However, I believe this thread has gone on so long because everyone wants different things from life. Thus to say that BA is unquestionably the best airline is frankly nonsense
Ah but there you have it. You have pretty much highlighted the single biggest attraction of BA to so many pilots. It offers a choice of flying and associated lifestyle. Thats why people leave commands and stable jobs elsewhere to join. If you want to fly short, medium or longhaul you have a choice. If you want to fly a big Boeing then you bid for it, if you would rather wait for a shiny A380 then you sit tight. If you want to live in another country and load all your work into two week blocks you can do that. If you feel like early starts are your preference, you bid for more of them. If the weekend forms an important part of your family/social life then....you get the idea. And as every other pilot has different priorities and preferences, so BA has a system that allows a degree of individual freedom to meet them.
ALL of this is said with the caveat of seniority, which is something many seem to rail against as some sort of restraint of trade. No-one seems to complain from within BA however, mainly because if you intend to stay for the duration it is a simple and fair system - do your time in the trenches and the benefits are waiting for you.
Having joined BA this year from the world of Low Cost, the difference is staggering. Long may it continue.
As for deciding who wins out of Virgin or BA, we may as well start talking about the merits of modular and integrated....