Prior to JAN 2008 the only way to join CX as an FO was on the freighter, based outside HKG, and on a lower pay scale. This was essentially a compromise between the company and the AOA to bring all of the future pilot hiring under one seniority list and to stop the company from hiring/upgrading pilots to/on the ASL seniority list for the cargo ops. Now, they still will not hire DEFOs into HKG (for now) but there is no more a classification of freighter v. mainline FO, you are hired simply as an FO. Which means if you are hired on the -400 to LAX, you will fly both models of the -400 depending on your roster. If hired on the B777, you will obviously only fly PAX as we do not (yet) have 777Fs.

DEFOs are not going to LAX or SFO yet, word is LAX by the middle of the summer.

FO