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Commuting to Cathay

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Not officially of course, but we have a few guys living in Phuket (Thailand) - commuting on their own steam- one or two in Japan - again commuting without official sanction - and a couple in Taiwan and Macau, who are there for family reasons. I don't know about the tax issues in these cases.

The commuting thing is a little risky, and you should always be prepared to fork out for a full fare, especially during high days and holidays. If you're a no show for a duty (and have a standby ticket), you can expect ONE warning and then a termination notice.

If you're delayed or can't make a duty due to weather or technical (and so on) and you HAVE a full fare ticket, they're OK with that. Generally, they (CX) expect you to behave responsibly and if there is a chance you won't make the duty, give them enough time to call out a reserve and not delay the flight.

There are some interesting laws in HKG regarding taxation and residency, and in some cases, you can be tax exempt in HKG provided you can prove (and don't quote me on this) that you were not in HKG for more than 60 days in a tax year. The guys who do "runners" at the airport to VMMC and RCTP may also be doing that to stay away from HKG tax - all of 16% flat tax by the way.
 
This is from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website explaining why you do not need a work permit if you commute to YVR or YTO from the US.

Crew members
Foreign members of crews working on foreign vehicles (for example, flight attendants and members of ships’ crews) do not need a work permit if the vehicle is in Canada for the international transportation of cargo or passengers.

link
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-nopermit.asp

I believe the US has the same exemption in the CFRs somewhere. Where the vehicle is registered is more important than where the flight begins.
 
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I saw that same blurb on the canadian site, but i took it to mean that if you are doing an overnite in canada you dont need a visa. I tried to call the consulate but got no answer there, so I may try to drop in and talk to them directly. i will let you know what they say...and this has more meaning to me as I was just informed that i was successful at the second interview!
 
What will happen when the bases go "on-shore"? Then you will be working for either a CAN or US company.

46
 
6 in my interview. 4 have got hired, 2 not hired. No one brought spouses.
On shore bases, not really sure, but the statement above indicates foreign crews on foreign aircraft, so I think that a US guy driving to YVR or YYZ to take a B registered AC to Hong Kong would still apply. Not really sure of course, but I will ask if I can get into the consulate to ask.
 
How is life nowdays for a Cathay Pacific F/O? Are most people happy or unhappy?
I am thinking about applying in the near future and would like to get some info.

Thanks in advance.
RL
 
I'm very happy here after more then 3 years. Good quality of life, great guys to fly with, great pay, and lots of time off. Some anti-Americanism and a few not-so-nice check captains are the only complaints and I don't run into either of those things offen at all.
 
I'd heard that NHFOs were generally going to HKG and then after a few years being able to get US base, is this not the case? How does the cargo side compare to the pax side? How much of an issue is it to switch sides?
 
Acutally, all DEFOs have to go to a base now. I think the time to wait to go to HK is 4 years. I think that is part of what is causing the issues among folks that already work there.
 
No jumpseating at CX. foreign carrier. No cass, no jumpseats. ID 90s if you want them. I understand most people buy full fare tickets to get to work.
 
OneMotorFokker said:
Crew members
Foreign members of crews working on foreign vehicles (for example, flight attendants and members of ships’ crews) do not need a work permit if the vehicle is in Canada for the international transportation of cargo or passengers.

link
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-nopermit.asp

I believe the US has the same exemption in the CFRs somewhere. Where the vehicle is registered is more important than where the flight begins.
Click to expand...

Sounds like citizens of any country can work for Cathay out of the US or Canada. Not good for natives.
 
Because it means that those few slots in North America can go to citizens of any country. We will have to compete with pilots from all over the world - Mexicans, Europeans, Australians etc. - for those slots.
 
For what its worth I went to a canadian consulate last week and explained that I wanted to live in the US and commute (either by driving or flying) to canada. I told them that it was a foreign company with foreign registrated AC. I asked if I needed a work visa and was told that I did not. i may have to explain what I was doing every time I went across the border, but a copy of my trip should suffice. I asked about the future with on shore basings, they said if it is a canadian company, i may have to get a work permit, but that should not be too difficult.
 
A Mexican driving up to LAX to start his trip is the exact same as a Canadian driving down to JFK. Or a Londoner non-reving between the US and LHR between trips.

If it's legal, I say go for it. But it just doesn't pass the smell test.
 
newhires

What is the probability of a new hire getting based in LAX? Do you have to live in Hong Kong initially?
 
As a DEFO I got LAX right off the bat, even though I wanted JFK. It's probably the most junior American base right now.
 
Are they hiring SOs at U.S bases? I have the mins for the job but wondering if that's competitive for being hired.
 
No S/O's hired onto a base, only HKG. If you barely make minimum requirements I would say that you're not competitive enough...I've been flying with former A320 and MD captains in the past few months - as S/O's.
 
Cpt. Underpants said:
No S/O's hired onto a base, only HKG. If you barely make minimum requirements I would say that you're not competitive enough...I've been flying with former A320 and MD captains in the past few months - as S/O's.
Click to expand...

So what determines getting SO or DEFO? Did those former captains request HK and SO is the only newhire position available there, or is HK SO awarded newhires who would prefer other domiciles, but didn't pass getting DEFO for some reason?
 
Did those former captains request HK and SO is the only newhire position available there
Click to expand...

Yes

HK SO awarded newhires who would prefer other domiciles, but didn't pass getting DEFO for some reason
Click to expand...

Yes, generally because they wanted to work here but didn't have the hours and/or experience to make DEFO.
 

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