I started with BA on the 777 at the start of the year. So far, I have not been drafted, and have had pretty good success at bidding for work, especially days off.
As far as I know, BA is the only UK L/H operator to allocate work by bidline, a system that allows you to bid work from a list of complete lines of work each month. This means you can bid for days off or destinations, depending on your preference. Lines are allocated in seniority order, and if you dont get one, you are then in the same boat as any other airline, with a preferencing system, where your work is allocated, taking preferences int account if possible.
For me, Bidline alone makes BA stand out as my top choice.
You do hear a lot of whinging on here about BA. In my view, this is due to:
1. BA has more pilots than anyone else, by a mile.
2. BA used to be SO good, that the terms have slipped a little, but it is still well up there.
I left the RAF this year as a Training Captain with the transport fleet, and was lucky to have a good choice of UK airlines. The positive reasons I chose BA are:
1. Direct Entry Longhaul on 777
2. Good pay
3. Solid BALPA membership
4. Stability (No layoffs post 9/11)
5. BIDLINE