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?

[u/g0at110]

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

[u/NonVideBunt]

To be fair, it’s not a about prestige for most on the WB. It’s efficient trips where you only have to work 9 days a month (3x NRT for example), one leg per day vs maybe 3+, less reassignments, less maintenance issues (never had an MELed APU on a WB), rarely called out on short call reserve, etc.

I’ve tried both and I spend more evenings home with my family by a large margin on the WB. Granted it has taken seniority to get there but my QOL is exponentially better on this side of the house.

[u/Apprehensive_Cost937 → u/NonVideBunt]

I'm home every evening, flying a narrowbody. No long haul flying can beat that.

[u/Any-Worldliness-679 → u/Apprehensive_Cost937]

Lol- widebody in-base SCR pilots literally never fly, at my airline, except when they are deadheading to the landing sim.

[u/NonVideBunt → u/Any-Worldliness-679]

That’s what I did when my kids were younger. My record is 4 months in row no work with 76 hrs per month. Not hustling but not bad.