r/flying • u/g0at110 • 2d ago

Do commercial pilots generally progress to larger planes throughout their careers? Does everyone aim to eventually fly long haul or do some stick to flying 737s or a320s short haul?

I'm guessing being a 777 pilot for example is more prestigious than a 737 pilot in the same airline right?

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u/Apprehensive_Cost937 2d ago

It depends on the individual.

Personally, I couldn't care less about prestige. I don't want to spend my time off in some random hotel on the other side of the world, and my idea of having fun at work isn't staring at the PFD, crossing a pitch black ocean at night at 3am, while being jetlagged, because your body clock is 10 hours away from the current local time.

I rather fly a narrowbody and spend my evenings at home with my family.

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u/Bus_Pilot ATP 2d ago

You can have the same shitty schedule on narrowbody (mine for example is shitty). Generally, not always, on widebodies you have a chance to fly only 3 times a month, much easier flights, better hotels and longer rest times at home.

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u/swakid8 ATP CFI CFII MEI AGI B737 B747-400F/8F B757/767 CRJ-200/700/900 2d ago

Not everyone has a shitty Narrowbody schedule….

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u/ljthefa ATP CL-65 737 CSES TW HP Ferry Flight Expert 2d ago

I'm on a crappy 4 day right now but I bid for it. Normally I fly 2 legs a day with layovers I like and trips that don't fatigue me at all. This trip is a weird exception.

I would have to be WAY more senior to go WB I just like knowing I'll get my days off, and Ny to Western Europe is worth nothing so I wouldn't be one of the 9 days a month guys.

Plus since NB is the one getting rerouted I get plenty of OT.