Originally Posted by
fenix1
Thanks to all for your thoughts/insight/perspective.
I'm white male and won't be getting on with a regional until my early 40's. (Again, no prior 121 or professional flying experience.)
I wonder if my age means that I should prioritize getting on with 1 of the 3 WO's? In other words, is 'automatic' flow my best bet of getting on with a major at an older age? Assuming comparable TT/TPIC/other individual attributes, won't a major - or even an LCC - want to get their hooks into someone younger than me who can provide more years of service?
If you're in your early 40s you'll still have 20+ years of availability to the airline. If you consider that if an airline is considering years of service they also would be considering retirement dates it really isn't a big factor. If everyone getting hired now is the same age then they'll run into another retirement boom at the same time in the future. Interspersing some older pilots into the mix does help with that somewhat.
In the past this may have been a factor but these days it isn't as much of one if at all. Just don't approach it like it is. Delta has hired people in their 50s in the past few years (and I think at least one that was 60 or approaching 60) and I'm sure if American hasn't off the street they've had flows approaching that age.
Remember that a flow may take you 10years, which just means 10 years less at the major, so even if you had a flow I would encourage being very active in the application pipeline. Don't discount the guaranteed interview programs either.