I was hired in 2006 and back then you could only enter as an FO on the freighter route (pay, schedules etc) only other choices were as an SO or as a cadet. Now you are hired as an FO and you go to whatever fleet they think needs you first, A340 in YVR/AMS/SYD/MEL, B777 in YYZ/LAX or the -400 in ANC/ATL/LAX/CHI/NYC/LON/PAR/MAN.

Since I was hired on the "old" contract, I have to finish out my 3 year freighter commitment and then I can try and get a basing as a -400 passenger fleet FO, in HKG, US, or Canada, and my pay scale would blow the new payscales out of the water. However, by the time I, and a good number of my fellow -400F FOs, finish our commitment there will be no -400 basings in North America as the 777 is replacing all of the passenger flying to the continent. Therefore, we will most likely be stuck in our positions on the freighter pay scales until CX find it in their hearts to get rid of the freighter only pay. Personally, I think that they are trying to force us to take an upgrade as that will be the only way to staff the left seat of the freighter and the only way for us to get a raise and stay in the US.

Clear as mud?

FO

 

Thank you so much for the explanation. I'll be heading to HKG soon for the final interview, that explains a lot for me.

 

Just out of curiosity, how are the allocations to each plane made? When you get there do you have any chance of getting what you'd like. I understand that they will only put you in a domicile where you have the right to work, right? If so, how are Americans getting YVR?

 

sunnfun,

I just rcvd the initial interview E-Mail last night for early May. Do you have any advice as far as prep? Any other feedback on the first stage? Do they let you know the day of initial if you were selected to continue? And last, but not least, how much time between initial and second interview?

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

The gouge available here, at pprune.org and aviationinterviews.com is still very accurate. They have not changed their interview format at all.

You will get the result after about two weeks after the initial interview. I got the date for the second interview about 5 months after the initial.

 

5 months?!
Is that the norm and do you think that trend will continue?
I am retiring from AD this year and my initial date is 3 weeks from my intended terminal LV commencement date for a 1 SEP out the door retirement date. Was hoping to have secured a job by June. Guess I'll have to readjust my planning

 

Well, that's what it took for me. I guess you could call and ask Amy what you can expect. Good luck on your intial!

 

Allocations are made basically by filling the next vacancy and course date with someone from the successful list. You can turn down a class and wait for something different later on. Know of guys that turned down the Canada base just for commuting issues.

CX seems to treat the US and Canada a bit different than the rest of the world when it come to recruitment. There are alot of Canadians based in the US on the freighter and like you mentioned, now Americans being based in Canada. During my recruitment they asked me where I had the right to work and was only able to choose basings in the US. My wish list in 2006 could not have been, NYC,LON,ATL,PAR, just US cities.

FO

 

Hi, also trying to get on with CX. Just wondering if you can send me those interview information. I would really appreciate it if you would. [email protected] Thanks~
Ed.

 

Can you apply for a specific location? I live on west coast so SFO would be best for me, but I could probably work LAX as well. I'm not sure how commuting goes - I figure you have to get yourself to work and can't jumpseat with other airlines, etc.