MIgAiR54 From Spain, joined Jun 2007, 1280 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 years 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 29529 times:
I have two friends working for EK and they are not too happy, this article only talks about the good thing but they also have many bad things, believe me.
I also have 1 flying for Gulf Air, and more or less the same, or even worst, Bahrein is not Dubai, jejejejeje.
When you are talking to a friend in private you really know the real history and not only the history that everybody wants to hear.
Altough I must say that EK is a very good place to work, they (EK F/A) could be happier but religion and politics are very stronge there, but when they join EK they know the conditions (good and bad things).
Quoting CaliAtenza (Reply 3): i wouldnt mind spraying champagne on bikini clad girls though..its like spring break everyday!
Kimberlyrj From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2008, 385 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 29508 times:
A friend who works for EK says at first she loved it but now she can’t wait to leave... She said there is very little support for crew outside work and if you become ill you are expected to take time off unpaid...
I would also take issue with EK employing attractive men, I have seen a few good looking male crew members but most are average at best and mostly come across as being oppressed, something I have noticed as a fare paying passenger.
JQFlightie From Australia, joined Mar 2009, 889 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (4 years 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 29093 times:
i have got many friends that currently work for EK, and i know that majority of the time its 'just ok' they all want to work for QR ... now that is one great company to work for by the sounds of them!
Next Trip: PER-DPS-LOP-CGK-KUL-PVG-LHR, LCY-MAD-VLC, BCN-LYS-TLS-IST-JED-KUL-SGN-CAN-MEL
Ctrav11 From United States of America, joined Oct 2007, 8 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 28549 times:
Quoting Kimberlyrj (Reply 6): I would also take issue with EK employing attractive men, I have seen a few good looking male crew members but most are average at best and mostly come across as being oppressed, something I have noticed as a fare paying passenger.
If they relaxed their standards on hiring openly gay men, that number might improve considerably.
Jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7409 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (4 years 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 28457 times:
EK offers what airlines in the west did in teh 1950 and 1960's. Its also a way for people from emerging countries to do something their own national airlines don't offer them. Then there is Dubai, one of the most exciting places in the world today.
Wn700driver From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 28259 times:
It will be interesting to see where they are in ten years. With arrangements like theirs, their labor costs have to be truly disgusting. Quite an accomplishment without a union...
Jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7409 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (4 years 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 28090 times:
Quoting Wn700driver (Reply 11): It will be interesting to see where they are in ten years. With arrangements like theirs, their labor costs have to be truly disgusting. Quite an accomplishment without a union...
There labor cost can't be too bad, EK FA earn less there then at European or USA airlines. Pilots have generaly 5 years contracts. The apartments where the FA's are housed is probably owned by an entitiy of the Dubai Government, which does it to support the development of the airline. Dubai's goverment has the money to acquire thing and will go to great lengths to do so.
I read a book last fall about how the government of Dubai wanted an exchange to trade oil contracts and how they courted the New York Merc. They pay the Merc a royalty on every trade through the Dubai echange. 27 of 30 members of teh Board went to Dubai for the junket, there was so much interest in the place. Everyone flew Emiates First Class from JFK to Dubai. When the people of Dubai want something they can grease the wheel and make it happen. Being in the middle of 3 bilon people helps too.
AFGMEL From Australia, joined Jul 2007, 735 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 years 2 days ago) and read 27831 times:
Be very careful living in DXB - particularly if you're a westerner. Be particularly careful about alcohol, kissing in public, or even walking alone at night. The police are often unpredictable. You'll hear lots of stories about people who say this is nonsense and others that have experienced the other side of the coin. Friends of mine (not friends of friends, but friends) were in a group shopping and one of the group bought something and it turned out the US bill they used was a forgery (unknowingly, it was part of change they had received elsewhere). They were ALL arrested. My friend who works at EK in tech was able to use influence and local knowledge to rescue them.
Other people have had loans and lost their jobs and been arrested at the airport and jailed. Be informed!
