Originally Posted by
Ottopilot
I got hired at 40, so what? I'm happy. I can upgrade next year (200 numbers from CA on 737's). I'll retire a widebody CA easy. There are a lot of "doom and gloom" people on here who want someone to share their misery. Sure, not everyone can be hired at an airline. More pilots than jobs. I didn't give up and got hired by a major at 40. A 20 year career is not that bad, no matter when or what you upgrade and fly. 12 year FO widebody pay is not that bad to live on. I'm now on second year pay and make the same as a widebody FO that I made as a 9 year CA on an RJ. How can that be bad? For those who want to be airline pilots- do it. Don't listen to these losers who tell you to give up. Good luck.
You have to keep in mind that it will be difficult to replicate your situation in the future. Even at CAL things will be very different for those who get hired a year or two from now. What I was writing about was in regards to
average expectations as a new hire at the majors. Even at SWA things will be different for new hires in 2 to three years. By then most of the hiring boom will be over and upgrades will slow to a trickle.
We are all still happy and proud of you though.
SKyHigh