Job satisfaction is the important part for me. I fly with good people and am respected by my peer group for being part an excellent operation. It's a relatively short time in the soul destroying position of S/O in comparason to QF etc. It is not too long before most are handling their first jet ever, and a wide body at that.
We must also consider money into the equation. I realise B-scale's are well below the market average for our type of airline however we do have a "common jet salary". We don't have climb up several pay scale ladders so that is a small plus.
I'm not in love with CX by any stretch of the imagination but I believe just a direct look at time to command isn't all that you may think it is.
My guess for a new joiner that starts today would be 14 years to command. That would probably pan out on average to 10 to 15 years as a Captain depending on retirement age. Not fast but reasonable.
[This message has been edited by Thrust (edited 23 September 2000).]