That paradigm comes from a time when the majors weren't hiring, and were in fact furloughing. The company used to crow about having 4000 viable applications to chose from, now having a pulse is qualification enough. I have flown with many guys new and senior who belonged in the position, but I have also flown as of late, too many who did not. The pool is dry, the funny thing is,the very things that would attract more people into the job, money and QOL are the very things they are cutting. After first year, second year is the same as 10 years ago when the 4000 choices were available. Can't fix stupid.
BTW, the people boarding my plane(in a specific paint scheme), bought their tickets on mainline.com and are reading mainline magazine from the seat back pocket, they boarded a mainline jetbridge, by mainline gate agents and the ticket counter was staffed by mainline employees, the planes are catered by companies contracted to serve mainline food and beverages. We aren't mainline in pay, workrules and employer(who contracts with mainline). So I will beg to differ on the mainline status from a practical point.