Hi Skygal,
I got through to QF Link, but failed the high test, I'm too tall!
At the time, I was earning $65,000 per year, and I was really scared about cutting my salary in half, to fly little Dash-8s to CBR, PMQ and CFS!
Anyway, my height made my decision for me...
I don't work for them, so DO NOT treat my advice as the word of god, but rather the word of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, but here's my opinion, and what I remember.
Back in the days before september 11, I did work experience with Eastern Australian Airlines, and from the recruitment days, I know that the team is awesome. They are all so friendly, and seem much more like a small family, than anything in mainline. They work their gut's out for not very much salary, but you are permanent, and working for the airline, so full benefits apply... I think...
The salary was around $28,000. Plus allowances. They pay for a mobile phone, or at least part of your bill. You only get a few overnights a month. It's tough flying, around 130 hours per month, and they have days like the "Quadruple Canberra"
SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD-CBR-SYD Can you imagine...!
I hope these aren't still going on, or they were just pulling my leg!
During the recruitment process, I had a good chat to one of them about progression to mainline.
Progression is based on seniority. It is in their EBA, that a certain number must be given the opportunity to move to mainline each year. She said that at present, it takes approximately 5 - 7 years to move to short haul. Then another several years to move to long haul. It is the real slow way.
QF is offering redundancies left right and centre to it's older crew. The new MAM casuals seem to be the way of the future, and in terms of a foot in the door, I think MAM is more the right path, at least MAM are trained on most aircraft types, and operate accross australia and to asia. OK you don't get the industry benefits, but who cares, you'll still be flying QF!!! And the $$ is certainly better than at QFLink.
And what is QF Mainline anyway?
Eastern Australian Airlines, Sunstate, Jetstar, Jetstar International, Jetstar Asia, Value Air, Australian for Qantas, QF MAM, Qantas UK, Jetconnect.... am I missing any??? Is there still a base in BKK? Does any one actually work for Qantas "The Spirit of Australia". Sorry a little off topic...
Anyway, after all that rambling.... my advice is:
You don't say if you are flying or if you are ground crew...
If you are not flying, then take the QFLink. At least you will be flying, and the experience you gain as a solo FA is invaluable!
If you are already flying, then maybe it's better to stick with your current airline, and wait for the next round of MAM recruitment.
Good luck with everything. I wish you all the best!!!