Monarch always had a reputation as a happy company, though that info is just from chatting to people. They, as do any company, have had their ups and downs as new managers come and go (though I base that observation purely upon what I've read on the web).
My views on bmi/bmi baby are well known to PPRuNe regulars, but I give honest opinions based upon long (or does it just seem long) service with them.
If it's a better culture you're looking for, forget it. If I were to expand upon that I'd be here for days. Suffice to say that the treatment of bmi employees by an oppressive mill-owner style of management is well known throughout the UK aviation scene.
If it's A330 you're after, then bear in mind there's a big chunk of the entire workforce queuing up ahead of you (F/O and Capt alike) if only to escape the monotonous routine of shorthaul from Heathrow. I don't see the bmi policy makers achieving anything in longhaul, anyway.
Lots of people in bmibaby are waiting to move to bmi mainline to escape the sheer grinding, underpaid, rubbish-pension slavery. Then again, who's to say bmi mainline have to take them on....they are separate companies, after all (but, of course, only separate when it suits them)
The owner of the whole shambles is close to disappearing soon (for whatever reasons). Lufthansa and SAS have, according to reports, signed an agreement to purchase his share in return for a company with Heathrow operating rights. That's about all they wanted from bmi when they signed the deal. Unfortunately, the lo-cost airlines have seriously wounded Heathrow shorthaul profitability. Over recent years Lufty and SAS have had to pay £ tens of millions into the bmi pot every year.....they agreed to absorb any losses as part of the deal....and boy, have there been losses!
I see much bloodshed when Lufty and SAS take over. As I said, they just want(ed) Heathrow slots, but lo-cost competition has ruined the value of those. If you're at the bottom end of the seniority list when the buyout happens you'll be the first to get the chop.
BTW, I seem to have attracted a small band of amateur critics who don't like honest opinions. Maybe they're bmi management, although some are definitely just lowly minions with masochistic tendencies who seem to enjoy being taken for a ride.
So watch out for their replies....they're occasionally amusing if nothing else.