Cebu Pacific
10-08-2012, 12:33 AM
#1
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Cebu Pacific
My husband and I just flew Cebu Pacific from Manila to Davao. I've never flown it before so I've never commented on it. The CEO's sister is an old family friend and I have to say their father would be very pleased to see how well they turned out and how well the businesses are doing.
The incoming flight was late, but we were able to close the doors only 30 minutes later. Sat on the runway for what seemed like forever, but we arrived in Davao no more than 30 minutes past the time on the schedule.
Cabin crew were all young women and very fun, modern, not obese, and appeared to be happy in their chosen career. The A320 was new looking. Not their fault that the tower made us wait. The landing, however, was a bit rough, and the Davao airport is such that when the plane got to the end of the runway, it turned around 360 degrees to get to the terminal. If the airport was any busier, another plane landing would not have been a good thing.
Anyway, the inflight magazine indicated the purchase of quite a number of new aircraft and therefore the need for more pilots, cabin crew, and other associated jobs. I don't know anything about the pay, work conditions, or anything like whether they have a training contact. Given what I saw on equipment and growth, if I were a furloughed person, I'd consider Cebu Pacific. Cost of living in the Philippines is cheap as heck. Saw many Americans, Australians, Germans etc who have decided to stay here and even taken a Filipina wife. Also saw many rather unsavory types who are clearly running from something (wife, ex-wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, IRS, law enforcement) and they too have decided this is a safe place.
As I said, we had a good experience. I assume the flight back to Manila won't be any different. And just because the CEO is an old family friend doesn't mean I know whether he's a good boss or not.
The incoming flight was late, but we were able to close the doors only 30 minutes later. Sat on the runway for what seemed like forever, but we arrived in Davao no more than 30 minutes past the time on the schedule.
Cabin crew were all young women and very fun, modern, not obese, and appeared to be happy in their chosen career. The A320 was new looking. Not their fault that the tower made us wait. The landing, however, was a bit rough, and the Davao airport is such that when the plane got to the end of the runway, it turned around 360 degrees to get to the terminal. If the airport was any busier, another plane landing would not have been a good thing.
Anyway, the inflight magazine indicated the purchase of quite a number of new aircraft and therefore the need for more pilots, cabin crew, and other associated jobs. I don't know anything about the pay, work conditions, or anything like whether they have a training contact. Given what I saw on equipment and growth, if I were a furloughed person, I'd consider Cebu Pacific. Cost of living in the Philippines is cheap as heck. Saw many Americans, Australians, Germans etc who have decided to stay here and even taken a Filipina wife. Also saw many rather unsavory types who are clearly running from something (wife, ex-wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, IRS, law enforcement) and they too have decided this is a safe place.
As I said, we had a good experience. I assume the flight back to Manila won't be any different. And just because the CEO is an old family friend doesn't mean I know whether he's a good boss or not.
10-08-2012, 02:24 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,282
I think the "legal right to work and live in the Philippines" is what holds a lot of people back. I remember looking into them a few years ago and you need to be a national or marry a Filipina and do the paperwork to get the right to work there. Otherwise, I would be all for it!
Glad you made it safely. Have a nice trip
Glad you made it safely. Have a nice trip
10-08-2012, 02:39 AM
#3
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,909
Two former Cebu skippers at my current carrier left the carrier because of arbitrary decisions and disciplinary actions crewmembers by management and operations management.
10-08-2012, 02:56 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 137
Originally Posted by captjns
Two former Cebu skippers at my current carrier left the carrier because of arbitrary decisions and disciplinary actions crewmembers by management and operations management.
YMMV
10-08-2012, 06:15 AM
#5
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,989
from another board:
Adding to this, the Philippines can be dangerous. Several Ce-Pac crews and management have been robbed and shot. The Philippines is a very poor, in the midst of a religious civil war, and their government somewhat ineffective at running the place.
I used to go diving in the Philippines, but my last experience in Manilla made me think it just isn't safe anymore.
Originally Posted by winglet777
UPGRADE:
Defenitely there is no upgrade for expat. Only locals and company regular line FO's are slated for upgrade to right seat. No upgrade even if have 5,000 A320 time. there is no permanent contract. Expats are on a temporary basis (3 or 6 months subject to renewal) and a stop gap measure only while addresing the shortage of pilots in the line due massive resignations of locals. Philippine law states expat employment of 6 months or less will not be subject to income tax. But beyond 6 months of employment, a 32% tax will automatically apply. So staying beyond your contract term of 6 months is not advisable.
