Originally Posted by MikeF16

I also have zero insight into airline hiring, but I'd think any airline would prefer to hire employees that can only stay for 22 years instead of 42. Lets say a 43 year old shows up and makes captain in 10 years. That only leaves another 12 years prior to mandatory retirement as a high paid captain. Pretty sure the company makes their training money back on you in a couple years, so it would be highly desirable to have you work 12 of 22 years as a captain vs. 32 of 42 (assuming a 23 year old hire, I know, unlikely but mathematically possible).

That doesn't even consider how a junior FO/CPT will not be able to game the schedule and will have to actually fly to get paid vs. a senior pilot who can often bid to not fly and get paid. The 43 year old hire will spend the majority of his/her career as junior (unless they forego an upgrade) which IMO would make them desirable to hire.