I'm seeing a lot of rationalization from posters like Fpmx, Learflyer and Da40 here. When you're using terms like "cheapest" and "easiest" rather than "best" or "most valuable", I think that says more about you than having or not having a degree. That was my point, in a nutshell.
And the argument that "it won't matter in a few years" is bogus as well. Because it matters NOW. And no one can say what the industry will look like in a few years. So ask yourself, where do you want to be when the music stops from the next worldwide socio-economic burp; on the leading edge of this current upswing, or the trailing edge?
Originally Posted by
Da40Pilot
I have a REALLY hard time believing your story, but even if this did happen, it won't make a difference because a degree is a degree and IF you're a white male like 95% of all airline pilots you are STILL going to be hired after the female FO with 1000 sic and the half samoan/half african american that may only come with an associate's degree.
Well believe it. I was asked the same or similar questions at two United meet and greets, a Spirit interview and a Delta interview. You must have better data points?
Originally Posted by
Da40Pilot
Point is, the old fart born in 1934 that wrote that stuff in red is going to retire too eventually, and the day will come (sooner than you think) when majors won't require the 4 year degree because they too will realize they won't be able to afford to be picky and/or weed out candidates by their degrees because they will need pilots and badly in the next 5-10 years.
American Airlines is already accepting flows with nothing but GEDs, hell, they even advertise it in writing, "flow to AA, no college degree required".
Work experience, life experience and a combination of total time in 121 should and will eventually become a more acceptable standard when you walk into an interview.
Remember when regionals were able to be super picky about who they hired and would only accept you with 3500 TT, a 4 year college degree and a min of 1000 hours of multi? What do you think will happen at the major level eventually?
What does "more acceptable standard" even mean?!
Seems like just more rationalization. The standards are dropping because they have to. It's not a choice airlines are making because they WANT to, it's just the only way they can get butts in seats with the downward wage pressure and miserable mess that has been created. Your argument is literally "Why waste your time becoming more competitive? Just give it some time and the bar will lower to my level." Again, in my opinion, this speaks more about your character than any degree or life experience you may have.