These would be the " new lower minimums" agreed April 2014 then! Previously eligibility for upgrade was 5 years after passing the type rating, this was changed to 5 years after " licence issue" except for ex military where it can be 3 years or even 2 if they have enough jet time. Many ex military guys were chopper pilots and they need longer. The threshold was lowered from 4000 hrs to 3000 hours, however, it doesn't effect much as everyone is in the same boat. More than 50% of the yabanci FOs do not have university degree 4 years and thus they are not in the running. Some Foreign FOs were bumped to 777 as they were never in the running, some are studying for degrees but in reality they could consider jumping ship with 2000 hrs wide body, having said that, again only the Sand Pit is available. The perception of being " put back" occurs with the hiring of the ex mil guys that jump the queue, having said that, they tend to be older and generally more experienced in any event, more mature etc etc. If the question is " is it an old boys club" the answer would be " maybe"