No matter what fleet you join you will end up working hard and having average rosters, it will just be the time frame in which it happens that differs.
Airbus FOs aren't working too hard now, but mini Bus Captains are having cr@p rosters. This is true.
Boeing fellas are having reasonable rosters now. But everything comes with a price right?
Consider:
1. Tcas explained after the last 777 order that we had almost 100 777s then (we have that now right?), and that after older aircraft are sent back to leasors, with the new deliveries EK would have a fleet of 160 777s by 2022. So overall growth of 60%, not bad at all, unless of course you are a new joiner on it, as that's not enough for a seat change is it. At 10 crews per aeroplane 600 of the 900+ 777 FOs on the list now are good for command. People will leave and retire and that will increase the number of new commanders required, but we are also taking DECs as well.
2. There are now 26 x 330s, 8 x 343s, 10 x 345, 22 x380. 500ish FOs. Taking the 380 commands only (forgetting about the 25 350 firm and 25 options), 260 new commands will be needed by 2019 (last 380 delivery year). The bottom 200 Bus FOs on the list now would need the A350 order to happen to upgrade. Nothing has been said officially that this is not going to happen.
3. We were also told that as of 2022 the fleet would total 270ish (capacity at DXB restricted they say). We have 170ish now. So since we are going to have 160 x 777, and 90 x 380 it would seem that the order for the 25 x 350 may still be a goer, or as the rumour goes they may be canceled and replaced by 777s (no one on this forum knows). With this fleet mix, what will be doing the nasty turns, and what will be doing the trunk routes? The Boeing pilot will argue the 777 will still be the fleet to be on, as will the 380 pilot. They both have vested interest to do so. But only time will tell for sure.
No one can pick the future here. But it does seem to turn in round abouts. At some time something will happen that disadvantages you. The command criteria changes very often, and rarely for the better. Seniority means nothing. If your fleet no longer requires new captains, you will be by passed by more junior FOs from another fleet. But going by present orders, new joiners would need to plan on being FOs for a long time.
Glofish, I would think that if someone has experience, airmanship and commonsense, they will not have any problem with the upgrade course. EK has plenty of Captains that finished the course successfully, this would seem to prove the point.
The Don
PS. I have no clue what the future holds for Bus or Boeing pilots. Nor does anyone else who argues otherwise. But new joiners need to consider would they still come to EK if command was to take a long time. Several FOs on the 380 have been shafted and will now not be eligible for command until 8yrs in the company after the last command criteria change. FOs too junior to be 380 FOs at the time these guys were sent (they did not volunteer) to the 380 are doing 330 commands now.
Beware of Big Shiny Jet Syndrome. It tends to cloud the judgement.