I am ex bmi and now easyJet at BRS.
It is a myth that I now work harder. I fly close to 900 hours a year, but my typical flying hours per day is close to 6, this means that on average I have worked 13.5 days per month since joining 4 years ago, this equals close to 75 hours per month = 900. Or if days off are your thing then I get an average of 17 days per month free of actually flying. I am at home almost every night with very occasional night stops, an average of less than 1 per month.
When you hear moaners stating that they are working 100 hours per month, then this means that after 9 months they would have 3 months free of flying, fantastic, off skiing!
I have spoken to crewing a handful of times and it is unusual to be called on standby - less than 30% of them over the 4 years. When you do speak to crewing they are polite and helpful, something that I think would be a new experience for any bmi pilot. I understand that bmi crewing are exactly how they were a few years ago.
My rosters are set in stone and leave booking is open and fair. Financially I am much better off and with the expansion plan that the company has you will probably have the oportunity to get a command asessment within 2 years maximum, possibly less with your Airbus experience.
If I were you I would sit tight to see how it all falls out after Open Skies next year. At your age with your experience another year will have no bearing on you being able to join easyJet.
Don't believe most of the bad things you hear about the Orange empire.