Thats the thing though; the 7ER of 2014 isn't the 7ER from 2007. It is a permanently shrinking fleet of mostly domestic, including red eyes, with lots of horrible malaria belt international. Yes there is the Paris-First Class-International trips embedded in there, but at your seniority level they are a pipe dream, big time. You will occasionally get one, but rarely. Just as you get close, guys will pile in on top of your number pushing you down for a long time. Additionally you face a pretty good chance of being forced to do 2 major training events in your probation year.

And all for what? A couple of good TOE trips plus the occasional reserve lottery win just to see if you like it? Unless you're in your 60's when you get hired, premium international will be available for you for most of your career when you can do what you want, when you want, on your terms. What's the rush, and what's the appeal of being junior in a mostly domestic category with very slow relative advancement and a high chance of displacement just to say you fly "international"?

If the positions go to new hires, someone has to do it, so I get that. And there may be cases of someone being able to be based at home or a much better commute on the ER versus another plane. But there is a reason why the plug positions on a plane that far up the ladder is forced to new hire class drops. Because in most cases it sucks and sucks big time. Beware and bid accordingly. This is not your father's ER anymore (old commercial reference, not talking about your actual father).