Emirates places order for 50 Boeing 777-300 ERs with options for 20 777-300 ERs

[Gear Disagree]

I'm not selling it as a bed of roses. I'm just saying that on most days, my family and I are happy. Its an easy life out here and I'm glad I'm not still at 9E (for dozens of reasons).

Please don't assume that we are all a bunch mall going types. I save an extremely large chunk of cash each month, partly because I'm a miser and partly because I look forward to retiring early.This is the reason why I am here. Compensation. Its not for the malls, or beach clubs, or maids, or SJS, or any other of your notions. I am here to make $. And I am doing a very good job of it.

You make it seem like we are making some big sacrifice by living as expats. We are not. You would not be happy out here. I am.

Simple as that.

Not a sales pitch. Just the facts sir.

Now go back to the majors forum, find out how happy they are, and leave us poor ignorant expats alone.

 

[El Duque]

I'm not selling it as a bed of roses. I'm just saying that on most days, my family and I are happy. Its an easy life out here and I'm glad I'm not still at 9E (for dozens of reasons).

Please don't assume that we are all a bunch mall going types. I save an extremely large chunk of cash each month, partly because I'm a miser and partly because I look forward to retiring early.This is the reason why I am here. Compensation. Its not for the malls, or beach clubs, or maids, or SJS, or any other of your notions. I am here to make $. And I am doing a very good job of it.

You make it seem like we are making some big sacrifice by living as expats. We are not. You would not be happy out here. I am.

Simple as that.

Not a sales pitch. Just the facts sir.

Now go back to the majors forum, find out how happy they are, and leave us poor ignorant expats alone.

I'm hearing that (depending on aircraft) pilots are getting between 9 and 13 days off a month. Is this true? I see your points that there can be a lot of benefits over there but I have a family and the idea of taking them over there and them being gone for well over half the month seems like a deal breaker to me.

 

[Kalifornia]

I'm not selling it as a bed of roses. I'm just saying that on most days, my family and I are happy. Its an easy life out here and I'm glad I'm not still at 9E (for dozens of reasons).

Please don't assume that we are all a bunch mall going types. I save an extremely large chunk of cash each month, partly because I'm a miser and partly because I look forward to retiring early.This is the reason why I am here. Compensation. Its not for the malls, or beach clubs, or maids, or SJS, or any other of your notions. I am here to make $. And I am doing a very good job of it.

You make it seem like we are making some big sacrifice by living as expats. We are not. You would not be happy out here. I am.

Simple as that.

Not a sales pitch. Just the facts sir.

Now go back to the majors forum, find out how happy they are, and leave us poor ignorant expats alone.

I wouldn't form an opinion on here, if I didn't think Emirates enormous plane order didn't have an industry wide effect. As for expat life, heck even Guam is a great sacrifice for a US pilot and that's basically the 51st state. Missing weddings, births, reunion gatherings, and funerals is part of living across the other side of the globe. Missing freedoms is another sacrifice. But that goes back to the part of the concern; at the regional carriers that treat pilots like crap, there is a big number of pilots that already think that's a given in this career and come to the conclusion what's the difference between living where you want in the continental US versus a global oasis. And unions are deemed meaningless because of that singular bad regional carrier experience.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

But that goes back to the part of the concern; at the regional carriers that treat pilots like crap, there is a big number of pilots that already think that's a given in this career and come to the conclusion what's the difference between living where you want in the continental US versus a global oasis. And unions are deemed meaningless because of that singular bad regional carrier experience.

You assume that all pilots applying to Emirates are former regional guys and that simply is not the case, as a matter of fact, pilots from the US account for just a small percentage of the ex pat pilot population. A generalization as to why an individual would become an ex pat doesn't apply to everyone and people have many different reasons as to why they want to seek employment abroad, EK has over 2,000 pilots from all over the world, some like it and some hate it.

