Led Goose,
I completely agree with missingblade's comment "once you get to a big jet, your flying days are over".
I'd suggest you go and fly something enjoyable for 5 or 10 years before coming to the airlines, or if you join early, hopefully you'll have enough money to fly on your days off.
Most guys at Cathay are here for the money and days off......the 'flying' has long gone out of the airline job. Pardon the philosophy lesson, but the reason most love 'flying' is for things like....the rapid decision making, the feeling of freedom, sinking into the seat during a tight turn, the feeling of speed as you rush past cloud, the satisfaction when you arrive on target on time, etc, etc, etc, etc. I don't think you will be able to satisfy this in an airline job.....certainly not with Cathay. (Maybe a regional or a small 737-type outfit still gives enough freedom to regularly enjoy the flying.)
Cathay (and I'm sure most airlines) flying is all about safety.....keeping automatics in for as long as possible to make it as safe and smooth as possible.
Anyways, good luck. (Don't sell yourself short by kidding yourself that 35 years in an airline job is a great 'flying' career!)
lmh