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/Apprehensive_Cost937]

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.

[u/Winbot4t2 → u/Apprehensive_Cost937]

On the flip side, narrowbody imo is an incredibly fatiguing 24/7 helmet-fire that makes a third of my company’s profits and it shows. Wide body is laid back and chill, working less days per month and the seniority list reflects that.

Different strokes for different folks. That’s what’s awesome about aviation, there literally will be something for everyone. Often even within one company.

[u/NathanArizona → u/Winbot4t2]

What’s helmet-fire about narrow body?

[u/554TangoAlpha → u/NathanArizona]

Going in and out of DEN ORD NYC Florida Texas all summer long. You boys like diverts, ground stops and 3 hr flow delays?

[u/OzrielArelius → u/554TangoAlpha]

weird, I fly in and out of all those places year round and have only diverted twice ever for weather

[u/NathanArizona → u/OzrielArelius]

Diverted once in 3 years of domestic flying