Not really. The wait has been a long time for some pilots to upgrade… but ask TWA, US Air and Pan Am pilots how long they waited to upgrade at some points of their careers through various mergers and downturns.

20 years was nothing for those airlines; waiting as Second Officers…. First Officers.

How long did they keep their upgrade at those airlines before being downgraded back to FO? It happens so often at some airlines that their Union sought to get language in the contact to allow downgraded Captains the ability to wear three stripe epaulets with four stripe jackets.

Unpredictable? What’s unpredictable is how long a pilot has actually stayed a captain at the airlines once finally upgrading. NetJets Captains stay NetJets Captains.

No downgrades. Ever.

What’s predictable is the continued downward spiral 121 continues along as a regressive track since the destabilization of Deregulation.