Best Age to a Major
 

Hello Everyone:

My first thread start, so pardon if it's a bad one ... Young Pilot here, always thinking about the future as a Pilot. So, I was wondering what's the ideal/realistic age (in a perfect world) to a make it to a Major? Or, if you are one who is already at a Major, what age did you make it in? I know several factors can affect when one makes it in and there is no hard number regarding age, but I was curious as to what the average is.

Please no negative comments about "getting out while you're still young" or anything along those lines ... I'm in it for the long haul.

Thanks in advance for the responses, I appreciate it.

I made it to DAL in 2001 at 29.

IMO, there is no "best age". If you want to be a major airline pilot, the "best age" is whenever you get hired. Obviously the earlier the better. In 2001, the average age in my class was around 38 I recall. Most of the military guys were older, civilians tended to be younger. I have no idea what the breakdown is now. I think the kids in high school or early college will be golden. They will be getting to their time in about 5-8 more years when the retirements will fully kick in. It is conceivable that guys will be hired and be Captains in a few years after that. DAL will lose 800 guys alone during the peak retirement years and that assumes no medical outs and guys go to 65. Any alterations and the numbers will go up.

I made it to Alaska (for the first time) in 2007, age 25...

Still waiting on the second time...

Ideal age - the youngest they will hire anyone at and I think that is 21 or 23.

Realistic age - really depends on lots of factors with timing, connections and luck being the best ones to have on your side. That being said I'd say late 20's to late 30's.

Average age - last I heard mid 30's

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Eric Stratton is right....the younger the better. Seniority is everything. I was on track to be at a major at the age of 28 and then 9-11 happened. I'm 37 now and enjoying life at a major. My class had some guys in their mid 40's. Heck, you could get hired at 50 and still have a good career. If your 50 and live in base, who cares if your on reserve. You may never be a senior widebody captain but there is nothing wrong with being a senior FO.

What ever your age is make sure you do something fun in terms of full time flying before you get to a major. It will be all slow and boring for the most part from that point on.

I got hired at 32 and I would never trade any of my experiences prior to Delta.

I agree completely! I hope you have a long and fruitful career.
fbh

mid 30's. So many factors outside age though. Talk to a guy that got hired at 35 at fedex, sw, united airways, etc. that is now 50? You will get a lot of answers. Luck, timing, and networking

I'm on track and shooting for being at a major by the time I'm 30. That's the best case plan... I have 5 years to make it happen. Ideally I'd like to be there by age 35 at the latest, but anything can happen. I'll just be happy to make it there no matter what age it happens to occur (if it even does) :D .

My new hire class at DAL had a guy that was 26 and a guy that was 57. Most guys were in mid 30's to mid 40's.