Not so . .some Captains stay in junior equipement -when they could be making more in wide bodies. I could have been #30 something in the DC-10 or A300 in MEM or about #19 in ANC in the MD. .but being #3 in the B-727, while about a $10,000/yr pay cut, made life VERY easy, as a commuter. People do the strangest things for quality of life.

Some guys only sit the minimum in a seat, as they are chasing the almighty dollar . . or their ego is writing checks thier pay rate can't sustain .

It is all an individual, personal choice, based upon whatever the person is dealing with at the time. Some folks don't enjoy going to the 'School House' -or exposing themselves to 'scrutiny' all that often . . it is bad enough to have to get the medical every 6 months and the Annual SIM and Checkride . .

Some, who aren't driven by the bigger pay check, will sit for a while in a seat and enjoy the ever increasing quality of life -being able to bid a better schedule provides. Some 'play the system' and won't bid on a certain System Bid because they will activate in the new seat before the annual Vacation Bid closes . . and they REALLY want Christmas off next year -and would not be able to do that at their new seniority.

Commuters tend to stay in a seat inordinately longer than those who live in Domicile, because the more senior you are as a commuter, the easier life is. OR. . the aircraft they operate flies out of thier home airport . .and the higher paying seat does not. 4700 pilots . . 4700 stories . . viva la difference. .it is a good thing that everyone does not want the same thing.