It’s hard to say and speculate why, mostly because people for the most part are very private when it comes to their situation..maybe it was excessive training failures, DUI, or lack of a degree..unless you know someone very well, they won’t give out that info. Also it seems like the guys over 35 do not want to go to an LCC and are holding out for a legacy only which narrows their options obviously.

I would say most of the people I fly with have had their apps out a long time but for one reason or the other they never get a call for an interview and don’t understand why. Even some cka with 15 years of experience and a degree don’t get calls-luck of the draw I’d say. Some of them are older and I personally believe that’s what’s holding some back. It never sits well with them when they hear a 23-25 year old gets hired before them.

Here are the top reasons I’d say in order:

1. Don’t want to commute-like their regional base/stay for family situation

2. Have experience. Don’t get a call and have no idea why

3. Lack of flight experience, no calls.

4. No degree

5. Training failures with lack of ambition/volunteering to make up for it or they burned too many bridges.

6. DUI, arrests, all of that kind of stuff.

I think number 6 is by far the smallest in the mix. Of course personality trumps all of this if you get the interview-so it could be that as well.

It’s extremely compitive out there, if you want to move on you really need to find a way to stand out, simple as that