 

[Varmint]

I'm hearing that (depending on aircraft) pilots are getting between 9 and 13 days off a month. Is this true? I see your points that there can be a lot of benefits over there but I have a family and the idea of taking them over there and them being gone for well over half the month seems like a deal breaker to me.

That would be in the worst month. The most days off I have had here on a month with no vacation was 18 and the least was 12. Of course, with 42 days of paid vacation per year, you can take one week of vacation per month for 6 months and increase your days off. The strategy works the best when you bid ULR's (ultra long flights) because you have to have required days off prior to working those trips and after coming home.

 

[Varmint]

I'm not selling it as a bed of roses. I'm just saying that on most days, my family and I are happy. Its an easy life out here and I'm glad I'm not still at 9E (for dozens of reasons).

Please don't assume that we are all a bunch mall going types. I save an extremely large chunk of cash each month, partly because I'm a miser and partly because I look forward to retiring early.This is the reason why I am here. Compensation. Its not for the malls, or beach clubs, or maids, or SJS, or any other of your notions. I am here to make $. And I am doing a very good job of it.

You make it seem like we are making some big sacrifice by living as expats. We are not. You would not be happy out here. I am.

Simple as that.

Not a sales pitch. Just the facts sir.

Now go back to the majors forum, find out how happy they are, and leave us poor ignorant expats alone.

Agree totally. Saving 1/3 of the salary by being a bit frugal and not buying into the maid, expensive dinner, and shopping clan is very do-able. That is in addition to the 12% that is put in a retirement account for you automatically.

 

[Flyer1015]

That would be in the worst month. The most days off I have had here on a month with no vacation was 18 and the least was 12. Of course, with 42 days of paid vacation per year, you can take one week of vacation per month for 6 months and increase your days off. The strategy works the best when you bid ULR's (ultra long flights) because you have to have required days off prior to working those trips and after coming home.

Are you sure? EKs website says if the 42 days of leave, at least 21 days has to be taken as a primary week. Which leads me to think they want you to take at least 3 consecutive weeks, and the other 3 weeks can be broken up for different leave in different months. What have you seen on the line?

 

[Varmint]

Are you sure? EKs website says if the 42 days of leave, at least 21 days has to be taken as a primary week. Which leads me to think they want you to take at least 3 consecutive weeks, and the other 3 weeks can be broken up for different leave in different months. What have you seen on the line?

I am not aware of that restriction....but that does not mean it does not exist. I have always taken a long leave during the summer months here just to get out of the heat but a couple guys I know have just taken a week here and there and not a long block.

 

[El Duque]

So is it easy to get a three to four week stretch of time off during the summer? I would think most pilots would want to do the same thing.

 

[777forever]

Must read Dubai article

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

Man this article was sobering. Kalifornia was right all along, Dubai is a facade built by slaves

 

[Flyer1015]

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

Man this article was sobering. Kalifornia was right all along, Dubai is a facade built by slaves

That's an old article. There's no denying that people are worked long hard hours for very poor pay and built Dubai to what it is today. However, that expat "horror" story is something they did to themselves. You cannot just go in a foreign country and start making business deals and buying property unless you know their laws. Mainly, they didn't know squat about bankruptcy laws. Over there, they have this thing called personal responsibility. You pay up your debt, or you go to prison. If only we had something that tough here, maybe people wouldn't have been stupid enough to buy a $600,000 home when their annual income was $50,000. Instead, here, you declare bankruptcy and let your credit rating go to hell for a couple years.


I love this part:

"People here are turning into lazy, overweight babies!" he exclaims. "The nanny state has gone too far. We don't do anything for ourselves!

Are we talking about Dubai or America?

 

[Kalifornia]

That's an old article. There's no denying that people are worked long hard hours for very poor pay and built Dubai to what it is today. However, that expat "horror" story is something they did to themselves. You cannot just go in a foreign country and start making business deals and buying property unless you know their laws. Mainly, they didn't know squat about bankruptcy laws. Over there, they have this thing called personal responsibility. You pay up your debt, or you go to prison. If only we had something that tough here, maybe people wouldn't have been stupid enough to buy a $600,000 home when their annual income was $50,000. Instead, here, you declare bankruptcy and let your credit rating go to hell for a couple years.