WORING CONDITION:
Expect average of 90 hrs roster in a month.half or the roster is alloted in flying redeye and the rest are mixed domestic and international. Flight schedule are tight, hectic and stressful. 8 days off is guaranted in the contact but is not being followed. To cite you this, After terminating from a 5 am red eye flight, the time from 6am to 12 midnight which is supposed to be my rest rest day is being treated as day off instead of rest day.so in reality, 8 days is printed in your schedule but half of it is only the actual day off, the rest being a rest day not a day off. Even if you are on day off, the scheduler will sometimes call you at the hotel for flt upgrade due crew situation reason. The company will try to maximize your availability for every dollars they pay you.
Most of the runways being operated on the domestic route are very short and narrow.average of 1,700 mtrs length by 30 mtrs width.
The locals are nice to work with. They are accomodating and not as racist
like the middle east and other asian airline. Better crm and good cockpit
environment.
Turnaround time for each flight is only 30 minutes, so expect heavy workload in each turnaround. Pay for FO is around US $ 4200 net with free hotac and shuttle service to hotel and office.
So for me, its not advisable to come to cebu pacific. The working schedule is a
****. too stressful and too tiring. There a problem too with the way management pilots are running the show. No wonder that most of the locals are tranferring to other airlines. Its better to go to other asian airlines like vietnam, china and india where better pay and roster awaits you
Defenitely there is no upgrade for expat. Only locals and company regular line FO's are slated for upgrade to right seat. No upgrade even if have 5,000 A320 time. there is no permanent contract. Expats are on a temporary basis (3 or 6 months subject to renewal) and a stop gap measure only while addresing the shortage of pilots in the line due massive resignations of locals. Philippine law states expat employment of 6 months or less will not be subject to income tax. But beyond 6 months of employment, a 32% tax will automatically apply. So staying beyond your contract term of 6 months is not advisable.
WORING CONDITION:
Expect average of 90 hrs roster in a month.half or the roster is alloted in flying redeye and the rest are mixed domestic and international. Flight schedule are tight, hectic and stressful. 8 days off is guaranted in the contact but is not being followed. To cite you this, After terminating from a 5 am red eye flight, the time from 6am to 12 midnight which is supposed to be my rest rest day is being treated as day off instead of rest day.so in reality, 8 days is printed in your schedule but half of it is only the actual day off, the rest being a rest day not a day off. Even if you are on day off, the scheduler will sometimes call you at the hotel for flt upgrade due crew situation reason. The company will try to maximize your availability for every dollars they pay you.
Most of the runways being operated on the domestic route are very short and narrow.average of 1,700 mtrs length by 30 mtrs width.
The locals are nice to work with. They are accomodating and not as racist
like the middle east and other asian airline. Better crm and good cockpit
environment.
Turnaround time for each flight is only 30 minutes, so expect heavy workload in each turnaround. Pay for FO is around US $ 4200 net with free hotac and shuttle service to hotel and office.
So for me, its not advisable to come to cebu pacific. The working schedule is a
****. too stressful and too tiring. There a problem too with the way management pilots are running the show. No wonder that most of the locals are tranferring to other airlines. Its better to go to other asian airlines like vietnam, china and india where better pay and roster awaits you
I used to go diving in the Philippines, but my last experience in Manilla made me think it just isn't safe anymore.
10-08-2012, 06:21 AM
#6
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,989
Originally Posted by Skymaster
And I know many crewmembers currently flying there that like the company and wouldn't go anywhere else.
YMMV
YMMV
10-08-2012, 06:47 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Assistant Greens Keeper
Posts: 1,011
I just went through some training with a guy who did a contract job there a few years ago.
He said CP is bad at best. MX is a nightmare and the airline was banned from flying to several countries because of it.
He said when his contract was over they weren't taking anymore expats for things like expats writing up broken airplanes and complaining when they were being scheduled illegally.
I don't know if things have changed but it sounds like crap.
Just as someone else said...he said you really need to watch yourself in MNL and elsewhere.
He said CP is bad at best. MX is a nightmare and the airline was banned from flying to several countries because of it.
He said when his contract was over they weren't taking anymore expats for things like expats writing up broken airplanes and complaining when they were being scheduled illegally.
I don't know if things have changed but it sounds like crap.
Just as someone else said...he said you really need to watch yourself in MNL and elsewhere.
10-08-2012, 12:51 PM
#10
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 38
The latest from another board:
I grew up and lived most of my life in the PI. I looked into this gig as well as others (Zest, Air Phils, AA Phils, PAL). I can tell you that there are better contracts out in SE asia. Unless, you really want to live in the PI, then I have to agree with The Dom - stay away because there are better opportunities in the area.
