SWAN:
FYI i think no one would argue being a top guy at BA or AC or AA or FED ex would be great, maybe the best job in the world. Guess what, it takes 25 years to get there and the TC are changing in all these places as well. The golden days are over. So hard fact is working in EK or a similar outfit is usually a much faster way to make decent money and fly big metal. Its like comparing apples to oranges! For instance u join Flag carrier in US/Canada take MIN 12-15 years to make capt on A320. u join Ek or EY u make command within 5 or so years the whole time making command salaries(tax taken into account) back home. So yeah EK aint the greatest but we all didn't get hired at 21 at BA!!!!
Also FYI many EK and other guys in middle east could easily go back and get a job at those airlines. The difference is TIMING!!!! when they would of jumped at the opportunity they did not get interview due to economic environment and airlines were not hiring. So they went off and forwarded their own careers and probably had a family. Now it would be a massive hit with a few kids to go home and sit in RHS for less money. BTW speaking form personal experience! I find it amusing how people don't realize that most of what happens in our careers is a combination of luck and timing!