CATHAY PACIFIC vs. FEDEX/UPS opinions

[Mr Zog]

Cpt Underpants,

FDX does not have 757/767s nor 747s. Kind of hard for your friend to fly those at FDX, you think.

 

[VaB]

Cpt Underpants,

FDX does not have 757/767s nor 747s. Kind of hard for your friend to fly those at FDX, you think.

Well, ya know what they say: "Horses for courses"

 

[RP 04]

Just wanna put my 2 cents in, since I have been with CX the last 7 years.

Overall it's a pretty good company, and at this point I wouldn't leave for anything else. Having said that, 7 years ago I would have gone to Fedex or UPS if they, at the time had offered me a spot.

Myself, I'm based in the US and with that I'm enjoying a awesome scheduel, good pay, with a PIP medical plan for the whole family with no co-payments. Retirement could be at lot better, since we are only getting 15.5 % on top of our salary (which btw could be in cash if you so desire, or you could have CX thru Fidelity invest it for you), 6 weeks of vacation, and a profit share plan that this year gave me another 7000 in cash, so overall it's not a bad deal as long as you flying on the pax side. There are also some pretty good tax benefits when you work for a company that is based overseas (even if you are based here at home).

Training is not to bad, but for some reason they seem to "spoon feed" you a lot, maybe it's a british/aussie thing, who knows? Also the so-called US bashing someone brought up, myself, I have never seen it. Think it's not much different than when the Aussies/Brits go at each other. At the end of the day it's seems to be more talk than action. Also for some reason most guys make it thru Left Seat training, even our ex-cadets, although it might take mopre than one try

Size;CX will never be close to Fedex or UPS, but does it really matter? BTW, I think CX are the 6th largest cargo carrier in the world, well ahead of China Airlines and Air China, since some dumbas brought it up...

Just got of a trip and I'm to tired to proof read, so try to read tru the speling erors...

Any other questions?

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

oops, I meant UPS, so I'll change that. Sorry, I'm pooped, 15:40 airborne does that sometimes...

 

[Bjammin]

Thanks guys! I was berely holding my own.

 

[Spooky 1]

Brown Cow

Sorry to wade in now, but I have been away on a ULH flight. I have been following this thread with interest, and would like to add my .02C

With all due respect, you know not of what you speak wrt CX freight expansion. CX is agressively chasing freight business in Asia and will be a major player. CX will do more with it's puny fleet of 101 wide-bodies in 2006 in productivity than any other. Watch this space.

eh? Check your atlas - you may be confusing Hong Kong with Singapore, also recently called "the size of a piece of snot" by Taiwan.

Oh yes you do. How many nationalities do you have on the flightdeck? CX is at 50 and counting. I would suggest that unless you hold a US passport or green card you're SOL with FDX. Not so here. Despite the clear bias and xenophobia currently practised by many US companies, descrimination of any sort is not allowed here.

Yes there is. I have a friend who joined UPS at the same time I joined CX, 16 years ago. I have seen his payslip and he has seen mine. I outearn him by a significant margin. He has more days off, and I am pleased for him, and he uses the bid system well - something I wish we had here. He is a CN on the 757/767 and could easily hold a regular line on the B747, but chooses not to. I am a CN on the A330/340 series and could easily hold a B744 command, but choose not to. His retirement will be significant but so will mine. He would not leave even if he could step into my shoes, and vice versa. As the brits would say, "horses for courses". Both are good companies and have their dedicated employees. Good for you.

You truly have no idea, do you? I'll tell you what - PM me and I will take you around the next time you're in HKG and shame you into an apology. Have you ever actually been here?

I have a counter-suggestion. Why don't we move FDX to a freighter forum and be done with it?

How Now, Brown Cow?

Sounds like the Taiwaneese have been hanging around this mesage board themselves. "the size of a piece of snot". Really dignified.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Note that captain underpants is on the A-Scale and makes 30-40% more than a new hire will ever be able to.

