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Foreign Airlines that hire U.S. pilots

Saudi Airlines

Old 03-27-2015, 12:02 PM
  #11  
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Thank you again Sky4Me,

All the best with getting on with a major.
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Old 03-28-2015, 05:54 AM
  #12  
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Can anyone else comment on Saudi Airlines and their experiances, Good and Bad? Thank you.
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Old 03-28-2015, 06:04 AM
  #13  
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Probably the first time pprune has a better vibe about a place than APC...
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Old 03-28-2015, 05:44 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by tailendcharlie View Post
Probably the first time pprune has a better vibe about a place than APC...
If we could keep the comments on topic that would be great.

Please, any information on QOL, Schedule, Benifits, Company, Compound Life etc. Good and Bad....Thank you.
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Old 03-28-2015, 06:22 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by Aerospace View Post
Thank you again Sky4Me,

All the best with getting on with a major.
Thanks for your good wishes.

When is your interview? Study what I said in my past reply and you will be more than okay.
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Old 12-13-2015, 12:07 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Sky4Me View Post
Upgrade forget it, this is not for expats FO!! If you get hireded as FO, you will stay FO forever.

Compound life: For new hires no more compound housing. Management is looking out for cheaper rentals places close to airport area for expats.

Base : JED and RUH (most are offered JED)

Money is okay on B777 only, but for A320/A330 not so good. A320 guys do very few layovers a month.

Pick EY, EK, QR over Saudi. There are other Saudi forums on airlinepilotforums.com read them you will get good idea.

QOL
So, you wanted a more hardcore perspective,*this one is for you. Firstly, let me lay it right out: for an expat living in Saudi Arabia, there isn’t much to do locally. Don’t expect cinemas, bar restaurants / bars, or anything like that. The kingdom is*not built for entertainment. Many things you take for granted in the USA*are illegal*or frowned upon here.
This may actually change your mind in case you were considered being an expat living in Saudi Arabia. You absolutely can't date, even if you are a local or an expat living in Saudi Arabia. That doesn’t mean people don’t date, but you can't meet publicly*or be seen together. The religious police have every right to stop you and ask for your marriage license. If you don’t have one,*guess what happens? You go straight to jail—unless you’re a good smooth-talker.

Even if you are discrete*about dating, all of the restaurants and coffee shops are*sectioned off between men’s sections and family/women’s sections.*You can risk it, walk in, and pretend to be married, but if the religious police finds out,*you’re toast. There are also rumors of cash awards being handed out for those who report suspicious couples who turn out to be unmarried. Many locals get married so that they may live a more “normal” life. Being a single guy in Saudi Arabia sucks since you can't enter the family sections. Commissioned by the*committee for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice,*these religious policemen*enforce the strict-Shari’a law of the kingdom. They cruise the streets in white SUVs, looking out for anyone*committing sin. They wear regular white thobes and are*occasionally escortedby a policeman or two.
As an expat living in Saudi Arabia, one of the first things you will notice about the people here is*their fear*of this religious patrol. The patrol generally roams around in pairs and toutlong bears*(signs of Islamic devotion). If these men*catch you*walking with a woman that is not a direct relative / your wife, or breaking the religious law in any way–such as a woman driving or not wearing her veil–they have*full authority to arrest you*and take you to jail. An expat living in Saudi Arabia may also be surprised to find out that prayer times, which happen 5 times a day,*are mandatory. If you are Muslim, you are required to pray. If they catch you outside a Starbucks drinking a latte during prayer time, they most likely will harass you or, in extreme cases,*haul you off to prison. With that said, they will usually leave expats alone—unless you look Arabic.
Every country has its cultures and traditions. One which an expat living in Saudi Arabia may find very frustrating is the*constant closing of shops. Muslims pray five times a day, and these prayer time windows last about thirty minute. During this time, shops are required to close and sales to stop. If you’re a person who likes lounging around coffee shops or malls,*be aware*that prayer times will cause shop closures. Gyms also close during prayer time. The whole city literally stops. An expat living in Saudi Arabia needs to understand and*accept this cultural difference. Now this doesn’t mean some places don't violate the law*and stay open during prayer times (some gyms just turn their lights off, shut their doors, and leave their members inside), but those aren’t common. Since I practically live at Starbucks, they don’t mind that I stay inside during prayer time. I just need to*remain away*from the windows and out of sight. But that doesn’t stop the religious police from walking in and asking you what you’re doing there, then fining the establishment. They may even take you both to jail.

