I would like to make a point which you can take or leave. As much as it is trendy and commonplace to mock and deride the U.K. there is at some level the notion of fairness lurking under the radar. Not always I concede because life is not fair. I have had a couple of gos in the lovely ME albeit as DEC so the upgrade issue was not a factor. However, I hear a lot of noise about the need for localisation in the various well known ME airlines and we all nod our heads in the approved pc manner that of course local pilots of whatever airline should be streamlined into the left hand seat. If you joined British Airways your turn would come up as a function of seniority and competence. No one says let the Brits have the captain jobs first. Fair play? Just saying.