Pellegrine From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 1868 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (4 years 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 26432 times:
As bad as some of the stories I've heard on EK's work environment, I've also heard QR is much worse. Employment standards in the ME for low/mid-skilled workers aren't that good overall really, but it's the opposite for high-skill workers (tech, finance, oil industry)...
JFKPurser From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 471 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (4 years 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 26044 times:
It sounds like selling one's self into a form of really fun slavery. At least you can quit -- or come out of the closet -- any time you get sick and tired of it. I was lucky to have been able to pretty much all of the fun stuff they describe in the 1980s at my airline but did not have to deal with any of the harassment or bigotry.
when i posted the thread, this article or similar titles didnt come up in any previous posts . It sounds like fun, the job, but im sure like you guys have said, there is a dark side to everything. Yeah it says that EK wants 75% of the cabin crew to be females (sad they have to wear that cap/scarf thing and not let their hair down, so to speak).
Hardiwv From Brazil, joined Oct 2004, 8780 posts, RR: 51 Reply 20, posted (4 years 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 23945 times:
In my last visit to Dubai I've been to Zinc club and indeed the place is full of EK flight attends having fun and enjoying life. Btw, all of them really good looking...
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 years 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 22271 times:
If the WSJ wrote an article on AA or any of the other major US airlines F/A's, the article would be totally the opposite of what was written about EK. The F/A's here look like crap, (nothing wrong with that I guess, it just is what it is), not one of them I have come across appear to be under 30, are poorly paid and suffer from very low morale. I doubt the AA F/A's would be able to put on a bikini and spray champagne. The majority of the senior F/A's are close to retirement age (60-65?) and they are desperate to hang on to their pensions so they keep working, mostly on the international routes.
As AA constantly remind you when you board their aircraft, the F/A's are there primarily for safety, not for service. As long as passengers know this then it makes no sense to compare them to other international airlines F/A's, they just not even comparable.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
EMB170 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 637 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 years 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 19194 times:
Quoting Ctrav11 (Reply 9): If they relaxed their standards on hiring openly gay men, that number might improve considerably.
and yet the article mentions "young men who wear closely tailored designer shirts and spike their hair with styling gel when they are off-duty."
Not to be flamebait here, but as an openly gay (and Jewish!) person I read this and think to myself that they're probably just not "open" about it. EK probably has a lot of young gay men flying for them, but the top brass just "looks the other way". If you don't believe me, then pull up some of their FA Ab Initio graduation ceremonies on YouTube and see for yourself. Stevie Wonder could see how gay some of these boys are!
Can passenger jets fly as fast as my feet do? Let's find out...
25 Pe@rson: To be fair, on my recent US flights the average cabin crew age was noticably lower than before - just 110-years'-old.
26 SW733: Yes but that's the law...homosexuality is illegal there...there isn't really much they can do about it.
27 Pellegrine: Oh of course they do! Let's not let anyone remain naive here. But we also know how many gay men and women cower in their closets in America and the o
