon as he can get his ass out of here). What about the crew that made a mistake and bent an a/c in South Africa (
following exactly what they were told to do by EK instructors)? Fair process? Result was 2+ years on the ground not flying followed by the Capt spending a further 1 year as an f/o before he is re-judged for suitability for command? 2 further years for the f/o before he can be looked at for command. Fair process?
Bit of a long rant but I feel it is important new joiners get
the full picture. That includes your "glass half full", "everything is great" posts
but it also includes those on Pprune who have not had it as good as you. Your constant assertion that the reason people complain is because" you guys keep with all the negativity in order to scare people away from joining" is lame. There may be a few out there that think that but I also believe there are those who just want to get the word out. I have nothing to gain or lose by this. I have my left seat, I have made my money when the times were good, and I will looking to leave if the right offer comes along or I will continue living up to the terms of my contract at EK if I decide to stay. What I absolutely do not want to have happen is for guys to give up potentially good long term careers to move their families half way around the world and not get what they expected because
you told them everything was wonderful. There is a ton of info on Pprune that has come out over many years and anyone with half a brain who even thinks about coming here can sift through the data and come up with a true picture of what is going on. If you don't PLEASE do not moan to me telling me how hard done by you feel, why your wife is leaving your to return home, how unhappy your kids are living in Dubai, why you didn't get your command when you were "promised", etc, etc, etc. I've heard it all before and have NO sympathy for those who don't do their homework. Read the good, read the bad and come up with your own conclusions. Then live by them or die by them; don't whine about it!
Just for the record, I've been here the better part of 8 years. Been flying 26 years and when I joined EK it worked well with my current employment situation. I have not regretted my decision to come here because I came at a very good time. Would I leave my home country to come here if I had a reasonable chance at a career with a legacy carrier (pension or no pension). Not in a heartbeat.
Bottom line is there are good things about EK and there are bad things. You are welcome to your "all is good" view but please do not put down those who have opposing views. Give new-joiners the opportunity to get the full picture and also realize your personal bias will change as your years in this company accrue. Seen it before, will see it again. You are still in the newbie mode; love to see your posts in 8 years.
Regards,
Dune