Rev,
Everyone has a bias, that is life. Perhaps, you are showing your bias as a glass half empty guy in your example. You question Bymonek's facts but what about yours:
Fact: As an F/O you can only access business class on an upgrade basis if space is available. If you are travelling with children under 16 you are not entitled to business fullstop. The same goes for business/first for captains.
I will agree that with kids you travel a class down and duty tickets are upgradable Y/J as an F/O, J/F as a Captain. However, if you buy a First ID 50, you travel First and I have not yet been downgraded on either an annual leave ticket or ID90 when leaving the blighters at home.
But lets rise above the p*ssing competition, none of us can make Freespeed's decision for him, we don't know his circumstances. I suspect the advice might be different for a guy that was working for Alitalia or furloughed from United compared to a guy working for South West or Lufthansa.
As to the rest of the comments on this thread, they generally come from both ends of the spectrum cos guys in the middle really can't be asked to raise a finger. Cap 56 asserts that 'school standards are very low', but I actually think they are great compared to a lot of places particularly because most of the parents are achievers and little johnny from the council estate doesn't get an entry pass. That view might well change when the kids are older and need a bigger pond to operate in. Remember though, whilst some are glass half full guys and some half empty; Cap 56 is a font of all knowledge who's glass is not only empty, it was broken by EK when he was asked to leave.
Freespeed, everything that is written here is an opinion and opinions are like ar**holes we all have one and they usually stink. My opinion, for what its worth. Whilst most of the DECs may be in their early 50's; I have met some that are not. We are getting a lot of aircraft but we now have a lot of pilots and competition in the market is hotting up with Etihad and who knows who else joining. Simple numerics say that commands cannot happen for everyone at 3 years, I don't know when the time to command will start to grow but it will. As an ex-pat you must also realise that you do it for yourself and you are on your own, there is no one out there looking after you.
Even though I'm a half full kinda guy and happy with my lot I would caution you to make sure you know a) why you want to come and b) whether EK and Dubai will fill those needs. The only way to give yourself a better stab at making the right decision is to use an ID 90 and come to DXB and investigate further. Right now is a great time to come because the weather sucks and that should burn some of the rose tinting off the outside of the glasses. Failing that talk to guys you know personally who work for EK so that you can filter their comments as appropriate.
The Rev is right that sadly aviation isn't what it once was and that T&Cs have been on a downward spiral. His burdens would be my frustrations and even I have to bolt away every now and then to retain my sanity. I then look at where I came from and realise that Dubai and EK might not be perfect but it isn't that bad either. (P.S. This message will self destruct in another 5 years or so, so that the Rev can't give me a hard time for my youthful exuberance.)
Cerberus