Current F/o contract -
Base pay approx $US8000/month - 80% during training phase (Captain approx $US11000)
Overtime after 70 block hours per month (very rarely happens).
Commuting allowance $US1000.
Accomodation allowance $US500 (equivilant to 10 nights per month- 120 nights PA) for 'in-base' accomodation of your choice.
$US72/day allowance when out of home base at hotel (block-in to block out only), with hotel provided by company.
Superannuation contribution of approx 7% (Parc) or 15% (HACS)
$US18,000 contract completion bonus (5 years)
24 days annual leave
6 days sick leave PA
ZED fare (subload) discount travel on QF/Thai/Air NZ/United and a few others. You can use ZED for commuting, but don't miss your flight!
Upgrade to LHS...maybe, but not in contract. The company has stated they only intend to hire F/o's from now on (as per NCA) unless DEC are required due to no suitable F/o's.
777Efoh...no direct hire into AJX. HACS pay double the rate for super, plus they comunicate well with their crew
So guess which one is perceived as being better!
MinimaNoContact...1000 hours jet required so that you may hold a JCAB ATPL and thus do PF duties so as to gain experience for a possible LHS upgrade. 3000TT is the ANA/company minimum for a command.
Kaptin M... of the original 19 F/o's, just two have recently left - one to Thai Orient and one to Air NZ, primarily for career/lifestyle/family reasons. More (including captains) are looking and pondering, possibly to the airlines you suggested.
Captain Can't...an ICAO license is required (Australia/NZ license is ICAO) in order to 'speed' up the training. You must pass a law exam and radio license exam, with several days training provided prior, plus then pass a JCAB license issue sim check. This requires many many sims to practice getting right! You must also do a JCAB type-rating issue sim, following another 2 dozen sims of practice (with only 1 or 2 sims being done per week). Expect the training to take 6-8 months, during which time you will not be able to go home, although AJX will fly your wife up twice and your kids up once during the training period. Towards the end of the training you will probably be slightly potty (and pickled)!
The route network in currently passenger flying out of NRT/KIX to HKG/GUM/HNL and freight flying to various places in China. Most is back of the clock stuff the locals don't want to do. The limits for a two pilot operation (which can be legally exceeded!) are 15 hours duty in a 24 hour period (which can be split!) and 12 hours flying.
Generally...
New and/or over-maintained aircraft (is there such a thing?!).
Very easy checks/sims etc.
Plenty of time in Japan to enjoy your hotel!
Always arrive at destination with a stack of fuel in the tanks.
Most aspects of the operation are well suported and generally run like clockwork.
7e7s are on the way...but maybe not for AJX for a long time, if ever.
Food for thought...good luck.