I love this part:



Are we talking about Dubai or America?

Those who fail to understand history are destined to repeat it. Most people are already owned by the banks, but you want to take it to that level?! WTF, over? Maybe Greenland could become the next Australia, they could just ship all the debtors there. That also works wonder when the great Emirates decides in their non-union wisdom to cut the chords on some rat expat who has costly cancer to treat and can't pay the bills. I guess if you want to the royal family to truly be in complete control of all serfs then yea, I'd support your logic. Here's a better logic, each and every pilot should very carefully consider a move to Dubai. If a extreme shortage of pilots occurs, then maybe they'd treat pilots royally like allowing them true freedoms instead of their high priced slave.

 

[Varmint]

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

Man this article was sobering. Kalifornia was right all along, Dubai is a facade built by slaves

http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2011/09/unethical-journalism


Here is an article about the author of that story you quoted. My article is from 2011, yours is from 2009. Seems as though Mr Hari may have altered some quotes and made the situation seem more dramatic and widespread to sensationalize his article.

 

[Flyer1015]

Those who fail to understand history are destined to repeat it. Most people are already owned by the banks, but you want to take it to that level?!

They let themselves get owned by the bank. People were idiots who treated their houses as an ATM machine, and others stupid enough to go with an adjustable rate mortgage without reading the fine print.

That also works wonder when the great Emirates decides in their non-union wisdom to cut the chords on some rat expat who has costly cancer to treat and can't pay the bills.

Funny you mention that. I heard an EK Captain talk about a current EK pilot who had cancer, and obviously unfit for flying, he was sent to world class clinics to seek help/cure for his condition.

I guess if you want to the royal family to truly be in complete control of all serfs then yea, I'd support your logic.

As opposed to corporate America's and special interest group's complete control over Congress? Yeah, keep thinking we the people are in control.

Here's a better logic, each and every pilot should very carefully consider a move to Dubai. If a extreme shortage of pilots occurs, then maybe they'd treat pilots royally like allowing them true freedoms instead of their high priced slave.

The first sentence I agree with, and is true for any expat pilot. Always carefully consider everything when moving to a new country. But what do you mean about treating a pilot royally instead of a high priced slave? You mean like the United pilots who were treated royally by having their pensions go POOF while CEO Tilton and his gang walked away with their retirement packages intact with their golden parachutes? Or using the cover of bankruptcy as a sham to screw employees by violating labor agreements, and then asking the judge to stop any legal labor action from occuring? And what high priced slave are you talking about? I have never heard an Emirates pilots refer to himself, or feel like, a slave.

 

[av8tordude23]

There's no denying that people are worked long hard hours for very poor pay and built Dubai to what it is today. However, that expat "horror" story is something they did to themselves.

I have a problem with this statement!

These expats were enslave the minute their sponsor confiscated their passport. This is force slavery!! These expats came to Dubai with a understanding they would be paid a certain salary. As soon as their sponsor confiscated their passport, they quickly found out the hard way they were deceived.

Many of the expats attempted to get help through various Embassies and Non-profit organization through no avail. So the only alternative to their situation was to save up enough money to pay off the debt that enable them to travel to Dubai and pay for their return travel home. Many of these expats would not stay if their passport was return to them. Do you here these types of stories from professionals (i.e. Pilots, Medical Prof., Engineers)?

Many expats from all over the globe relocate to other locations so they could better their lives. Sadly many of them realized that the grass is not as green on the other side of the fence as they thought.

Bottom line, no person should be force into slavery.

 

[Varmint]

I have a problem with this statement!

These expats were enslave the minute their sponsor confiscated their passport. This is force slavery!! These expats came to Dubai with a understanding they would be paid a certain salary. As soon as their sponsor confiscated their passport, they quickly found out the hard way they were deceived.

