Hey y'all,
Just looking for insight on what you think; when is a good time to start sending in applications to the legacy you'd want? I've been reading about the "scoring" taking place, but when is the best viable option?

To give you an insight: prior vet, no flying experience in the military though. masters candidate with a high GPA bachelors, and been at the airlines for about half a year with about a year to go until upgrade, but PIC time doesn't seem to be a factor.

Assuming you meet the published mins but are not in the competitive window yet...

Apply now to all of the upper-tier majors unless their geography would not work for you. You get extra credit at most for having had an active app for a longer period of time.

Caveat: You need to do all of those apps and then maintain them every month or two. So make sure you have time to do that, as well as attend job fairs (priority to any in-house job fairs you can get into). If you're busy with family, school, etc then only submit as many apps as you can maintain.

Get interview prep. Get LORs. Be ready. Mins are coming down, you don't know exactly when they'll reach you but might as well try to meet them in the middle, ie maximize your score.

In your shoes, assuming you're nowhere near 50, I would not necessarily apply to lower-tier majors just yet. They'll probably call you, and then you'd be stuck as an SIC for a while which would not help your progression to the bigs. But that's your call... bird in the hand vs. two in the bush.

Appreciate it. I'm 30 and single so not much to do haha. Do you prefer any specific person to look over a resume? Airline Apps review for Delta/UA and Pilot Credentials review for American? Specific interview prep after you get a call?

I had my buddies look over the resumes, but they were ex-mil legacy pilots.

I'd get the interview prep as soon as you're applying anywhere that you meet the mins. It would typically be hard to schedule interview prep at the last minute, plus you have other things to do after the phone rings. Do the anal pilot thing, make a checklist of EVERYTHING you'll need to have and need to do, and have as much of it already on the shelf as possible. The interviewer preppers will typically give you a "touch up" session once you actually get an interview.

Why do you ask about age? If the person was closer to 50 is it better to apply now or wait?


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An older pilot will not be a widebody CA. So it might make sense to go to a second tier airline now and settle in rather than wait a few years for legacy call that might never come.

Narrowbody rates are similar for first and second tier.

Thank you. That makes sense.


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My situation is similar. I was at a Regional for two years, where I upgraded to CA just before getting picked up by a C-17 Reserve Unit (on mil leave from the airline). I'll be off seasoning in a few months. It will be a challenge juggling two jobs of course, but I am thankful for both opportunities. I know my TPIC could use a boost, but I hear that some folks get hired with 0. Based on my stats, am I in the competitive window or on track to being hired at a Major? Thanks for the insight.

3300 TT, 1300 SIC, 0 TPIC, BS & MS honors, UPT DG, volunteer service, will attend job fairs and seek Letters of Rec ASAP, Emerald Coast prep, Checked and Set App review, 26 yrs old

0 TPIC, but lists position as CRJ "left"? How does that work, an upgrade without IOE?

I completed the simulator checkride one month before my OTS class date. Our check airmen were really busy at the time, and I didn't scheduled for IOE before leaving.