Moving from Australia to Dubai ?

Bear in mind you receive accommodation, utilities and transport. The flying pay makes it up considerably not to mention you are paid a local allowance at destination to cover meals when travelling. Don't want to put exact figures here that aren't already on the site, so you can put an email address or head along on the 21st Jan to the Open Day- they give the latest figures & info there. you can just attend and not apply if you choose, or apply on the day. Details are under this link [url=https://ekgrpapplications.emirates.com/careersonlineapps/CC_OPENDAYS/CabinCrewOpenDays.aspx?j=f&pub=/english'>link[/url'>

FOr Emirates, additional languages are a bonus but NOT a requirement. Yes, we have plenty of multilingual crew but just as many with only English. Arabic is an advantage but to be honest I wouldn't say I was an Arabic speaker, only because they have so much trouble trading flights and changing rosters around as there is minimum of 1 or 2 required on every flight. Yes EK= Emirates EY= Etihad, these are the standard industry codes. You can find all the salary info at www.emiratesgroupcareers.com HTH

They didn't when I was going through the recruitment process but that was a while ago :D.

Out of interest. For flight crew do they favour bilingual applicants? At the beginning of the flight they always seem to rattle off about 20 different languages that are spoken by the crew?

DH = darling husband You are kidding right? I thought it was D*** H*** Haha! Well - the two are quite often synonymous :D

DH = darling husband You are kidding right? I thought it was D*** H***

Also if we are speaking striclty about crew I would not say that EK are going for more Asians these days- quite the opposite I would say mostly Eastern European and westerners from what I see in the training classes. Definitely not Filipinos as they have so many already. For other roles, I couldn't tell you to be honest, there's so many different nationalities.

True- but- if your DH is in any department other than crew the contracts and working conditions are MUCH better for them. I have friends who have worked as crew for both, and as an Aussie female in early 20's, their advice was EK then EY... I too had decided on EY and got through the process only to be told no thanks- despite having done the medicals... kept in touch with a few girls there and all left within a year. TO each their own but all I know who have worked for both said only go to Etihad if you can't get EK... the overall 'environment' is much better at EK (packages i.e. salary are much the same, I am talking how much 'independence' you have)

Look into Etihad as they are doing a huge recruitment drive. DS went thru the EK process and made it thru to final interview ,but was told sorry next time. The whole process took 3months. In August applied to Etihad and from interview to starting was under 1 month. During August they had interviews every week and are looking at more English and Aussie people where as EK have gone more towards Asians

No, all crew are based in Dubai. They just travel to cities to recruit.

Girl A, all the interview process is now done in the country where you first attend, plus the pre-employment medical. I did hear it's changed and that the costs are now borne by Emirates, but I find that very hard to believe as it's been candidate-paid since the begininng. FOr an Aussie though, a lot of the required tests can either be bulk billed or covered by Medicare. I think I was only out about $300- pretty standard for a pre-em medical these days I think) You even get approval from the airline while still in your home country- they will not let you fly unless they are extremely sure you will pass the residency visa medical. I know of maybe 2 cases in the time I've been here that were sent home, out of thousands. Lol @ 'studnety'- that's exactly how I described it once- we get picked up and dropped off to 'school' on a bus, we get in trouble if we make too much noise in the apartments, we sign our visitors in (for security reasons of course) and we have to wear a uniform properly or get in trouble :P :) Yes, heaaaaaaaaps of parties etc if you're so inclined, but that is Dubai. I know of girls who spend their entire salary shopping & partying and live off baked beans and noodles. Others do uni/studies on all of theri days off, and still others support families back home. So you do choose how involved you get in the social scene. I'm a bit of a homebody so I manage to save. With regard to paying off a mortgage, it's possible but the first few months are a bit tough as you have some start up costs. If you can budget to cover those payments with savings for the first say 3-4 months you should be fine. I was sending hoem 4-500AUD a month to cover loan/debts. I did struggle a bit in the beginning but I just told my provider whatwas going on and asked can I just delay 2 payments and cop the late fees for those months. Wasn't any problem at all, I'd say communication is key. Anyway, good luck EMily whatever you decide!

