i hope i amnot too late answering you questions
regarding the CRM ... the company is trying really hard on every aspect to have that running in the cockpit and it is running i would say up to 80%
for upgrade as colleages said above it is seniority BUT the policy says upon OPERATION REQUIREMENT
and beleive me we have so many nonsaudis they were FO and now the are captains and i know some of them being with the company for more than 20 years I AM SERIOUS
i am FO on B747 right now and i am telling you truth from inside with all respects to some who said negative things
i hope i was a little help to you
wish you the best always
SAUDIA is expanding hugely and will always need crew
FO B747 CLASSIC