Right to left and other things....
A good friend of mine just gave a very simple but logic solution:
All they would have to do is to install a bidding system, allowing pilots to bid on which fleet they want to do their upgrade on.
Combine this with a transparent and constant upgrade policy whereby candidates are given exact dates/timeframes of what to expect when and on which fleet, and everybody would be much happier.
A pilot would know exactly when to expect a possible upgrade on the A320 or his current fleet. He would be able to make the decision himself. Either upgrade in X months and go on the A320, or upgrade on the A330/B777 in X months + y months.
And why not allow an A320 pilot, if a slot becomes available on A330/B777 and nobody inside his seniority bracket is willing or available to fill it in, to upgrade on the B777/A330?
Clear, transparent and honest to everybody in the system. Some guys who upgraded in the past 2 years will be pissed of maybe, but hey, that’s life, get over it.
At least the system would be in place for the future. And no matter what, QR's expansion plan is sooooo massive that everybody in the system today will be given most of what they want (777/787/380/350) within the next 5 years anyhow.
No time to worry people, life is too short for that!