OP, in case you are interested in Emirates, please be aware that they conduct open days globally (including in Aus - see links below for dates). I'm not 100% sure but I believe you apply online, then there is an initial interview process in your home country, and if you pass that then they bring you out to Dubai for further interviews. Then if you pass those you go through basic training and then that's it. For a young single person it really can be a great job - the pay is very decent, and you get accommodation along with it. I think for the younger crew it's quite a 'studenty' lifestyle in that they go out a lot etc. but I know a lot of crew who are studying too. Anyway at least it's a safe route in; you wouldn't have to fly here with no guarantees (trust me please when I say I have been through the most horrific times here when I was a bit younger than you and unemployed - not something I would recommend). And if you didn't like the job, at least you could look for something else at a leisurely pace... [url=https://ekgrpapplications.emirates.com/careersonlineapps/CC_OPENDAYS/CabinCrewOpenDays.aspx?j=f&pub=/english'>link[/url'> [url=https://ekgrpapplications.emirates.com/careersonlineapps/CC_OPENDAYS/GlobalAssesmentDays.aspx?j=f&pub=/english'>link[/url'>

Far out. I enrolled at UOWD last summer - then withdrew at the last minute. I didnt want to bite off more than i could chew, and figured it would still be an option later once I was more settled here. How typical that it would then be cancelled without notice literally within a couple of months, Lol!

Have been on UOWD website - the page with the HECS-HELP info doesnt appear to be there anymore. It was in the financial aid section last year. Hrrrm.

Interesting. I hope it hasnt been an across-the-board change in policy for all australian international campuses.

They told us at an open day ,think August ,no longer available to use HECS fees to go in here in Dubai

No probs - as long as you were aware and DS wasnt going to get a shock when he returned :) Strange that they thought it wasnt available at Murdoch. Can't help but be a little suspicious in light of AmyAus's info. If he ever wants to swap and still be eligible for HECS - Uni of Wollongong has HECS available (this was current info as of June 2011. I cannot comment on whether that has changed for any reason in the past 6 month or not though.

Full time...sure nothing is free! He has to pay back,but only when he eventually returns to OZ.

DS went to Murdoch Uni open day and was told he could not use HECS for his Uni here, so does Open Uni online Open Uni isnt free - HECS-HELP is a loan. You have to pay it back. The Australian government will take it directly each year at the same time as tax. Was your DS looking at part-time study? For international Australian uni campuses you are only eligible if you study fulltime. 3+ subjects per semester is considered fulltime by the australian government.

DS went to Murdoch Uni open day and was told he could not use HECS for his Uni here, so does Open Uni online

Sorry Basil, can you explain a bit more what you mean? am interested in uni but was put off by the costs involved...

You cannot HECS fee now at aust unis here . But you can do a degree on line thru aust Uni ,free with your tax file number. DS found this out No HECS? Must be pretty new, because summer 2011 it was still an option. Online is ok - I don't know about free though?? Definitely HECS - but thats not free, you still have to pay it back.

You cannot HECS fee now at aust unis here . But you can do a degree on line thru aust Uni ,free with your tax file number. DS found this out

Maybe if you do decide to come, check out the University of Wollongong in Dubai, and try and get you degree at the same time (maybe you'll have an employer who tries to encourage staff development, doubtful, but maybe), then three years down the track you could have at least moved up the work ladder. Just crossed my mind - as an Australian citizen you are still eligible for a HECS loan from the Aussie government if you study at the UOW campus here, as long as you enrol in 3+ subjects per semester. They are fully accredited in Australia. They have also just started offering night classes for people working during the day. Good way to build on education while working, without paying the upfront costs (would cost you AUD$4200 plu books etc per semester to study threes subjects there otherwise). Options, options :)

Really???? Wow, I never knew that - all mine look like Old Hag Of The Year, wish I'd known before, I could have been retouched to be Angelina's younger sister - will remember for next time, thanks Punchbiff!

Great reply AmyAus, also remember to bring about 20 passport photos, as most CVs require them and you seem to need them for just about everything else here! No no no - thats one thing I recommend you get done in Dubai. They will digitally re-touch them for you here in Dubai! lol. But yes, get 20. At least :D