Originally Posted by Goose 10
TP et al,
Got some questions:
How do you think this order will affect the upgrade time? What's the housing like? How's the health care? I'm currently a A-319/320 FO so does that mean I'll be stuck going to the bus fleet or will I have the option to going to the 777? If furloughed, does Emirates require you to resign your seniority number?
Is upgrade based on seniority, hours or looks :-( ?
Thank you,
Goose 10
The order should help with upgrade times, which are currently running at exactly three years on the Boeing and just slightly over that on the Airbus. They still do not do transition upgrades so upgrade time is fleet specific. I suspect that if they fleets get too out of whack that rule will change.
Housing is okay, some places are better than others. It won't be as nice as you are used to in the States, but it's a lot better than China. If you are married with kids you'll get a villa, if not you get a three bedroom apartment. Villas are generaly three to five bedrooms plus a maid's quarters. They will have a small yard and a one or two car parking area ( carport ). The locations vary and that can be an issue depending on where your kids go to school. A new American school just opened on the Deira side of the creek so it's not as big a deal as before.
Health Care is okay. It costs you about $50 per month for family coverage. The EK clinic has doctors of varying quality, some are excellent, others are not. I had Legionaires disease last November and it was misdiagnosed as Pneumonia. Not to say that couldn't happen in the States as the symptoms are similar, fortunately I recovered anyway. Dental is also provided and there is a good American dentist at the clinic. The one thing they do well is take care of you if you have some serious problem that requires specialized care. They will pay for you to go have a procedure done elsewhere within certain parameters. I know guys who have had knee sugery in the States, back surgery in South Africa, etc. The company also carriers you at full pay for the time you are sick, in some cases that has been 6 months or longer.
You'd most likely be put on the Bus with your Bus background. They are running classes on the Bus and will need them more as the A340-600s and A380s start arriving.
Emirates does require resigning seniority. PM me for my thoughts on that.
In my case, upgrade was based on looks
Otherwise it is based on a combination of Seniority, time, and ability. The ability part is the one that is intersting. You are graded here from day one and if you do not perform to a required level you will not get a chance at upgrade. That is good and bad, but mostly good. A lot of emphasis is placed on decision making ability, not just technical skills. It is different that what people in the States are used to. Most people do okay, but about 10 to 15% don't make the cut.
TP