Airline Pilot Forums

I was just wondering if a bachelor's degree still holds the same weight as it used to; do legacy carriers still place as much importance as they once did? I know most include it as a 'preferred' requirement, but how much could having a 4-year degree tip the scale, so to speak? With the limited hiring that's currently taking place at the legacy level they're able to pick and choose the best candidates, but what happens when (if) the "flood gates open"? I could be wrong, but I almost get the feeling that someone with 2+ times the experience without a bachelors degree will go first. (Obviously both hypothetical candidates would have the minimums...1000 TPIC, etc).... Any thoughts?

The last time there was a big hiring boom across the board at all the legacy carriers (United, Delta, American, etc.), you would be hard pressed to find very many new hires without a degree. I won't say there weren't any, just very few. An applicant without a 4-year degree had very little chance of even getting an interview.

I would suggest that you get it if you don't have it already. It's all about what your competition have and you don't. If the other pilots have the dregree, which is a preferred qualification, it would greatly affect your chances for getting the job. If there will ever be a pilot shortage that you wish to wait for, then most with the degree would still get the job before you unless you have a strong internal rec.

Thanks for the responses; I can only hope. It just seems since the regionals are so backed up with guys with 5000+ TPIC just waiting to move on that employers might overlook the piece of paper. They could just choose the guys that have been in the left seat for 5-7+ years longer than someone that barely meets the minimum requirements and has 1000 turbine PIC.

I would add one more note to this question about degrees. I have an associates degree only, went up through the ranks at the airlines, skywest, then frontier, then netjets when frontier went bk. Now I'm furloughed from NetJets and very fortunate to have a good corporate flying job. However, I was recently diagnosed with a potential career ending heart disease I had no idea that I had. If this does end my flying career what then? If I want to do something outside of aviation I would more than likely need to go back to school. Believe me, more than anything I wish I had finished my bachelors degree so I could just go get a masters and not be looking at all the online degree programs in my mid 30's. Don't wait to get the degree, even if you have a job already take online classes or whatever it takes to get that piece of paper. You don't want to find yourself in my situation where I have a family to provide for and I am scrambling to get a degree. Also, consider a degree outside of aviation, that is practical, such as business, or finance....You never know when it might come in handy.

its as important as a condom on a prop date, you might be able to get by without it, but the risk your taking can never really be fixed if your wrong.

If it's in their hiring reqs, you have your answer.....

Even it the airline does not require a degree, your resume will probably be put into the "maybe we'll look at these later" stack without one.

I was just wondering if a bachelor's degree still holds the same weight as it used to; do legacy carriers still place as much importance as they once did? I know most include it as a 'preferred' requirement, but how much could having a 4-year degree tip the scale, so to speak? With the limited hiring that's currently taking place at the legacy level they're able to pick and choose the best candidates, but what happens when (if) the "flood gates open"? I could be wrong, but I almost get the feeling that someone with 2+ times the experience without a bachelors degree will go first. (Obviously both hypothetical candidates would have the minimums...1000 TPIC, etc).... Any thoughts?

Umm if you want to work for any major I would suggest you get it. I do have a friend I worked with as a mechanic at NW who was able to get a pilot slot in 1995 without one but like others have said an external candidate has virtually no chance of even an interview without a degree. Just too much competition out there with people who have a degree.

I'd guess that you are about 100 times less likely to get hired by a major without the degree. Still possible, but small odds.

If you like to play those odds (because a few will always pipe up about the guy who knows an ex-girlfriend's brother who got hired at a legacy without a degree back in the day), then I also encourage you to take all remaining savings and play the lottery as your one and only retirement plan; because I actually know someone who won a small lotto jackpot so I KNOW it is possible!

.....or.....you could get a degree on-line and check that block off the application and not have to worry about it holding you up and concentrate on other things that might help you get hired. Imo.

USMCFLYR

If you like to play those odds (because a few will always pipe up about the guy who knows an ex-girlfriend's brother who got hired at a legacy without a degree back in the day), then I also encourage you to take all remaining savings and play the lottery as your one and only retirement plan; because I actually know someone who won a small lotto jackpot so I KNOW it is possible!

.....or.....you could get a degree on-line and check that block off the application and not have to worry about it holding you up and concentrate on other things that might help you get hired. Imo.

USMCFLYR

I'm not sure if my question really warranted that response, but alright. I wasn't asking if I should or shouldn't get a bachelors, just wondering about the real impact it would have in applying. I already have bachelors degree, actually two, a double major with a minor. So I won't have any problem "checking that block off".

As for the other responses, I appreciate your comments. I keep talking to more and more guys that are more qualified, experience-wise than I am, that don't have a bachelors. It started making me wonder if it was worth it; but it is reassuring hearing legacy's still put a large emphasis on higher education.

Basically, if their mins show it as "preferred," they'll look at everyone with the preferred requirements before looking at those without, all else being equal.

Now if you have a good internal, or some other in, it won't matter. Basically, it will impede you from getting your resume looked at until after everyone who meets the preferred quals unless you have some connections.