Dan, if you think CX are bad in making applicants pay their own way to HKG for stages 1-3, how about this!?...QF not only make applicants pay their way to Sydney, they offer a 'special' fare, but cheaper fares can be found on their own website (so they're obviously profiting from applicants), they charge you to do the psychometric testing (and won't let you see your own result, even when you paid for it!), charge you to undertake the medical, charge you for the security checks, make you pay for the course if you are selected...then upon completion, make you find your own work placement to build up hours before they even consider hiring you.
So three self funded flights to Hong Kong seems insignificant when you get an all expenses paid education and pretty much guaranteed SO position with a 'billion dollar airline'...QF actually made a billion dollar profit, not turnover, but PROFIT the past couple of years and supposedly can't support the young guys and girls who want to fly...the backbone of the industry it is in!