Many of the expats attempted to get help through various Embassies and Non-profit organization through no avail. So the only alternative to their situation was to save up enough money to pay off the debt that enable them to travel to Dubai and pay for their return travel home. Many of these expats would not stay if their passport was return to them. Do you here these types of stories from professionals (i.e. Pilots, Medical Prof., Engineers)?

Many expats from all over the globe relocate to other locations so they could better their lives. Sadly many of them realized that the grass is not as green on the other side of the fence as they thought.

Bottom line, no person should be force into slavery.

Don't you think international humanitarian efforts would be all over Dubai and the UAE if these claims were actually substantiated. Do you think that these organizations have not come and investigated the accusations this guy made in his article? This Harri guy over exaggerated the situation here, highlighted a couple of horror stories, and made it look as though everyone here plays the same abusive game, which they don't. My god....go watch the national geographic special about young girls being trafficked across the US...at least that source is halfway credible.

 

[av8tordude23]

Don't you think international humanitarian efforts would be all over Dubai and the UAE if these claims were actually substantiated. Do you think that these organizations have not come and investigated the accusations this guy made in his article? This Harri guy over exaggerated the situation here, highlighted a couple of horror stories, and made it look as though everyone here plays the same abusive game, which they don't. My god....go watch the national geographic special about young girls being trafficked across the US...at least that source is halfway credible.

First, I never said these claims were substantiated! My post only references the highlighted part that Flyer1015 posted! As for the author over-exaggerating his story and later changing it only brings up more questions than answers. As for human trafficking, it happens around the globe, not just only in the U.S. The US is not the only country that exist on this planet!

 

[Flyer1015]

I have a problem with this statement!

These expats were enslave the minute their sponsor confiscated their passport. This is force slavery!! These expats came to Dubai with a understanding they would be paid a certain salary. As soon as their sponsor confiscated their passport, they quickly found out the hard way they were deceived.

Many of the expats attempted to get help through various Embassies and Non-profit organization through no avail. So the only alternative to their situation was to save up enough money to pay off the debt that enable them to travel to Dubai and pay for their return travel home. Many of these expats would not stay if their passport was return to them. Do you here these types of stories from professionals (i.e. Pilots, Medical Prof., Engineers)?

Many expats from all over the globe relocate to other locations so they could better their lives. Sadly many of them realized that the grass is not as green on the other side of the fence as they thought.

Bottom line, no person should be force into slavery.

You misunderstood me. My expat horror story was about the naiive business couple who bought property and managed some business and once it tanked, they owed lots of money. Being broke, they had no where to go, and found out that unlike in the west they cannot just declare bankruptcy. The husband was jailed and wife living out of a car. Had they studied up on UAE laws and looked into property ownership and debt, they would have been educated about their decisions.

I hope that clarifies it. I agree with your above post though. Also worth mentioning, the horror story of that African lady as a slave worked from 6am to 1am with no days off is a truly sad story. The fact that her 'owners' was an expat Australian family is horrifying. There is no reason anyone from a deveoloped, first world country should treat someone like that in Dubai.

 

[Varmint]

First, I never said these claims were substantiated! My post only references the highlighted part that Flyer1015 posted! As for the author over-exaggerating his story and later changing it only brings up more questions than answers. As for human trafficking, it happens around the globe, not just only in the U.S. The US is not the only country that exist on this planet!

Good...glad we agree then.

 

[777forever]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2011/09/unethical-journalism


Here is an article about the author of that story you quoted. My article is from 2011, yours is from 2009. Seems as though Mr Hari may have altered some quotes and made the situation seem more dramatic and widespread to sensationalize his article.

My apologies. I was so shocked by the article I posted it without doing any additional research. Thank goodness it was a sensationalized article. Even if it was true, it nothing compared to the atrocities and USA committed along the way to becoming a superpower. I've come to realize there is no country in the world that doesn't have skeletons in the closet.