Cathay Pacific Q's

[VVJM265]

Bjammin, that per diem is not tax free, just because it does not show up on your W-2 form does not mean its tax free, to be all cozy with the IRS you should report that $$$ and then list where your overnights are and take that as a deduction. That is the correct way to do it.

Just wondered why no per diem from the Navy ever showed up on my W-2. My high month was Aug 2000 at $5463

Generally it is tax free, only excess amounts over the federal rates need be claimed.

"However, if an employer pays expense allowances that exceed the federal per diem rates, the excess amounts are subject to income tax and employment tax if they are not repaid to the employer, unless the employee actually substantiates all of the expenses covered by the per diem allowance."

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=164208,00.html

Probably best for you CX guys to check with a CPA well versed in your situation; but I'm thinking that it is pretty much tax free.

Fly safe gents,
265

 

[Fit59]

And we are getting extra allowance for those working on Christmas and or New Years... Time to consult the accountant! BTW, CX per diem is paid in cash at the layover port... Tis a lot more difficult for the IRS to track!

Happy holidays

(I didn't use a spell checker, so I hope the spelling/grammar police don't show up!)

 

[Brown Cow]

NorskAir:

I didn't get a rejection letter from Cathay. I was pretty much told right then and there that I didn't have a prayer of getting hired. They didn't want to waste paper on me. But flying my MD-11 into Hong Kong and thinking what could have been, I realize just how lucky I am.

 

[avbug]

This is probably a little off track, but seeing as the tax vs. perdiem issue was raised...do you mean that perdiem is subject to tax by a percentage if one can't show receipts to prove it was used on the road?

I haven't dealt with it that way for donkeys years...I've always been under the (apparently mistaken) impression that perdiem isn't taxable. How does this work??

 

[vtwin]

And we are getting extra allowance for those working on Christmas and or New Years... Time to consult the accountant! BTW, CX per diem is paid in cash at the layover port... Tis a lot more difficult for the IRS to track!

Happy holidays

(I didn't use a spell checker, so I hope the spelling/grammar police don't show up!)

or the IRS.............

 

[Sunnfun]

This is probably a little off track, but seeing as the tax vs. perdiem issue was raised...do you mean that perdiem is subject to tax by a percentage if one can't show receipts to prove it was used on the road?

I haven't dealt with it that way for donkeys years...I've always been under the (apparently mistaken) impression that perdiem isn't taxable. How does this work??

It's tax free up to the federal per diem rates. You have to either repay excess amounts (per diem payed above the tax free rate), substantiate that you actually spend more than the tax free rate or pay income tax on it. If you don't do any of that than the full amount becomes taxable. Here's a quote from the IRS:

Revenue Ruling 2006-56 tells employers that if they routinely pay per diem allowances in excess of the federal per diem rates, but do not track the allowances and do not require the employees either to actually substantiate all the expenses or pay back the excess amounts, and do not include the excess amounts in the employee’s income and wages, then the entire amount of the expense allowances is subject to income tax and employment tax.

Further info can be found at the IRS website (The actual ruling is linked there as a PDF), and also here. The current per diem rates can be found here for domestic, domestic non-contiguous and international.

Hope that helps,
Sun'n Fun

 

[Mayday911]

I have 19 days off for January, including 6 "O" days (allows the company to keep me out on a trip without paying OT, almost always attached at the end of a trip). As a first year FO, my pay before taxes is 6400USD, that includes the base salary, flight duty pay ($4.50/hour) and 15.5% cash in lieu of provident fund. It does not include the cash allowance at the hotels. The figures that Bjammin quoted are right on and being an American getting US dollars in ANC is very nice. The pay raise after year 1 is 6000USD for the year, plus 250USD a month for having an ATP. I was a 4th year RJ captain at a relatively well paid regional airline and now have more money than I have ever had.....so those that are comparing the CX pay scales to RJ captain pay are very misinformed. And no one seems to like the fact that the health insurance is completely free regardless of the size of your family. Thats right no premiums, no copays, and no cost name brand and generic prescription drugs. For a family plan that is a huge savings from almost all US carriers. Also, since CX is a foreign company and we are flying a foriegn vessel, we are not responsible for FICA or Medicare taxes....more savings. You do not have to pay HK tax as well as US tax, you have to pay the same amount either way. Some pay HK and then claim the foriegn tax credit in the US and some claim the US tax in HK and owe HK zero.

Yes, the training is tough but I am an idiot and got through with no worries.

 

[Little Bubba]

Pax fleet (US) is not less than $9000/month (guaranteed), anything over 84 hrs is overtime. And yes, americans do upgrade (at least I did). Also, of the guys I that was hired with me, I think only 1 has left, none fired, and almost all of them are now in the left seat.

I like to add the following: When I was based in LAX on the PAX fleet, you couldn't find a bunch of happier guys. We did 2-3 trips/month, (each trip 60 hours TAFB), add to that 6 weeks of vacation per year. Oh yeah, did I mention half of the time was spent in the bunk?

BTW, it can't be that hard to get fired, S.B is still here, even after 10 years.

 

[mach10]

After all that's been written here about CX, it's nice to know that there are actually guys there (especially Americans) that are happy. I guess CX is what you make of it. It's not the best (ie UPS FDX) but it's better than most. I'll be joining sometime next year and I sure hope I made the right decision on this one.

 

[brnstrmr]

I was just wondering, is the retirement age 56 at CX ?

 

[j32drivr]

As a relatively new Cathay guy, I'll second everything Mayday said, including the part about him being an idiot (just kidding buddy! ). I wouldn't classify training as "tough", just "not easy". You are very well compensated for your efforts though, in my opinion. More than anything, they expect you to conduct yourself with a high level of professionalism on the flight deck. That being said, everyone I've flown with so far has been completely cool, relaxed, and professional, and that seems to be the majority here these days. Mach10 mentions that CX may not be the "best", but Fedex and UPS were'nt ALWAYS the flavor of the week, and not too many years ago there were many guys turning them down for jobs with Delta and United. Nothing against ANY of those companies, just different strokes for different folks-and there's more to a job than just hourly pay. Having had the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe, this American (not Canadian) couldn't be more pleased with how things turned out, and I'm looking forward to many more years spent sharing a pint with my fellow CXers.
Cheers, and Merry Christmas

 

[ACT700]

To sum up page 2 of this thread:

There are guys who like doing what they do and know how to make "things" good for them, and there are guys who hate their job and are in it only for the money.
The latter, I think, will never be happy, no matter what airline, what continent or country they fly in.
Your career is what you make of it.

 

[IFlyLow]

Can any of you guys currently at Cathay explain what RP07 is and whether or not if you start with CX in 2007 you'll be put on a "C" payscale? I can't find out any information about this topic and would be interested to know before joining.

 

[j32drivr]

RP07 has been voted down, so dont worry too much about it. Apparently a new version is being worked on now, and should be put out to the pilot group to vote on. Either way, RP07 refers to Rostering Practices-basically trip rigs, duty pay, days off, etc...you won't be put onto a C scale, that was COS07 (also voted down) that would have set up a new payrate. RP07, if and when it goes through, would apply to everyone.
Cheers

 

[HOURBUILDER]

hi anyone know the retirement age at cathay pacific?