Newbie Airline Pilot Career & Seniority Question.

Dear all,

I'm interested in perhaps entering flight training to be a pilot.

Couple of quick questions.

Are all airlines based on the seniority system, even in Europe?

Are there any exceptions to this system?

Does this basically mean that its impossible to move around companies,
and
you are basically stuck with one for life?

If this is true, how come there are some pilots who are able to move
around
even later in their career? This must mean some airlines don't operate
on
that system, yes?

Thanks
A.D

Originally Posted by EFIS2

Are all airlines based on the seniority system, even in Europe?
Are there any exceptions to this system?

I believe so. I have worked in the industry for 17 years and I have never heard of any airline that doesn't operate on this system.

Originally Posted by EFIS2

Does this basically mean that its impossible to move around companies and you are basically stuck with one for life?

It's not 'impossible' to move but you must be prepared to start over again at the bottom elsewhere.

Originally Posted by EFIS2

If this is true, how come there are some pilots who are able to move around even later in their career? This must mean some airlines don't operate on that system, yes?

No, it doesn't. They give up their seniority when they leave and must start over. Everyone knows that's how it goes. Pilots most often make the jump from one carrier to the next when it's a career move 'up'. A major carrier from a regional or to fly bigger equipment or for better pay. The majority of pilots that start at a regional one day hope to quit and move on to a major. Occasionally there are some that chose to go to a smaller carrier or regional as they have a better quality of life even if they make less money or fly smaller a/c. In a post 9/11 environment the airline business has fallen on hard times. Many pilots have gone through not one but several carriers. My original flight instructor was hired by Ozark Airlines. They were bought by TWA, who was later bought by American. There are pilots he worked with at TWA that went through a few airlines just to get to TWA. Then when AA bought them they were furloughed and looking for work again. Some have gone on to work for other larger or major carriers. A few have had to go back to the regionals just to stay employed as a pilot. Some have left the industry entirely. A fellow crewmember knows a guy who was laid off by American. Instead of starting over again he bought a carwash and now runs his own business and is no longer an airline pilot.

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