Pipe rider is absolutely correct.
Management, as predicted, is using the upgrades as a carrott to trick FOs into staying longer.
Almost 30 guys received a letter last month, saying they where selected for an upgrade interview but without an exact date. We all knows what that means....
18 guys where allready waiting before them....
2 upgrades/month.....
Thats 2 years waiting if you are allready selected.
If you look at the latest ops review, you know exactly why management does not see upgrades as a priority.
A330
223 Captains
177 First Officers
A320
112 Captains
090 First Officers
A300
52 Captains
35 First Officers
In 2007 239 pilots joined, of which 124 where captains, 105 FOs and 10 second officers.
So QR must be one of the only airlines with a huge surplus of Captains and a chronical shortage of ( especially experienced) F/Os. For a predominantly long haul airline, these numbers between Capt and FO should be exactly the other way around...
Which is why upgrades are the very very last priority...and why they are using carrots to keep F/Os here..
So observe and draw your conclusions.....
