All great information. I would think that if you were inclined to get homesick for the US, getting a slot on the 777 fleet would be helpful because you would have a decent chance of hitting NYC, LA, SFO and Houston every now and then. Those LA and SFO flights are super-long back breakers but at least you get a taste of Americana during your layover.
What is the Airbus fleet (I presume you start on the A330 and then add the A340 designation after a set time period with A380 a long time from starting) like in terms of layovers and fun destinations?
I am not trying to be flip, I just know that I would probably want to see the US here and there if I qualified (not yet) and someday made the move to Dubai. Are the Airbus pilots given a pretty good selection of destinations/layovers or are you spending a lot of your time in potentially "hostile" and less enjoyable environs (i.e., Pakistan, India, Iran, Libya, etc.)? No flame here - just curious.