Originally Posted by
ToiletDuck
I don't agree with the notion that it was harder to get jobs in the past. It just depends on when you're talking about. I've met TONS of guy at AMR, DAL, and CAL that started there in their early 20's. If anything I'd say the industry as a whole is much harder to progress in now. Before it was more like Mexico where you are either rich or poor. There was no middle class. The regionals introduced that.
I would say that Low Cost Carriers are becoming the new middle class and regionals are becoming the lower class.
In the past if you had not made it to a major by 30 years old then you were out of luck. It seems much more merciful than what we have today. By 30 you knew if you would make it or not while you were still young enough to start over.
Pilots today can hang on long after it is too late to be able to do anything to save yourself. I have friends who are miserable at the regionals who are in their 40's and are still hoping for a miracle.
Skyhigh