Blueonblue is speaking out his arse.
I had 17 years wide body experience before joining; yet I, along with everyone else waited two years to be PIC.
I also did a 24 hour duty last week that destroyed me.
I also fly against my body clock doing fatiguing domestic in between a layover in China, not having slept a wink the night before due to time zone changes.
So to suggest fatigue is not an issue is just a lie.
Smoking is an issue. I've been smoked on repeatedly by the senior trainers and leaders as they chain smoke all the way to the glide slope, so you have no way to escape.
I also pay extra to stay in the Crowne Plaza to get some relief from the dump that is the pearl.
I've just done a 9 day trip to do the simulator - which involves sim sessions again at the other end of my body clock, and hours of pointless cbt and a pointless test. Luckily I didn't get a maniac instructor on this occasion - unlike the last time, which caused one senior captain to resign.
It would be nice to book a holiday to get away from it all. Oh wait, I can't book anything, because my leave is not confirmed until the end of the month before!!
The only reason anyone is here pure hard cash.