Recently, Emirates reported a record profit, and declared itself the world’s most profitable airline. To celebrate this, the airline is offering staff a 22-week basic salary bonus. When I write about the economics of Gulf carriers, people will often say things like “well they pay their employees peanuts, so of course they can more easily make money.”
Along those lines, I thought it would be interesting to discuss how much Emirates flight attendants actually earn, as I think the overall compensation package puts US carriers to shame. Let me note that PYOK wrote a great post about the life of Emirates flight attendants, but I want to specifically talk more about the pay.
In this post:
Emirates flight attendants are compensated pretty well
Emirates is transparent about how much it pays flight attendants. When you join the airline, you first start as a Grade 2 (meaning you work in economy), and you’re paid as follows:
- Starting flight attendants have a basic salary of 4,835 AED ($1,316) per month
- Starting flight attendants receive flying pay of 66.30 AED ($18) per hour, based on an average of 80-100 hours per month of flying
- Emirates states that starting flight attendants earn an average of $2,940 per month, which comes out to over $35,000 per year
That doesn’t account for profit sharing. Just recently, flight attendants received a 22-week bonus on their basic salary, which would be right around $6,800, meaning a starting flight attendant would’ve made over $40,000, on average. Of course there’s no guarantee that will be the case in the future, but the airline has now paid huge bonuses three years in a row.
But this is only the start of how they’re compensated:
- Flight attendants receive housing in Dubai (or a housing allowance, if they prefer), as well as transportation to & from the airport
- Flight attendants receive dry cleaning for their uniforms
- Flight attendants receive huge discounts all around Dubai by showing their ID
- Flight attendants don’t have to pay income taxes in Dubai
- Flight attendant receive 30 days of leave per year, and one free ticket home per year, plus huge discounts on additional travel
My point is simply to say that many people think that Emirates flight attendants are paid very little, but that’s not the case. It’s even more not the case when you consider that flight attendants at Emirates come from all over the world.
Like, if you’re from most of the world, making $40K+ per year, all while having your housing expenses paid for, is pretty incredible. It’s why Emirates flight attendants are often the bread winners for their families back home. Keep in mind that this is only starting pay, so as you work your way up the ranks (to Grade 1, First Grade 1, Supervisor, and Purser), you’ll be paid even more.
Also keep in mind that you truly get to see the world from the moment you join. It’s not like starting at a US airline, where you’re mostly going to be on reserve working short domestic flights all the time. Sure, you’ll have the occasional overnight turns at Emirates, but you’ll also have trips to every corner of the globe.
How does this compare to US flight attendant compensation?
Here’s what I think is kind of wild. Emirates flight attendants actually make more than many flight attendants at airlines in the United States, and that doesn’t even account for the fact that Emirates flight attendants have their housing and transportation paid for, and don’t have to pay taxes.
For example, United flight attendants still don’t have a new post-pandemic contract, and a first year United flight attendant makes $28.88 per flight hour, plus a $2.40-2.90 per diem per hour that they’re away from home on trips. You can assume that they rack up 1,000 hours per year (if they’re lucky), so a first year United flight attendant is making somewhere around $35,000 per year, before paying union dues.
However, unlike at Emirates, where housing is covered, these flight attendants will typically be based in one of the most expensive cities in the country, and then have to pay their rent, their transportation to and from the airport, their dry cleaning, etc.
So you can make of it what you will. But if you look at it objectively, I think most people would agree that Emirates flight attendants actually have a pretty sweet gig. Now, in fairness, a few downsides to Emirates:
- When you work for a US carrier, you typically get unlimited “free” flight benefits, including in business class, which is awesome; however, when you’re paying $30K per year and have to pay rent, many flight attendants can’t actually afford to use those benefits
- Flight attendant pay at US airlines potentially increases a bit more over the years than at Emirates, and senior flight attendants at US carriers get significant pay increases
But in terms of quality of life, I think it’s an interesting contrast. Emirates flight attendants can live very comfortably starting from the time they start their job. Meanwhile a flight attendant at a US airline is really going to struggle for years, especially if they’re on the hook for paying rent. It’s tough.
Bottom line
Emirates flight attendants are compensated quite well, especially when you consider that they come from every corner of the globe, many from countries where good job opportunities are limited. First year Emirates flight attendants will generally be earning over $40K this year, and that’s before you consider that housing and transportation are covered, and income is tax free in Dubai.
It’s kind of wild that they’re first year pay is often higher than at US airlines, not even accounting for the fact that in the US, flight attendants are on the hook for rent, transportation, and more.
Emirates has excellent flight attendants, and that’s for good reason — working at the airline is an incredible opportunity, and it’s something that many people don’t take for granted.
Are you surprised by Emirates’ flight attendant compensation package?
I am not a FA, I never have been nor ever will be. I am however, a very regular F/J passenger who has taken an average of 25-30 international flights per year for the past two decades. I respect approximately 98% of all FA’s who I have had the pleasure to be served by.
