Stay at EK or go to UAL?
 

I am currently a B777 Captain at Emirates. To say things at this airline are going downhill is a bit of an understatement, it's more like they are going off a cliff. In the last 6 years it has gone from working 70 hours a month to 90 and they have ignored the pilots contract about overtime and have completely stopped paying it. A lot of US pilots here are looking to go back to the US majors. I am just wondering if that is a good idea. So here is the questions for any UAL pilots out there. Go do the interview at UAL, or forget about it and stay at EK?

If you don't go to the interview and subsequently receive a job offer it's not really a choice is it?

UA

Given the current stability, or lack thereof in the ME, and the rapidly declining oil futures, coming back to any job in the US may be the prudent thing to do. If you have a pile of cash from all those years in the sandbox, maybe all the better, just watch the tax implications. I'm a DL guy, but the contracts are basically the same at the majors now, and they are headed in an upward direction. The regional shell game is ending, and the orders for new AC are flooding in as the airlines are flush with cash. The retirement numbers look big and unending, we will soon see upgrade times that haven't been seen since the late 1960's, and we are finally getting some attention in DC as to the importance of this industry to our economy. That said, you know the drill... anything can happen in this business. Good luck with your decision.

I'd have to agree: forgoing the interview really leaves you with no choice at all. If you go to the interview and get the job, you can always turn it down.

But if you're that unhappy, I'd look at all options.

Come back in a heartbeat.

Things have definitely turned around for the US carriers (including the entire structure of the industry).

6th yr NB FO's at DAL are pulling $200k+ (including PS paid on Feb. 14 of 2015).
I know of two NB FO's who are going to break $250k on flight pay alone, NOT including 401k of 15%. Newhires at DAL and AAL are being told 5yr upgrades to NB CA right now.

I'm sure the EK pay is nice, but there is always a "hidden cost" in lifestyle and job security in being an expat in the ME.

Good luck either way.

Diatribe deleted.

This isn't even a choice.

A few months ago I had one of your 777 Captains on my flight to Dubai. He came up to the cockpit to say hi, and said he was now a new hire at Delta. He said he'd been a 777 Capt. for 5 years at Emirates.

I asked why would he give that up to fly MD88 copilot, on reserve, in NYC?

He said about what you did above, and talked about the crappy 2 leg, 2 pilot all-nighter trips to India, etc.

He's been at Delta for a few months now, so maybe you know who he is, or you can get in touch with him and get his opinion now that he's been back in the US for a little while. But as mentioned above, until you go to the United interview and are offered the job, you really don't have a choice to make, do you?

You have nothing to lose by going to the UAL interview, other than the cost of getting there and back, and I think you can ride passes on EK so all you're really looking at for expense is motel rooms.

The U.S. is still the best place to live in the world..... Come home.

Do the interview and see if you get the offer. Then decide.

I think your profile name says it all. No-brainer...If you have an interview then take it.