Nope. Preferential hiring is just that...preferential. The two guys I know that just got hired were ANC based, local boys with other airlines. They interviewed and got hired for the next class...747s in ANC.

In the mean time there were guys in the pool before them. They were bang, bang ups and gone to MIA for training. That's preferential hiring. Its because the airline knew they were ANC residents and would most likely be staying in ANC, a base they have trouble staffing.