It is a combination of both. DAL has thousands of applications on file. Last week I heard 9000 from someone who is involved with the process. I have also seen the 10-12K number thrown around on this and other forums - the exact number is not important.

The take-away is here is that there are thousands of applications waiting to be reviewed. DAL will review applications and break them into three groups ranked from most qualified to least qualified. Right now DAL is interviewing from the most qualified pile. At some future time they may start interviewing from the next most qualified pool.

A recommendation from a DAL Pilot will only ensure that your application is ranked. Once it is ranked it depends on how it was scored. If it ends up in the most competitive pool of applications you willed be called sooner than if it was in the next competitive pool of applications.

To sum it up. Thousands of application on file. A DAL recommendation will get your application pulled out and ranked. How soon you get called depends on how your application was ranked. I don't believe that a DAL recommendation will improve your ranking, but am not 100% positive about that.


Good luck guys.

Scoop