28 JAL: Wow! I never knew things were so nice! Cool!
30 Pellegrine: Let's give the Middle East time to catch up now. Can't expect everyone's level of human rights to be equal. This is only the truth which I speak, sor
31 Captaink: Excellent point. EK wish on the matter is some independent of the fact that homosexuality is illegal. SO they cannot hire any openly gay person accor
32 Gr8Circle: There's no need for the Middle East to "catch up" with anyone.....what is perceived as a "right" in the western world may not be acceptable in other
33 Airbazar: In this day and age, anyone who takes an FA job with EK (or many of the ME carriers as well as the likes of SQ), has no excuse not to know exactly wha
34 Sq_ek_freak: I don't quite get what you are talking about? If you are speaking of being openly gay, then yes as per the laws of the UAE you can't be - though my m
35 Pellegrine: Whatever one's beliefs on the homosexuality issue, it is not really of much consequence. It is imperative that the Gulf catches up to the west in ter
36 Sq_ek_freak: If by higher education you mean an undergraduate college degree, then many of us such as myself out here do, from pretty prestigious schools at that
37 Pe@rson: Yup. Same throughout the Middle East and the 'cultural Middle East,' i.e. North Africa. For example, I would never show affection to my wife in publi
38 Gr8Circle: That's a different issue and I agree with you when it comes to treatment of labourers, etc. But your original comment seemed to be specifically with
39 FuturePilot16: I'm sorry but that is an ignorant thing to say. Just because they have their own morales and beliefs doesn't mean that they are behind in any type of
42 Pellegrine: Sorry this got really OT. My comment was actually on both issues, although some may not like it I realize. And I apologize if I seem ignorant on that
43 Lightsaber: Question: Is there a reason behind this? Tradition? Customer preference? Ever read "The World is flat" or the previous book "The Lexus and the Olive
44 FuturePilot16: This is getting a little off topic however. You don't have to apologize because I didn't mean ignorant. But just to know that the world can't change
45 Ojas: That is totally incorrect. Qatar crew are well treated and having seen their apartments their work schedule and life style I can assert that. I inter
46 CaliAtenza: ooops, what i meant to say was that i would rather see the hair then let it be hiding underneath the hat (like the girls on the asian carriers). Ive
47 Milesaddict: For those finding EK harsh.... I'd like to say working for SV is really worse maybe the worst. My ex wife works there.... But having my own business i
48 Jetjack74: That's what many say from the outset, but then reality sets in. Walking on egg-shells is not the way I'd want to live. Totally, I see at an indenture
49 Wn700driver: Yes, they do need to conform to certain basic minimums. This is because those standards are the best available. Not perfect, I'm sure, but best. The
50 CV580Freak: It is Spring Break every day here, champagne, bikini clad girls, naked gay male F/A's what more would you want ......................
52 Babybus: Everytime I see EK and other Middle east crews walking through the airport I always think how miserable they look compared to BA and EZY crews.
53 Czbbflier: Sorry- off topic for a sec.... "They", being the Chinese? HA! They OWN the western money. The infiltration will come the other way.... Like the U.S.
54 AirIndia: But then there are also those highly impressed flyers who loved the service on the ontime london flight connecting smoothly on to their 3am Chennai f
55 L1011Lover: I suggested deletion!!! How can you make such a bland and actually false generalisation? You make it sound as if ALL US flight attendats were like th
56 JOEYCAPPS: It seems, from this thread, that I'm the only one that thinks this way, but I'm going to say it anyways. I am PERFECTLY content with the FA's here in
57 Airtropolis: Just came back from a trip about 2 weeks ago flying SIN-LHR and back with a stopover on the way back in Dubai. The flights I had were generally good
58 Skyguy: L1011: It's clear from your post that you are as intolerant, defensive, and biased as you may accuse me of being with my statements. Besides, why all
59 L1011Lover: EXCELLENT!!! Thank You so much... And welcome to my "Respected Members List" Best regards L1011Lover
60 L1011Lover: By the way, who are you to make such a statement? Any numbers any proof to back this up? Who are you to set the standards of what is to be desired by
61 L1011Lover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swHRVJABB6w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqfb7ZCjs7s&feature=related I think this is proof enough for almost EVERYTHI
62 Tonystan: You are kidding right??? QR are the worst and most oppressed employer in the Middle East! I flew for them for 2 years and would not wish them on my w
64 JOEYCAPPS: You reap what you sow. You want good service, you give good attitude. The problem with this entire argument you're posting, is YOU'RE the one being b
65 Sq_ek_freak: That's an odd statement to make, especially because you can't really tell a person's frame of mind at that one specific point you see a group of crew
66 Adools: Here's the blogs of two individuals who really seem to enjoy working for EK. I've even considered applying for an FA job with EK after reading their t