 

[RP 04]

Note that captain underpants is on the A-Scale and makes 30-40% more than a new hire will ever be able to.

You posted it, how about backing it up with some numbers? Maybe you can tell us the difference between A scale vs. B scale FO based at LAX or SFO? Bet you can't...

 

[Dizel8]

Yep, A-scale and B-scale, and they apparently never meet.

Read someplace that there are more than two paypackages at CX, but do not know further.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

You posted it, how about backing it up with some numbers? Maybe you can tell us the difference between A scale vs. B scale FO based at LAX or SFO? Bet you can't...

That will certianly "back it up" if I type some numbers. 2+2=4

How about the question of the other poster, how many payscales are there? I know Underpants has mentioned before that he only knows his payscale and not anyone elses.

 

[RP 04]

Not sure how many there are, guessing around 15-17 or so, if you include "total packages". I think it's fair to say that we, more or less, following our Oneworld partner's pay scales. For example if you are based in OZ CX would be matching Quantas, UK-BA, and here in the States, AA (before their paycuts). Also the local boys (chinese) don't get any housing allowance in HK, while ex-pats can get up to USD7000-8000 per month, this was recently changed and I'm not sure what the exact numbers are...

Assuming you have been with company for 10 years and holding a US base as a Captain, then you would be making around 185k/year + some addl. flight pay. (at moment the upgrades are going at 9 years). 184 k/year if you are looking at a 10 year Captain at UPS.

Myself, I'm making 116k/year vs. 107k/year at UPS. No doubt UPS will blow by us with next contract but we still make money you can live off.

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

RP04 - Local Chinese DO get housing allowance - after upgrade to CN, the basic HKD24000 per month (USD3000).

A scale and B scale are non-converging, but the gap has narrowed considerably to about 22% since A scalers haven't received any basic salary increases (increments excluded) since the introduction of COS '99.

A Scale
B Scale
VETA HKG
VETA USA
VETA Australia
VETA New Zealand
VETA Europe
VETA UK
Freighter USA
Freighter Australia
Freighter Europe
Freighter UK

Is about all I can think of at the moment.

Undies

 

[House_X]

Although I would love to get on w/ UPS or FED-EX...as they say in NYC "fagettaboutit".

CX is a good alternate for regional airline guys. Pay scales are good and equipment is excellent. It's a Major airline and they are expanding on both the box and pax side. There are negatives to CX, but the pros outweigh the cons...

Although I agree it's not as good as UPS or FED-EX...it's still one of the best jobs you can get and should not be discounted.

 

[The Saint]

Ok what about SWA VS CX

 

[RP 04]

we had 2 guys leave cx last year for SWA, haven't talked to them since they left so I can't tell you if they like it better over there.

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

We have a CN at SW currently being interviewed for a freight F/O position...

 

[Bjammin]

I interviewed with both and I can't think of 2 airlines that are more different.​

SWA - Great buffet at HQ / Cathay - 4 star resturant at HQ

SWA - up to 8 short legs a day / Cathay - maybe 2 LONG legs

SWA - All US routes / Cathay - all international

SWA - 737 narrow body / Cathay - many types, only widebody

SWA - requires type rating, short grnd school / Cathay - 6-8 mth Grnd School


SWA - many bases, straight line system/ Cathay - not so many, hub and spoke


SWA - premotes fun, lighthearted / Cathay - very professional, classy


SWA - econ. class, soda and peanuts / Cathay - 3 classes, Peninsula catered




Asking which one is better is like asking whether or not someone likes a rag top mustang or a benz. They both cater to such different clientele and both look to last for the long term. I think either one would make for a great career, but Cathay works very well for me.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

SWA-cockpit boob shots / Cathay - Asian chicks....millions of them!

 

[RP 04]

CX Bases

LAX

SFO

ORD

JFK

ANC

YVR

YYZ

HKG

AKL

BNE

PER

SYD

MEL

LON

FRA

PAR

plus a few more that I missed...

 

[RP 04]

filipinas, ahhh....