From a passenger’s perspective there are many FA’s who stand out to be exceptional, most are extremely pleasant professionals who...
I am not a FA, I never have been nor ever will be. I am however, a very regular F/J passenger who has taken an average of 25-30 international flights per year for the past two decades. I respect approximately 98% of all FA’s who I have had the pleasure to be served by.
From a passenger’s perspective there are many FA’s who stand out to be exceptional, most are extremely pleasant professionals who carry out their duties to the complete satisfaction of most passengers. A few from the lesser airlines can be downright obnoxious to every passenger.
One is certain that an FA’s job becomes much more enjoyable when all of the passengers have disembarked, especially the obnoxious, needy individuals. Too many times to accurately recall, I have exchanged glances with a diligent FA, while rolling our eyes at the antics of the ‘entitled’ passenger. Why, Oh why, do some men believe that they are suddenly ‘Gods gift to women’ simply because a young attractive FA smiles at them?
The Arps of this world will probably never experience anything other than a Y cabin seat on a domestic low cost carrier, therefore, they can only dream of an attentive FA serving their luncheon on say an EK or SQ international flight.
You can't run a premium airline without paying decent wages, especially when working for that airline means moving to Dubai and do some rather crazy operations, so that figures :) But at the same time, the pay isn't crazy good either. Just a sort of an average I'd expect for a position like this.
While pay at EK is certainly not bad, Ben presents the pay and benefits in a very favorable light.
For starters, based on EK's flight schedule the job is very taxing. A large number of flights depart during night time, which is very stressful to the body. Also, Emirates does mostly long haul flying, which is stressful to the body as well.
Entry Level FA receive free shared accommodation (no housing allowance, there are only...
While pay at EK is certainly not bad, Ben presents the pay and benefits in a very favorable light.
For starters, based on EK's flight schedule the job is very taxing. A large number of flights depart during night time, which is very stressful to the body. Also, Emirates does mostly long haul flying, which is stressful to the body as well.
Entry Level FA receive free shared accommodation (no housing allowance, there are only few exceptions, e.g if you have immediate family in the UAE or are married). Overnight guests are not allowed, so no overnight visits from boyfriend or girlfiend.
The "huge" discounts are in the usual range for corporate discounts. Nothing earth shattering.
Also ID90-tickets are relatively cheap (in line with ZED-Tickets in other airlines), but certainly not free.
So working for EK can certainly be exciting for a new FA, it is certainly not a workers paradise where money grows on trees.
Sometimes it is ‘hit and miss’ if a post appears, perplexing, never mind I will try again.
As U.S. FA’s appear to be treated less well by the second rate U.S. airlines they work for, one is surprised that U.S. wannabe FA’s are not flocking to EQ.
Could it be that in general the U.S. FA’s are less well able to meet the EQ high standards required?
As U.S. FA’s appear to be treated so badly by second rate U.S. airlines, why do U.S. FA’s not flock to EQ? Could it be the lack of other language skills or simply that they would not meet the EQ high standards?
This is misleading though, as it does not take into account the cost of living. Dubai has become extremely expensive, so your purchasing power with US$2900/month or so is simply not great.
American who work for Emirates would still have to pay US income tax unlike most other nationalities, who only have to pay income tax if they live in their home country.
Except Americans working abroad for Emirates very likely wouldn't have to pay US tax. Foreign income is exempt from US income taxes if it is less than $126k per year. As stated in the article, a flight attendant would certainly be making less than that.
But do they eventually make six figures a year once they top out like their US counterparts?
They make quite a bit. A few years ago I met an Emirates FA, which was 13 years in her job, and about to move to a Finance role within Emirates. She said, that her total pay would be less in her new role.
No they don't. EK flight attendants top out around $70,000 dollars a year, while their American counterparts can easily make $120,000 - $150,000 a year at top scale flying 100 hours a month. Even pilots at EK don't make what their US counterparts make. Pilots at American, Delta, and United from first year pilots through top scale are paid more than EK pilots.
I'm sure EK employees are happy with 22 weeks worth of pay...
No they don't. EK flight attendants top out around $70,000 dollars a year, while their American counterparts can easily make $120,000 - $150,000 a year at top scale flying 100 hours a month. Even pilots at EK don't make what their US counterparts make. Pilots at American, Delta, and United from first year pilots through top scale are paid more than EK pilots.
I'm sure EK employees are happy with 22 weeks worth of pay in profit sharing that is huge but at the end of the year pilots and FA's at the majors here in the US make more money.
LtoF, one has no idea about the accuracy of your post, therefore, I will say just two things …. In my experience the quality of the average EK FA, far outstrips that of their U.S. counterparts. As for the quality of the pilot's, the air incidents and near misses in U.S. airspace speaks volumes.
The ‘no taxes’ is attractive if you are a citizen of just about any other country in the world except the US. American citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where it was earned and irrespective of whether the country where you earned it taxes you or not.
Foreign income of US citizens is taxed only above a certain threshold.
Cabin crew’s income will not come close to it so it’s all tax free. For 2024, that exclusion was $126,500.00 per person.
