Not too long ago, Emirates reported a file revenue, and declared itself the world’s most worthwhile airline. To have fun this, the airline is providing workers a 22-week primary wage bonus. Once I write concerning the economics of Gulf carriers, individuals will usually say issues like “effectively they pay their staff peanuts, so in fact they will extra simply become profitable.”
Alongside these strains, I assumed it will be attention-grabbing to debate how a lot Emirates flight attendants really earn, as I feel the general compensation package deal places US carriers to disgrace. Let me notice that PYOK wrote an ideal put up concerning the lifetime of Emirates flight attendants, however I wish to particularly discuss extra concerning the pay.
Emirates flight attendants are compensated fairly effectively
Emirates is clear about how a lot it pays flight attendants. While you be part of the airline, you first begin as a Grade 2 (which means you’re employed in financial system), and also you’re paid as follows:
- Beginning flight attendants have a primary wage of 4,835 AED ($1,316) monthly
- Beginning flight attendants obtain flying pay of 66.30 AED ($18) per hour, based mostly on a median of 80-100 hours monthly of flying
- Emirates states that beginning flight attendants earn a median of $2,940 monthly, which comes out to over $35,000 per yr
That doesn’t account for revenue sharing. Only in the near past, flight attendants acquired a 22-week bonus on their primary wage, which might be proper round $6,800, which means a beginning flight attendant would’ve remodeled $40,000, on common. In fact there’s no assure that would be the case sooner or later, however the airline has now paid big bonuses three years in a row.
However that is solely the beginning of how they’re compensated:
- Flight attendants obtain housing in Dubai (or a housing allowance, if they like), in addition to transportation to & from the airport
- Flight attendants obtain dry cleansing for his or her uniforms
- Flight attendants obtain big reductions throughout Dubai by displaying their ID
- Flight attendants don’t should pay earnings taxes in Dubai
- Flight attendant obtain 30 days of depart per yr, and one free ticket house per yr, plus big reductions on extra journey
My level is just to say that many individuals assume that Emirates flight attendants are paid little or no, however that’s not the case. It’s much more not the case when you think about that flight attendants at Emirates come from everywhere in the world.
Like, should you’re from many of the world, making $40K+ per yr, all whereas having your housing bills paid for, is fairly unbelievable. It’s why Emirates flight attendants are sometimes the bread winners for his or her households again house. Needless to say that is solely beginning pay, in order you’re employed your approach up the ranks (to Grade 1, First Grade 1, Supervisor, and Purser), you’ll be paid much more.
Additionally remember the fact that you actually get to see the world from the second you be part of. It’s not like beginning at a US airline, the place you’re principally going to be on reserve working brief home flights on a regular basis. Positive, you’ll have the occasional in a single day turns at Emirates, however you’ll even have journeys to each nook of the globe.
How does this evaluate to US flight attendant compensation?
Right here’s what I feel is form of wild. Emirates flight attendants really make greater than many flight attendants at airways in the USA, and that doesn’t even account for the truth that Emirates flight attendants have their housing and transportation paid for, and don’t should pay taxes.
For instance, United flight attendants nonetheless don’t have a brand new post-pandemic contract, and a primary yr United flight attendant makes $28.88 per flight hour, plus a $2.40-2.90 per diem per hour that they’re away from house on journeys. You possibly can assume that they rack up 1,000 hours per yr (in the event that they’re fortunate), so a primary yr United flight attendant is making someplace round $35,000 per yr, earlier than paying union dues.
Nevertheless, in contrast to at Emirates, the place housing is roofed, these flight attendants will sometimes be based mostly in one of the vital costly cities within the nation, after which should pay their lease, their transportation to and from the airport, their dry cleansing, and so forth.
So you may make of it what you’ll. However should you have a look at it objectively, I feel most individuals would agree that Emirates flight attendants even have a reasonably candy gig. Now, in equity, a number of downsides to Emirates:
- While you work for a US service, you sometimes get limitless “free” flight advantages, together with in enterprise class, which is superior; nevertheless, while you’re paying $30K per yr and should pay lease, many flight attendants can’t really afford to make use of these advantages
- Flight attendant pay at US airways doubtlessly will increase a bit extra through the years than at Emirates, and senior flight attendants at US carriers get important pay will increase
However by way of high quality of life, I feel it’s an attention-grabbing distinction. Emirates flight attendants can reside very comfortably ranging from the time they begin their job. In the meantime a flight attendant at a US airline is admittedly going to wrestle for years, particularly in the event that they’re on the hook for paying lease. It’s powerful.
Backside line
Emirates flight attendants are compensated fairly effectively, particularly when you think about that they arrive from each nook of the globe, many from nations the place good job alternatives are restricted. First yr Emirates flight attendants will typically be incomes over $40K this yr, and that’s earlier than you take into account that housing and transportation are coated, and earnings is tax free in Dubai.
It’s form of wild that they’re first yr pay is usually larger than at US airways, not even accounting for the truth that within the US, flight attendants are on the hook for lease, transportation, and extra.
Emirates has glorious flight attendants, and that’s for good motive — working on the airline is an unbelievable alternative, and it’s one thing that many individuals don’t take without any consideration.
Are you stunned by Emirates’ flight attendant compensation package deal?
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