Aggree with Student in Debt as far as "bid for what you want".
Don't agree with the later part of his post (l-haul s-haul comparison). Of course that's just a personal "thing".
Bear in mind this. In order to get the "good" longhaul trips, you will have to be senior enough. For every 4 night Orlando there are 10 bullet Barbados flights. Additionally, in order to spend a few days on the beach every year, you will have to endure the night Pafos-Bodrum etc that the 756 fleet has to offer. The very long hours of shear boredom at 37000 ft. The odd long haul trip (especially for jnr pilots) comes with a high price.