Originally Posted by
Point85ToTheFix
You guys are asking the wrong question here. It's not about what number you will retire that doesn't matter so much its all about how quickly you will move up. Maybe you can be the top dog at one airline for a single day before you retire. Our would you rather spend 25 years in the top 25% globally? This is what actually changes your lifestyle. Being in the top 1000 doesn't matter if you're not there until 64.
Exactly. The average seniority is what produces the most value for one's career. Maybe the best analysis would be to compare average seniority in 5 year blocks? 0-5 yrs to retirement, 6-10 yrs to retirement, etc. Also what does that seniority hold? Buddy's been flying turns on the n/b for a decade? The other details don't matter- he lives close to the airport and can fly turns every month on any day he wants. Jump-seated with a super senior AA guy out of DFW. PHX turn. Afternoon departure, home for a late dinner. No alarm clocks, can do whatever he wants that morning, golf, gym, tennis, yardwork, etc, spends about 7 hrs at work, and has a later dinner. He just didn't see the value of doing 8-14 hr flights for a 23% pay bump.
Also what you do with that seniority matters. That's where individual choice comes into play. AA, and others, have Captains in their 20's. Youngest at AA is 25. Even if he's the plug for 5 years spending 40 years as a Captain at a Big 3 airline has value beyond what most people would assign to someone that chooses to be a n/b FO for 40 years.