Originally Posted by
tailwheel48
I will reiterate, having a degree looks great on the resume if you're applying to a US airline. But it doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you're applying for a foreign airline.
After Vietnam, you couldn't get hired by a US Major without a Masters Degree, 20/20 vision and a whole host of other long-forgotten but ridiculous criteria. Simply because there were way more applicants than vacancies.
If I were advising someone about getting hired, I would absolutely recommend getting a degree. But, for someone with limited resources, I would suggest getting the ratings first and the education later.
I think your advice of ratings first then education is questionable and I respectfully disagree. All of my friends that took your advised approach are all fighting to get called by anyone besides Spirit or Frontier. Then there are those that are finally stepping up to do the 4 year. Many often started flying while I was still in college.
Now I am closing in on 2 years at United and they have another 14-16 months of online college to balance between flying and home life. I'm glad I knocked mine out while I was young, single and didn't have to work a grueling 90 hour line at a regional. That's my story and I know it's not a one size fits all, but food for thought for anyone still young and debating how to get hired with a legacy airline.