Salary is not attractive
Compared to British u s and SIN carriers
Bonus is good payment
Employer gives only one ticket per employee whereas other carriers
Like SQ CX AI give more no of passages
EK bribed civil aviation officials and
Got traffic rights to all gateway cities
And using DXB as hub carried all
West bound flights depriving the
Revenue of local carriers
Indian passengers...
Salary is not attractive
Compared to British u s and SIN carriers
Bonus is good payment
Employer gives only one ticket per employee whereas other carriers
Like SQ CX AI give more no of passages
EK bribed civil aviation officials and
Got traffic rights to all gateway cities
And using DXB as hub carried all
West bound flights depriving the
Revenue of local carriers
Indian passengers were the bread and
Butter for them to build an empire
And India continued to be source of
Income for them
Four airlines are corrupt
Ek Flydubai QR and ME
What kind of housing is provided?
Luxury condos? Or dorms / shared appartments?
Just curious.
Own bedroom in shared apartment:
https://keepingupwithkerrycom.wordpress.com/2020/03/27/tour-of-my-crew-accommodation/
Ben you touched on a very real thing: Unable to afford to use the free travel benefits. I flew for just under 2 years. I was a Registered Nurse at the time of my hire with Pan Am. Flying reserve made picking up nursing shifts in surgery (my specialty) impossible. I found that I simply didnt have the money to breeze from MIA to HKG...CDG (fill in the blank) and that and a couple other...
Ben you touched on a very real thing: Unable to afford to use the free travel benefits. I flew for just under 2 years. I was a Registered Nurse at the time of my hire with Pan Am. Flying reserve made picking up nursing shifts in surgery (my specialty) impossible. I found that I simply didnt have the money to breeze from MIA to HKG...CDG (fill in the blank) and that and a couple other reasons accounted for my leaving (the financially troubled) Pan Am.
I am sure MANY junior F/A's in the US are in similar situations.
I don't think people quite understand that when an airline is owned by a UAE government or sovereign wealth fund, money isn't even a thing. Sure, Emirates is super global, upscale and actually makes a profit. But they are also not subject to accounting like other companies because they're privately owned. They can say they made a profit or had a loss but what big 4 accounting firm is verifying that? None of them.
...I don't think people quite understand that when an airline is owned by a UAE government or sovereign wealth fund, money isn't even a thing. Sure, Emirates is super global, upscale and actually makes a profit. But they are also not subject to accounting like other companies because they're privately owned. They can say they made a profit or had a loss but what big 4 accounting firm is verifying that? None of them.
All in all, folks will still complain because the UAE has a human rights history as poor as the United States. But they actually pay their employees pretty decent. Now, the real takeaway should be, the US couldn't even dream of doing the same for their FA's. Because they suck.
If US based FA's were held to the same standards as Emirates FA's, there wouldn't be any US FA's.
Emirates is audited by PWC.
Key Matters: Timing of recognition of revenue, Skywards (particularly unused miles balances) and costs regarding airframe/engine conditions at the end of the leases.
Americans tend to have a naive faith in audit reports from the Big4.
But even if the audit is rigorous, the big question about airlines with such ownership is about implicit subsidies, E.g. How much does the airline pay the hub airport.
But we live in the best country on earth...
That's a matter of opinion.
What country is that?
A case can be made that the best country on earth is Singapore, Japan, Norway, USA, Canada, Australia.
The US has never made on the "Top ten countries to live in the world" list. Canada, Australia and all Scandinavian countries among others are on the list.
I remember on a flight a cabin crew member working the bar, really opened up to me. He super nice and said he had been working for Emirates for 20 years. He was a civil engineer by training and admitted he didn't particularly enjoy the job and travel is not appealing to him. But a job with good compensation and the ability to go home a lot with was appealing to him. He has a...
I remember on a flight a cabin crew member working the bar, really opened up to me. He super nice and said he had been working for Emirates for 20 years. He was a civil engineer by training and admitted he didn't particularly enjoy the job and travel is not appealing to him. But a job with good compensation and the ability to go home a lot with was appealing to him. He has a wife and four kids in Cairo and can easily stop home for a few days in between trips. He's basically never in his Emirates provided apartment other than the required rest period before a flight.
This is super interesting. To provide some context can you give us an idea of what they earn after five years or something like that?
35K per year - and paying no taxes and getting housing paid is pretty phenomenal.
In Germany this would equal 65K in income, and if you live in a major city like Munich you easily pay 1500/month just for a tiny flat in the suburbs.
In Greece the average net (!) income is 18K/year, in Italy 29K/year etc.
So I would say Emirate's flight attendants are quite "wealthy".
It would be interesting to know why Emirates pay their Flight Attendant much more than in most countries in relative terms.
It's usually a slightly above minimum wage job (with perks) . For instance. In Switzerland, Swiss FA starts at 57k Usd which is lower than the minimum wage of some Cantons... So cleaning staff at the airport in Geneva get paid more than junior Swiss cabin crews.