Originally Posted by
vectored
Not sure I track everything above but it seems like the consensus is that even if I pay a lawyer to expunge my juvenile record; the airlines may still find it somewhere in a search. Maybe I should just fess up and say I made 1 dumb mistake with some alcohol and marijuana as a 17 year old. I have a very clean record since then to include flying.
If I fess up on the conviction question during the application will I be flagged by the computer? Will it cause delays in my application? Will HR have to dig into my answer before I get an interview?
I think you definitely have to determine if you were convicted. Like I said, the FBI data can include arrests in addition to convictions.
If the app asks about convictions but not arrests, you don't want to report something which was not an actual conviction.
Checking any adverse box will likely delay your consideration for an interview, and I assume that eventually when you did float to the top of the stack they would have to manually consider your written explanation before granting an interview. All else equal, the computer will select someone with fewer adverse boxes checked.
Diversions, expungements, etc might be a grey area if it showed up in official records than an airline could see. I don't know the right answer there. In the case of minor youthful stuff, probably better to fess up and have a laugh about it at the interview than risk the suspicion of deceit. If you had a serious conviction that got expunged, might be better to try to stick to the letter of the law and not report it (be prepared to go to the mat in the civil courts if they fire you later).
Things that are pretty clear cut in normal private-sector employment can be grey with the airlines due to the security issues and the access they have (normal employers cannot routinely reference federal records about you).