I actively encourage any American pilot under age 40 to make the move to DAL when they start hiring. DAL made $1 billion last quarter; they have a very good contract now; and they will be hiring 500 pilots per year minimum for the next decade or more. I'd put a realistic upgrade time on narrow body equipment at DAL at around 7-10 years for an early 2013 hire. In that time one could easily fly widebody F.O. for many years. Not a bad living with their current pay scales.
If I was age 40 or under that is what I would do and for many of the reasons that JNS spells out. Even with only 25 years left one could have a very good career at DAL.
There are very few expat gigs that are good for the long term. When the growth stops at these places they will likely become miserable places to work. For now, with the explosive growth, they are exciting places to be.
We have over 300 Americans at Emirates. I wouldn't be surprised if at least 50-100 leave to go back to the States when the hiring starts.
Typhoonpilot