The best you can do, is keep an open mind. What ever the policy it will change as history has proven. For the better or worse?? EK and the UAE is a gamble for expats, make an informed decision and try to sift out the good info from the bad. DEC's are a cotentious issue with all F/Os in any airline.
One thing is sure about all pilots we are trained to complain about things that upset us and feel that is our god given right to fix it, unfortunately we are not trained how to turn it of and go with the flow. If you want to survive the Gulf you will need this skill.
If EK had secure contracts, unions fighting for our rights and demands it could not survive the rapid expansion that drives it. You just have to suck it in and keep your head down. When you have had enough of the crappp you just move on. simple really.
Commands will come to all those who can survive and are good enough. Many high hour expat F/Os have failed command upgrades for good reasons, there is a lot to learn with such a vast network of destinations and you need to have your sh_t sorted out.
Three years or four years is not long at all, and certainly not worth getting stressed out over in my opinion. Especially if you are getting close to this time in EK, Relax guys, there will be more than enough stress comming your way soon, don't blow the opportunities that will be presented to you.
