cathay pacific

[machtuck]

Im seeking any info on the working conditions, pay, sched, commute, training, etc... for CP. Also, info on living conditions in Hong Kong. Interview comming up and I need any pros or cons on the job/company.....Thanks

 

[FearlessFreep]

You might want to check to see if there still is contention between the company and the union over there. I believe IALPA is labor representation. There were some problems over there with a number of people being let go under supposed shady circumstances.

Be that as it may there was supposedly an announcement that anyone that accepted employment after a certain date would be considered a scab and would be blacklisted.

I do not know all the details on this. I am sure that there would be people here that could fill you in.

I hope for your case that this situation is rectified so that you might attain meaningful employment without getting stigmatized. If the ban is lifted I might consider applying myself, otherwise I wouldn't. I certainly would not denigrate anyone for any decision they made. We all have to do what is best for us.

In any case good luck and have fun at your interview.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Would that be a commute from the US?
I'd also be interested to hear waht CX pays in USD for FO's and Captains.

Anybody?

 

[typhoonpilot]

The best place to go for up to date info on the Cathay recruitment ban is on the Pprune message board under the Fragrant Harbor section. You might also be able to do searches for salary levels, working conditions, and such.

Typhoonpilot

P.S. Things are bad, but scabbing only makes them worse. Apply to Emirates, we're doubling in size in the next 5 years.

 

[machtuck]

thank you fearless. I thought that might be the case with CP, and alpa, however, I was not sure. I am furloughed from a ALPA carrier. I guess I will contact them to find out the latest. Once again, thanks for the good info.

 

[chase]

PM me

Machtuck,

Just had a friend (he's from South Africa) just go through the entire process & got hired. He has some current gouge. PM me & I'll pass along his info. He said it was thorough & professional. $55K first year + per diem + 401K + other items is my rough recollection of what the first yr for 747FE. Hope that helps.

 

[FearlessFreep]

machtuck,

I understand your situation. I was furloughed from an ALPA carrier just prior to 9/11, the company was then shutdown permanently. Now I am again freshly furloughed from a non union company as of mid January. I have had people tell me "You should get on with CP", 1. It is a lot easier for someone to say it than to do it. 2. I have no desire to enter the union quagmire.

I have been sending out stuff and have yet to hear back from anyone so you are lucky that you are at least getting some attention.

Good Luck For Us All!

 

[Jolly Roger]

Just a repost from the same question elsewhere,

As I have said in earlier posts, there is much to be said for a job with Cathay. I joined about a year before the current hiring ban by IFALPA. Do a search, and you will have all the info you want on the ban, I will not regurgitate it here.

The bottom line with a "direct entry" F/O position with Cathay: Great starting pay, great aircraft, great crew, good schedules, very strong company. Never had a furlough, but will fire on an individual basis for real or perceived actions against the company's interest. If your aircraft operation is weak, you make running the schedule difficult, or generally anger or embarrass the company you will not have a healthy career at Cathay (please no flames). Pilot/management relations strained (what company isn't?), weak (no) bid system (six weeks a year leave is bid-able, as are bases), less control over your own destiny.

However, come to work on time, accept imperfect scheduling at times, don't get bogged down in company politics and your future with Cathay is as bright as anywhere else, perhaps brighter. This was my first job out of the military. I can not compare it to a US major with firsthand knowledge (although I have spoken at lengths with numerous buds in the trenches of the US Majors), but compared to the military my quality of life has improved by magnitudes.

I will not minimize the grief of those who may have had bad experiences with CX, and I can sympathize with their cause. I will not argue politics here (or in the cockpit for that matter). I think the ban is hurting the union as well as the company. However, I would strongly urge folks to consider the implications of joining under a ban. The up side is that no one knows how long it will last, but certainly not forever, and quite possibly is about over.

So, that's it... I'm happy and have had a great experience. Cathay, like any other job (or life in general), is full of imperfections. I choose not to dwell on them and things seem to go much more smoothly.

By the way, entry pay is $61,308... add 15.5% (or $9,502) for Provident Fund (retirement allowance) which can be taken in cash, allowances on the road of about $100/day (US), hourly duty pay (about 300/mo), profit share, extra pay for an ICAO ATP, etc... This easily tops 80K year one. All new hires are on the mainline seniority scale, and after three years on the 747-400 freighter (the only way to a direct path to the right seat based in the US) you can go to the pax fleet (most times keeping your current aircraft and US base, but getting 40%more pay, in the neighborhood of 140K, not bad for just bit over three years with the company).

Finally, be aware that Cathay hires Second Officers as well (in flight relief pilot only). Pay is relatively the same as direct entry F/O's when you include the housing allowance the company provides, but you must relocate to Hong Kong. Cathay has a strenuous training program, F/O training is long, but the road to the right seat as an S/O is even longer, with many checkflights/sims/interviews (and general harrassment) along the way. There are many differences between the F/O US based route and the HK based S/O route initially, but after a few years we are all in the same boat. The requirements for an F/O are higher, including jet command time. Some of the S/O's have more experience than some of the direct entry F/O's, but since many have flown nothing more than light pistons Cathay seems to wring them all out just to be sure they are ready for the big iron. S/O's tend to have the best schedules in the company, with plenty of time off to enjoy travel, etc. Any "based" pilot (including US based) will have a respectable schedule as well. The hard workers tend to be the HK based Capt and F/O's doing shorter haul flights in 747's and 777's.