Are FR not offering 100% FR Contracts at the base of choice for DEC's? Are EZY not offering the same at LGW?
Actually, no. Not for non-rated long-haulers like myself anyway.
Ryanair won't commit to a base on the contract unless ex-FR and also still rated. For non-rated they want you to pay the rating.
For EZY, which would probably be the short-haul airline of choice for many - they want you to pay for the rating AND spend 5 years frozen at LGW followed by joining a long, long transfer list for the regional bases. That won't suit guys like me who have no interest in anywhere south of the Midlands.
Without wanting to sound pretentious (please understand I'm really not) it's nice that at least one airline out there is prepared to look for experienced crews AND pay for the rating. This is the same airline that runs the Pilot Apprenticeship scheme that helps out those 18 year old kids who don't come from the ranks of the financially fortunate (I was there once 20 years ago). It's all market-driven of course, but at the moment it's a nice touch.