Capt Sox,
If you apply as cabin crew, you will get a cabin crew position. To be fair they don't promise you anything so don't expect to get to the flight deck miraculously - that is the risk you take.
However, if flight deck management find out that you are a pilot sometime down the line than it creates a good impression of you (showing commitment yada yada) with is oh so important with Eastern.
Worth a try, what have you got to loose. Good luck.