67 Sq_ek_freak: Ahaha Sodwee (not his real name) is a great ambassador for our airline!
68 CaliAtenza: i havent flown domestic in the US much, but every flight ive had, the FA's were nothing but nice, smiling, and happy to attend to any requests i had
69 CaliAtenza: hey sq_ek_freak, what kind of service can i look forward to on the BLR-DXB sectors and DXB-LAX? I'll be trying out EK for the first time next month an
70 Sq_ek_freak: Since you are transiting on to LAX, I'm assuming you're on the EK 569 rotation out of BLR which I believe usually is an A332 (sometimes it can be a 7
71 CaliAtenza: Hey thanks so much . Helped out a ton . I'll prolly (more like hopefully) be with my gf on the flight and she pretty much conks off to sleep as soon
72 SQ_EK_freak: I really can't answer that one for you, it depends pretty radically from person to person. Some find it unnoticeable, while others find it a living h
73 Ojas: Yes that is right EK is generous in the meal portions, and I have liked their catering. I hear you. My FA friends in QR really have a harrowing time
74 SQ_EK_freak: Thanks Haha yes oh dear Mumbai. The flight is so short but we need to dish out a full meal service (with recent enhancements no less). Then there's t
75 Ojas: Well all of QR's India flights as of now are direct turnarounds. All of QR's flights to India arrive between 0300 hrs and 0400 hrs and have an averag
76 CaliAtenza: it must be killer to do the red eye and THEN do the morning turn around. I know passengers themselves are grumpy and just wanna get onto the flight a
77 Rolfen: Fun, fun fun, is it all about fun? They never seem to mention that some people do a career there. You get a house, a nice pay, and career prospects, n
78 Joecanuck: I spent almost 2 years in Doha and met many QR flight attendants. Not a single one of them was happy with their jobs. They don't even know who to tru
79 AirframeAS: Is this Zinc club only open to the EK FA's?
80 CaliAtenza: well im 5-10 and like 170 lbs, but lean  . I fly out on EK this month  . Ill make sure to ask the FA's on the flight about the Zinc club  [Edited
81 SQ_EK_freak: No but it's a favorite amongst our contingent. You'll get a laugh and maybe an invite out of it
82 Ncfc99: Thats your opinion, and not one shared by me, at 6ft tall and 200lbs+, i found it to be fine. I would certainly recomened EK, and have done. Each to
83 AirframeAS: I'd then would LOVE to go to the Zinc club! Dubai....here I come!!!! LOL!
84 JoeCanuck: True...many thousands fly EK every day. I'll pay more elsewhere if I have to not to fly their 777's. I find those seats inferior to SQ, EY, CX and QR
85 Malaysia: Well I have several friends who work for all these carriers as F/A Well one quit GulfAir to go to Etihad and felt it was better. The ones in EK are fe
86 L410Turbolet: Yes, it's awful. 6 hours from Europe to DXB and then another 6 to BKK was almost unbearable for me (180 cm, 90 kg). A true cattle class. I cannot ima
87 Ncfc99: Again an opinion. I have flown DXB-SIN-BNE on the 777 and it was fine IMHO. I really struggle to see why everyone complains about it. What is the dif
88 L410Turbolet: Seat pitch won't tell you how (un)comfortable the seat actually is once you sit in it. I've flown BA 777 only once, almost a decade ago so I can't te
89 Ncfc99: Are you saying that it is the quality of the seat that is an issue, rather than the 3-4-3 layout and width/pitch?
90 L410Turbolet: I don't know whether the problem is the seat as such or the layout or combination of both, I've done only 2 flights on EK's 777s so far (and do not p
91 PlaneHunter: I recommend to make a seat width comparison - numerous carriers with standard layouts on A330/340s, 747s, 767s and 777s (3-3-3/2-5-2) don't offer wid
92 CaliAtenza: ill make sure to write up a trip report when i fly to LAX on the 18th , including a careful examination, maybe even a tape measure check hehehe; of th
93 Antonovman: Are all the cabin crew now housed at the new complex at Al Quoz ? I worked for Emirates up until a year ago and we were the first lot to be sent out t
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. It sounds like fun, the job, but im sure like you guys have said, there is a dark side to everything. Yeah it says that EK wants 75% of the cabin crew to be females (sad they have to wear that cap/scarf thing and not let their hair down, so to speak).
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