I am a 50 year old ATP pilot with approximately 4000 hours and 250 multi engine time in a small 135 operation. I have been told that if I want to go 121 airlines, the time has passed, and a regional captain will be the most my career will ever go. Checking if anyone out here has firsthand knowledge of any pilots my age making it to the the middle tier airlines (Spirit, Frontier, etc) or even the majors? Not looking for the one unicorn that managed to make it through because they knew somoene, but wondering if it is plausible that a few older regional captains are making it through on a flow or total time?

I don’t think being 50 would keep you from being hired. There are no guarantees but why not go to the regionals and keep applying?

When I went through JetBlue Indoc a few years ago, a fellow in the class ahead of me was, I believe, 57. He told me at the interview he asked, “Well why would you hire me (regarding his age)? ” The hiring people replied, “Well, we know you’re not going anywhere” This guy had 25+ years of regional time.

I also flew with a CA this summer who was hired when he was about 50. I’d bet his time was similar to yours as he was a late starter in the career. I do believe he did a short stint at a regional before coming here. I should also mention he was successful in his first career and I’d imagine that weighed favorably.

Both these guys were super cool cats…best of luck to you.

Your age is irrelevant.

Your low multi time would limit you to the regionals at the moment.

No longer the case.

You won't be getting hired out of the right seat of an RJ with 1000 121 because you're not hip, tech savvy, and in tune with modern society (ie young), but if you upgrade fast and pile on the 121 PIC you'll likely get called around 6K TT and 2K TPIC, maybe sooner.

You'll want to hit the job fairs and do all that. In fact you'd probably get preferential hiring at a second-tier/LCC because they know you won't leave for DAL in two years.

If you get in before 55 it will be well worth it.

All wrong.
Definitely possible. More possible if you have recently shown you can pass a type ride/training program. Even more possible if you show your face at some sort of recruiting event with lots of enthusiasm.

50 year olds at regionals who have done nothing by fly their line for 20 years... that’s a totally different story. (And I’m NOT saying they shouldn’t be hired.)

A couple good post here on hiring “successful” individuals. The great jobs, especially legacies, look to hire people with records of successful performance—PIC time, but also records of career progression, assumption of greater responsibility, college completion within reasonable time and GPA, outside interests including volunteer work. Trying to min run life doesn’t cut it.

GF

Southwest will hire older guys. I know of a couple mid 50s and a couple mid 40s that were hired in the last several years. They all had decades of 121 experience though...

You can absolutely forget about Delta.

Airlines are looking for the right candidate, not the right age. I hired a pilot who was 62 at my major. Solid dude with a great history. He got to retire on top (albeit at the bottom) , which was a win for all.