And they will probably give him the same advise.
PIC hours are valuable, even if he decides to join EK in a few years after getting his command. They will be even more valuable if he decides to leave EK, like so many pilots have already done, including me.

If he’s close to an upgrade, turning it down now is not the best option. If he’s not close to an upgrade, and he wants a change in career for whatever reason, EK might be an option. I never regretted going to EK, it gave me some valuable experience on my CV, but I don’t regret leaving either.

Thats it .. everybody’s interested when you had been working for EK. I don’t understand why ... ! EK does some things good and in some things they are behind the industries standards. That’s it.

I'll try and give you a balanced view according to my limited 17 years in this business.

A320 PIC....right now I dont think there is a more valuable position you can be in. The 737 is a close 2nd and I'll bet the A220 will soon gain huge popularity and challenge both of those I previously mentioned. Being a Captain for any airline is challenging and you remain ultimately where the buck stops, and rightly so, since any manager will expect that with the paycheck it comes with.

A380 EK FO.....again right now I don't think there is an easier position to be in at EK. I emphasize that is it "right now", because having been working here for 11 years, I have seen it changed from fleet to fleet and position to position numerous times. With A330s coming back in 2021 and depending how they will man the 777x next year, it remains anyone's guess what fleet will enjoy the best lifestyle going forward a few years, and upgrades will depend greatly on that. There is no such thing as total job security, but in my time here, not once have I worried about my job nor not got paid on time.

Contrarily to what some people believe; bankruptcies, furloughs, secondments, fleet reductions etc. will NEVER disappear! In fact, the last 12 months have seen these very issues return after a reletive lengthy calm. As others have mentioned, its all about the end game; no one can determine where, what, how you live your life better than these kind of decisions you have to make. The honeymoon might be soon over again as global economies' growth certainly show signs of slowing, so the successful question will be how best you suit yourself for those times.

Thats one way of looking it. Thank you for the valuable input. :)

Unless you want to print money in the far east or trade your life for money in the Locos, NEVER become a narrow body captain.

1. You'll fly to all the ****ty destinations, bad atc, wx.
2. You'll fly 100 plus hours of turns and nights month after month.
3. Your contracts will keep changing.
4.then finally the ever lasting risk that you'll become an FO again.

If you are going to stay In EU, upgrading would be the best choice as others have said .

If you are unhappy, and want to move some where else, especially in the ME, getting into a wide body rhs as soon as you can, would be your best choice. You and your family will be much happier.

Another thing to consider. How many times has your company given you a pay rise in the last, say, 4 years?