It seems that I've spoken to a number of people who have second-hand knowledge of the culture at Cathay being difficult; ridged micro-managing captains, stringint training programs and so on. I'm all for a high level of competency and professionalism, but no-one wants to walk on eggshells in the flight-deck. Is it really that difficult of an atmosphere to work in?

On a related note, how's the QOL? Days off in a month? Vacation? Flight benefits?

Thanks!

Have a very good friend who flies for American Airlines now and is very happy. He told me that he didn't enjoy his time at Cathay Pacific at all. He said the people at Cathay were very difficult and there is no compassion in their company culture. Anyone can be terminated at any given time. The quality of life is also average. He says he would not go to Cathay in today's environment. There are much better jobs out there.

Cathay Pacific used to be one of the hardest airlines to get hired and one of the best paying.
For years it was THE destination airline for a lot of people.
Seems to have lost some of its shine.

Fixed it for you

True story. Years ago I am out with a friend in Dubai during Ramadan. Bars are all pretty slow then because, well it's Ramadan. So we walk into a bar in Bur Dubai that has very few people in it and sit down for a beer. A few minutes later an older gentlemen gets up from a table nearby and starts heading for the exit. My friend sees him and calls out his name. The guy comes over and they exchange greetings and make introductions for me. The guy is an A scale Cathay 747 captain on a layover who just happens to live in Thailand where my friend does (small world). Anyway we get to chatting and they get around to the topic of my friends brother. My friends brother (American by the way) was at Cathay for 8 years in the 90s and early 2000s. He was not successful at upgrade on the 747 fleet and left Cathay because of that.

When I say not successful, it's not that he failed any training events. He went through training fine, in fact very well by all accounts. So this guy we are talking to, a British 747 captain relates what he knows of the story. Back then (and still now, I don't know) all upgrade decisions went to something called the Star Chamber which was a group who decided whether or not someone would be blessed as a captain after their training was finished. So my friends brother's file gets there and the decision is made not to allow him to be a captain. The reason, now relayed to us by this guy sitting across the table is that the (British) 747 fleet manager/chief pilot said, "I will not have an American as a captain on my fleet".

After two years of applying I finally got an interview invite last week... and I'm finally to the point where I don't even want to go. I have one friend who left as a 14 year FO for a regional in the US with the hopes of getting picked up by a legacy. Says a lot.

It's a evil and sick place from what I've heard. Potato, you have no idea what you'd be getting into.

Sick and evil, a lot like Emirates. Basically, the British and Aussies run the show in Cathay and Emirates. They don't seem to like Americans very much.

Very different at Emirates. Americans do fine at Emirates. Well over 200 captains from the USA at EK; some in management roles in years past; and many in the training department.

So Typhoon, if you had to pick one today, who is the best? EK, EY or QR?

Wow. Lots of posts, all negative. I wonder why they are so hostile to American pilots? Gernerally think of Americans getting on pretty well with brits and aussies, guess not. Maybe I'll focus my attention elsewhere then.