Scroggs, I belive that the ex cadets are going to the classic fleet to "consolidate their training". The theory being that they will get more hands on flying to BGI than lying in a bunk on the way to HKG.Best of luck to them. Having just done 2 years on the SUN 320's, I wouldn't fancy the classic conversion course.
Everyone else:Scroggs and others are correct.The whole business is market driven.There is a deal of luck involved although you can influence it by keeping at it in a realistic sense.If you've got 250 hrs, its no use pestering Virgin or BA for a heavy jet job.As an ex Upgrader(Circa 1995)I have a lot of sympathy with the guys who feel excluded,however its Brymons ball and they can take it home if they want.I had something similar happen when goalposts where moved back then.Just as I was starting to despair, it all came right from a totally unexpected direction.The moral is to keep at it and be flexible, it will happen when you least expect it!
The market is good at the moment, however the progression to long haul takes time and experience.Long haul flying offers little hands on and you may only do one or two landings a month on some fleets.For that reason,plus insurance considerations,long haul operators such as Virgin like you to have had a solid base of experience to draw on so that you can pull off a tricky non precision approach into Congo Bongo International after 11 hours in darkness and still have a bit of spare capacity.Theres no short cut I'm afraid.Its taken me six years working up from T/P to 320 to 340.
Stick at it guys and gals.Brymon isn't the only operator and as soon as they need folk in a hurry the requirements will change.
All the best.NB.