Does credit score matter?
 

How hard to employers look at credit score when applying for employment as a pilot?

Depends I think on state law. Some allow that, some don't.

Regionals and some majors probably don't bother. Better majors probably do look at that (if state law permits).

Credit checks are becoming much more common for things well outside of actual credit. Insurance is a example. The rules are pretty simple for preemployment checks. Note the last requirement.

Employers may run a credit check for the following purposes:

• Verifying your identity
• Confirming your previous employment and experience
• Assessing your ability to handle money
• Evaluating your financial and personal stability

Background checks for employment often include checking the candidate’s credit history, as well as their criminal record and other public records. However, a potential employer must always obtain your written permission and authorization before it can perform a credit check.

Here are the states that have restrictions or a ban on credit checks.

• California – Cal. Labor Code § 1024.5 et seq.
• Oregon – Ore. Rev. Stat. § 659A.320
• Washington – Wash. Rev. Code § 19.182.020
• Nevada – NRS § 613.570
• Colorado – § 8-2-126, C.R.S.
• Illinois – 820 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 70/1 to 70/30
• Vermont – Vermont Act No. 154
• Connecticut – Conn. Pub. Act No. 11-223
• Maryland – Md. Code Ann., Labor & Empl. Law § 3-711
• Hawaii – Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 378-2.7, 378-2(8)

While the restrictions in these states vary, they restrict the use of credit checks by employers in specific occupations or for positions that deal with confidential information or financial transactions.

Did you just file bankruptcy? Quite a few pilots have them from the lost decade and previous downturns but most of those will have already disappeared from credit reports. Credit checks seem to be a part of background checks at the big 3 but unless you have negative events which are very recent I don't think they amount to much.

The irony of legacy airlines looking negatively at bankruptcies.

It's not like they have any shame.

Would this be based on 1) the state where the airline is HQ, 2) the state of your domicile, or 3) The state of your residence?

1000% RIGHT ON!

Yeah, that's hilarious.

So true..

Obviousl there are more then the below, but I never expeected to find Delta in the list..

• ATA Airlines (2008)
• Skybus Airlines (2008)
• Aloha Airlines (2008)
• Independence Air (2006)
• Frontier Airlines (2008)
• Delta Air Lines (2005)