Okay you are not single then this is for your wife : Being a woman in Saudi Arabia means*you can't drive. You will need to either obtain a personal driver, share a driver with other women, or get a taxi.*If you are seen*driving a car, you will be taken to prison. Yes, I know some women have*recently started driving in protest. They do not do it often, nor do they go long distances.*If they get caught, they most likely will go to prison. Your wife will get very bored very fast here because of her social life in Saudi. Be ready to hear how she hates living in Saudi Arabia.

Kids:
I don't have kids so no first hand experience. But one of my friend left Saudi because his boys were getting harassed by local youth. Boys were forced to learn about Allah and how Allah is Only One God. If they will not believe in Allah they will face painful death blah blah blah.........

As an expat working in Saudi Arabia I have had only three minor incidents, none of which were serious. I was spat at from a moving car by a group of Saudi youths (around the 20’s mark I would guess), and I had another group of bored Saudi youth over take me whilst driving only to open both passenger doors of my side and the youths to hang out of the car shouting at me in Arabic and making gestures – they soon jumped back in when I put my foot on the accelerator and drove at them (Probably not a good move on my part!). If you are not Muslim it is good enough reason for them to start fight. Cops will never ever support you, if you don't know Arabic.

Please no more questions because I don't want to sound like negative person. Praying every day for interview invite from AA/DL/UA so I can get out of this hell - Saudi Arabia.
Cats, you didn't tell him about all the dang cats!

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Old 12-13-2015, 12:14 PM
  #17  
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I know this is an old thread but it should also be mentioned, security is an issue. Saudia City is a joke compared to other nearby compounds. Arabian Homes and Raytheon have stricter screening before entry. The idea that totally off compound accommodations for westerners would be entertained is frightening to say the least. Check the State Department website for a little insight into recent activities in KSA.

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Old 12-13-2015, 07:33 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Sky4Me View Post
Upgrade forget it, this is not for expats FO!! If you get hireded as FO, you will stay FO forever.

Compound life: For new hires no more compound housing. Management is looking out for cheaper rentals places close to airport area for expats.

Base : JED and RUH (most are offered JED)

Money is okay on B777 only, but for A320/A330 not so good. A320 guys do very few layovers a month.

Pick EY, EK, QR over Saudi. There are other Saudi forums on airlinepilotforums.com read them you will get good idea.

QOL
So, you wanted a more hardcore perspective,*this one is for you. Firstly, let me lay it right out: for an expat living in Saudi Arabia, there isn’t much to do locally. Don’t expect cinemas, bar restaurants / bars, or anything like that. The kingdom is*not built for entertainment. Many things you take for granted in the USA*are illegal*or frowned upon here.
This may actually change your mind in case you were considered being an expat living in Saudi Arabia. You absolutely can't date, even if you are a local or an expat living in Saudi Arabia. That doesn’t mean people don’t date, but you can't meet publicly*or be seen together. The religious police have every right to stop you and ask for your marriage license. If you don’t have one,*guess what happens? You go straight to jail—unless you’re a good smooth-talker.

