Don't know how I stumbled into this forum, but FWIW, I ramped for NW after college in '90 when things were pretty slow and 250 hrs didn't get your foot in the door on a CFI job. Used the non-rev bennies to fly around and look for jobs, with the complete consent and encouragement of my manager.

9 years later at the NW interview, the HR lady had my whole file sitting there and told me flat out that from her perspective, the ramp job made me a "shoo-in". Still had to impress the other two active pilots, but I did get the job, and they even gave me my old clock number back, confusing all my classmates.

I don't think it will buy the airline pilot job, but it definitely helped in my case. Above all, be above board in your intentions; my ramp chief was one of the first ones to shake my hand when I landed at my old station 10 years after giving my notice as a ramper.

Remember that the toes you step on today might be attached to the a$$ you have to kiss tomorrow.

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