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metalval
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 44
Location: Ukraine
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 Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:48 pm Post subject: trip to Salalah - expensive!!!!! advice |
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I've got an offer from Dhofar University but their travel allowance is really surprising!
This is what my contract says:
6.1.1 Travel Allowance subsidy for recruits from North America, Australia and New Zealand: The University shall pay to the employee, his/her spouse and up to two of their children who are 18 years of age or younger provided they reside with him/her in Oman a travel allowance up to RO 350 (three hundred fifty Omani Rials) per family member against receipts.
6.1.2 Travel Allowance Subsidy for others: The University shall pay to the employee�s spouse who resides with him/her in Oman a travel allowance up to RO 350 against receipts.
Since I'm not from North America, Austalia or New Zealand, they will pay only for my spouse? Not only for me?
That's strange! I've looked at the cost and it's like $2082 to Salalah from Ukraine. And they want me to pay that all by myself? That's incredible. For me, my husband and daughter that's a lot of money. I don't have that much money!
I have another offer from Saudi, they are paying my tickets, but they don't pay child's tuition and they pay so little on housing (and don't help with a housing, I'm supposed to find it on my own in Saudi?). So maybe I should switch to them?
Is it the normal practice?
Look at my contract for Oman:
1. Basic annual salary 10500 (Omani Riyals (1 OR= 2.6 US dollars)
2. Annual supplement 5520 (Omani Riyals (to cover housing, and other expenses)
3. Educational supplement 1000 (for accompanying child)
4. Tickets for spouse up to 350
5. End of service indemnity equivalent to one month of basic salary upon completion of one year of service
6. Health insurance policy for you, your spouse and your child, all living with you in Salalah. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Since we can't know what they mean here for travel, you need to ask them exactly what you will be paid. IMHO, if they do not fly you and your family from your home country to Oman, I'd tell them no thanks.
There is no way that I could get from my place in the US to Oman for 350 OR either.
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Mojoski
Joined: 03 May 2009
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| I have to believe what's intended in 6.1.2. is in addition to the primary (you) they pay the 350 for the spouse. You should call them and hash out the details. Make your situation clear, and they may make an adjustment. Doesn't hurt to ask. Also, check flights to Muscat. That fare seems excessive. You're checking online agents like Orbitz, and not directly from the airline, right? |
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metalval
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 44
Location: Ukraine
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject: sorry |
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I've talked to the supervisor and she said - well, you're responsible for your flight, you'll be reimbursed against your receipt.
I would say no, of course, if I had better offer but if I don't have any?
I have one in Saudi Arabia, but the housing allowance they pay is 10 times less than the actual price of the housing. So, I have to choose the least evil. I need somewhere to start from...  |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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So, it comes down to taking the one which has the "better" (or least bad) combination of conditions and financial support. Questions only you can answer.
VS |
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desultude
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 614
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Since we can't know what they mean here for travel, you need to ask them exactly what you will be paid. IMHO, if they do not fly you and your family from your home country to Oman, I'd tell them no thanks.
There is no way that I could get from my place in the US to Oman for 350 OR either.
VS |
Actually, my flight from LA is around $800. I am surprised how inexpensive the flight is. But, from the Ukraine is bound to be another story.
Metalval- you seem to be having a hard time getting settled with a job and with the offers. You need to ask these questions of your prospective employer, who may be more flexible than you think. It is scarey the first time out, but a flexible person gets on in the ME okay. |
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Pikgitina
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 420
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Have you tried Royal Jordanian? Kiev-Muscat via Amman. I'm assuming you're flying from Kiev. The Muscat-Salalah flight can easily be booked online on the Oman Air website. This whole journey can probably be booked online if you have a credit card. Kiev-Salalah via Amman and Muscat (one way) shouldn't be more than US$600 for one person. It'd be a long journey I'd imagine. Good luck! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| desultude wrote: |
| Actually, my flight from LA is around $800. I am surprised how inexpensive the flight is. But, from the Ukraine is bound to be another story. |
As it is if you don't live in a major city in the US. Out of curiosity, I had checked the price from where I am in the US to fly next month to Muscat and it was $1700 round trip... 22.5 hours... 3 plane changes. (one-way was nearly the same... can't remember the number now, but it was over $1000) Since I wasn't really making a reservation, I didn't spend a few hours trying to search up the cheaper flights that must be out there somewhere. Something that I don't miss is those horrid long flights. 
I suspect that metaval is also looking at a long flight because of the lack of a more direct flight. Anytime you have to do 2 or 3 or 4 plane changes, flights get very long... and often expensive if you need to change airlines.
VS |
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desultude
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 614
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| desultude wrote: |
| Actually, my flight from LA is around $800. I am surprised how inexpensive the flight is. But, from the Ukraine is bound to be another story. |
As it is if you don't live in a major city in the US. Out of curiosity, I had checked the price from where I am in the US to fly next month to Muscat and it was $1700 round trip... 22.5 hours... 3 plane changes. (one-way was nearly the same... can't remember the number now, but it was over $1000) Since I wasn't really making a reservation, I didn't spend a few hours trying to search up the cheaper flights that must be out there somewhere. Something that I don't miss is those horrid long flights.
I suspect that metaval is also looking at a long flight because of the lack of a more direct flight. Anytime you have to do 2 or 3 or 4 plane changes, flights get very long... and often expensive if you need to change airlines.
VS |
I swear I wouldn't live anywhere over an hour's distance to a major city, for that reason alone.
It used to take me 36 hours real time to get to the last place I worked- from not a major city to not a major city. It is exhausting.
But long flights and such are one of the prices of working abroad. You need to take these "costs" into account when making the radical decision to live as an expat. It isn't all free housing and tax-free paychecks! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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That's for sure... I'm glad to be retired. The problem for many of us is that when we return to our home country, it is normally to visit parents... and mine insisted on living in the back of beyond.
But we digress... where is metalval and has she decided on the Saudi job while we hijacked the thread?
VS |
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