Time to command
Im posting this because it is really important to know how the seniority system works before you join ANY airline.
You need to take the average age of
leavers and minus the average age of joiners and divide that figure by two.
Without any of the many variables that is the basic time to command.
Eg if say BA are recruiting mainly SSPs ie in their early 20s and most retire at 60 then its approx 20 years to command 1 capt and 1 F/O per jet 40 year career.
Now for the variables that reduce that timescale,
Expansion, being a new company, bidding for a less popular fleet, joining at the beginning of a recruitment bulge ( now ), joining a company with a higher average age of pilot.
The converse will have the opposite effect but add an increase in retirement age to the mix.
Now specifics for BA.
Craggenmore said re 18 years to a LH command " wow the balance is swayed " , well I dont think it is. With most pilots in BA being over 30 in the late 80s this is lower than it would normally be.
A large number of cadets were recruited late 80s /early 90s so now there are a large number of LH captains with 15 to 25 years to go before retiring. BA in fairness did target 25 to 30 year olds with a specific entry criteria in late 87 ( IEP ).
Those 40 something ( age ) cadets ( Brit bus driver ) are actually highly experienced ,highly trained and capable forty something EX CADETS. The DFO is one of them.
When you consider any airline you must consider the whole package including time to command. Its no use moaning once you have joined that you will never get a LH command.
BA could offer reduced Ts and Cs to junior F/Os for a quick command onto the 787/380 when they arrive. That may well suit some but be prepared for it to happen again in 5 to 10 years time in the race to the bottom.
Decide whats important to you and go for it with the best info available.
Of course there's always promotion on merit if thats what you fancy your time to command could be significantly reduced but on the other hand you may never get it if you are only F/O average and are beaten at selection by others each time. Imagine being a decent hard working guy ( gal ) but younger less experienced aces simply perform better on the day. knackered but go into discretion / cant go sick because you have command selection next month? Hmmmn .
BAs selection system may not be perfect but its as objective as its possible to get IMHO.
Hope this helps someone.