Even if you are discrete*about dating, all of the restaurants and coffee shops are*sectioned off between men’s sections and family/women’s sections.*You can risk it, walk in, and pretend to be married, but if the religious police finds out,*you’re toast. There are also rumors of cash awards being handed out for those who report suspicious couples who turn out to be unmarried. Many locals get married so that they may live a more “normal” life. Being a single guy in Saudi Arabia sucks since you can't enter the family sections. Commissioned by the*committee for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice,*these religious policemen*enforce the strict-Shari’a law of the kingdom. They cruise the streets in white SUVs, looking out for anyone*committing sin. They wear regular white thobes and are*occasionally escortedby a policeman or two.
As an expat living in Saudi Arabia, one of the first things you will notice about the people here is*their fear*of this religious patrol. The patrol generally roams around in pairs and toutlong bears*(signs of Islamic devotion). If these men*catch you*walking with a woman that is not a direct relative / your wife, or breaking the religious law in any way–such as a woman driving or not wearing her veil–they have*full authority to arrest you*and take you to jail. An expat living in Saudi Arabia may also be surprised to find out that prayer times, which happen 5 times a day,*are mandatory. If you are Muslim, you are required to pray. If they catch you outside a Starbucks drinking a latte during prayer time, they most likely will harass you or, in extreme cases,*haul you off to prison. With that said, they will usually leave expats alone—unless you look Arabic.
Every country has its cultures and traditions. One which an expat living in Saudi Arabia may find very frustrating is the*constant closing of shops. Muslims pray five times a day, and these prayer time windows last about thirty minute. During this time, shops are required to close and sales to stop. If you’re a person who likes lounging around coffee shops or malls,*be aware*that prayer times will cause shop closures. Gyms also close during prayer time. The whole city literally stops. An expat living in Saudi Arabia needs to understand and*accept this cultural difference. Now this doesn’t mean some places don't violate the law*and stay open during prayer times (some gyms just turn their lights off, shut their doors, and leave their members inside), but those aren’t common. Since I practically live at Starbucks, they don’t mind that I stay inside during prayer time. I just need to*remain away*from the windows and out of sight. But that doesn’t stop the religious police from walking in and asking you what you’re doing there, then fining the establishment. They may even take you both to jail.

Okay you are not single then this is for your wife : Being a woman in Saudi Arabia means*you can't drive. You will need to either obtain a personal driver, share a driver with other women, or get a taxi.*If you are seen*driving a car, you will be taken to prison. Yes, I know some women have*recently started driving in protest. They do not do it often, nor do they go long distances.*If they get caught, they most likely will go to prison. Your wife will get very bored very fast here because of her social life in Saudi. Be ready to hear how she hates living in Saudi Arabia.

Kids:
I don't have kids so no first hand experience. But one of my friend left Saudi because his boys were getting harassed by local youth. Boys were forced to learn about Allah and how Allah is Only One God. If they will not believe in Allah they will face painful death blah blah blah.........

As an expat working in Saudi Arabia I have had only three minor incidents, none of which were serious. I was spat at from a moving car by a group of Saudi youths (around the 20’s mark I would guess), and I had another group of bored Saudi youth over take me whilst driving only to open both passenger doors of my side and the youths to hang out of the car shouting at me in Arabic and making gestures – they soon jumped back in when I put my foot on the accelerator and drove at them (Probably not a good move on my part!). If you are not Muslim it is good enough reason for them to start fight. Cops will never ever support you, if you don't know Arabic.

Please no more questions because I don't want to sound like negative person. Praying every day for interview invite from AA/DL/UA so I can get out of this hell - Saudi Arabia.
I don't know what else you would expect from a country where they still publicly behead people for stuff like witchcraft. They are stuck in the dark ages and seem content to stay there. You could not pay me enough to go to a place like that.
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Old 12-14-2015, 01:19 AM
  #19  
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I did the occasional contract flying out of Jeddah.
Pretty boring place and the Saudi assignments went super junior.
If I never see the place again, that would be too soon.
Kuwait is slightly better, flew for their National airline for a year and a half.
At least one could could smuggle booze into Kuwait without going to jail if caught. Do that in Saudi and bad things will happen.
The prayers would drive me nuts:
Lived next to a mosque in Kuwait City and they start the **** early morning. Went down and cut the wires to the external speakers a couple of times. Then they put guards on the perimeter of the mosque, I cut the wires again when the guards were sleeping.
Finally moved across town away from the noise. (Could have gone to jail for a long time if caught, not the smartest thing I did in my life)

The Middle East sucks, but you can have some fun in Dubai, Emirates seems to be hiring all the time.
I would stay far away however, especially from Saudi Arabia.
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Old 12-15-2015, 08:32 PM
  #20  
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Awesome CSY! You should be a undercover op agent. In the very least, in the next James Bond movie.
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