You're correct. The 25 recommendation letters was set forth as a point of humor. The utmost cockpit humor was when I rode the jump seat on a DAL 747 in the mid 70's. I was working for another carrier, got the cold shoulder from the 3 crew members, but I had to listen to that former C&S Captain (ORD) complain about how he got screwed on the seniority integration...over 4 hours from ATL-LAX. I am guessing that he got stove piped. I am still laughing about how upset he was.