And btw, it's not CE-PAC. It's BU-PAK. (Sepak is a game they play with their feet using a ball made of straw).
Recruitment
Mr.M,
Cebu just doesn't respond to emails. The girl in the office gets hundreds, yes hundred of emails enquiring about jobs and her attitude just doesn't lend itself to respond. What's the current situation?
All the expats have been given a termination notice of 90 days. Most have been given the option of signing back up under local terms but as we know, that really doesn't cut it as we aren't local, our families don't live here, and they are also taking away the commuting roster so you'll only have 15 days a year in which to visit your parents and friends even if you can talk your wife and children to come over and live "local" style. This mean no A/C and riding the jeepney since your pay as a Captain, after you pay taxes will be less than 5K USD per month. ( try maintaining two household on that ) Plus, unlike a local, you are working at the graces of the visa people and that is hit and miss. you will have to get your own local license, no more validation. If you're starting out as an FO, now that is a good deal. If you have any time whatsoever you can probably plan on the left seat in less than a year. This is according to some guys that were recently hired. the level of experience here is very low so when you do make the left seat, your skill level will rise very quickly since you'll be flying a 320 solo. The FO's are trained as well as possible but we all know that you can't learn flying from a book. If you email the HR dept, don't expect a reply and you won't be disappointed. You really need to know someone. So, in a nut shell, the management, mainly Mr. Mark B, has decided that Cebu can get highly experienced Captains, to fly brutal schedules, with FO's that have a few hundred hours of flight time and don't want to be told anything by an expat Capt. And for that, you'll get paid 5K per month. Oh, and one final tid bit. you're only allowed to have 8 days off per month maximum since the pilots shouldn't have more time off than the office workers. So, during the busy times, if you're pushing the 100 hour limit, rostering will DH you to a city 45 minutes away and have you sit for 3 hours and then fly the trip back. Just to make sure you don't get an extra day off to rest.It's a great job for an inexperienced pilot to build time and upgrade rapidly. The people you work with are fantastic. But, it's rough duty and not for the light hearted. Good luck!
Mr.M,
Cebu just doesn't respond to emails. The girl in the office gets hundreds, yes hundred of emails enquiring about jobs and her attitude just doesn't lend itself to respond. What's the current situation?
All the expats have been given a termination notice of 90 days. Most have been given the option of signing back up under local terms but as we know, that really doesn't cut it as we aren't local, our families don't live here, and they are also taking away the commuting roster so you'll only have 15 days a year in which to visit your parents and friends even if you can talk your wife and children to come over and live "local" style. This mean no A/C and riding the jeepney since your pay as a Captain, after you pay taxes will be less than 5K USD per month. ( try maintaining two household on that ) Plus, unlike a local, you are working at the graces of the visa people and that is hit and miss. you will have to get your own local license, no more validation. If you're starting out as an FO, now that is a good deal. If you have any time whatsoever you can probably plan on the left seat in less than a year. This is according to some guys that were recently hired. the level of experience here is very low so when you do make the left seat, your skill level will rise very quickly since you'll be flying a 320 solo. The FO's are trained as well as possible but we all know that you can't learn flying from a book. If you email the HR dept, don't expect a reply and you won't be disappointed. You really need to know someone. So, in a nut shell, the management, mainly Mr. Mark B, has decided that Cebu can get highly experienced Captains, to fly brutal schedules, with FO's that have a few hundred hours of flight time and don't want to be told anything by an expat Capt. And for that, you'll get paid 5K per month. Oh, and one final tid bit. you're only allowed to have 8 days off per month maximum since the pilots shouldn't have more time off than the office workers. So, during the busy times, if you're pushing the 100 hour limit, rostering will DH you to a city 45 minutes away and have you sit for 3 hours and then fly the trip back. Just to make sure you don't get an extra day off to rest.It's a great job for an inexperienced pilot to build time and upgrade rapidly. The people you work with are fantastic. But, it's rough duty and not for the light hearted. Good luck!
As part of the new Pilot code of conduct, you must be contactable on your days off. You must ask for written permission to leave your base, for example, you have 2 days off and you want to run up to Hong Kong.
If Cebu calls you for a trip on your day off you cannot refuse! Yes! There you have it ladies. The very best, kept for last. All days off are considered stand-by days. How's that for a finely oiled machine.
If Cebu calls you for a trip on your day off you cannot refuse! Yes! There you have it ladies. The very best, kept for last. All days off are considered stand-by days. How's that for a finely oiled machine.
And btw, it's not CE-PAC. It's BU-PAK. (Sepak is a game they play with their feet using a ball made of straw).
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