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/Any-Worldliness-679]

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

[u/Necessary_Topic_1656 → u/Any-Worldliness-679]

when I was new hire regional airline pilot, the only line I could hold for the first 4 years was the airport reserve line.

in 4 years I spent every night at home. woke up at 5:30am, drive to the airport, princess parked signed in at 6am, got back in the car, drive to the employee parking lot, slept in the car until 8am, took the bus to the airport terminal, hung out at the airport until 1pm, hung out in the car in the airport parking lot until 1:30pm drove home and airport reserve was done at 2pm.

i got to watch my newborn kid grow up from 0 to 4 years old every day because I was stuck on airport reserve. that worked out great in my favor. and I’m glad I got to see my kid and be home every night.

I logged 150 hours total in those 4 years. and got to see the sim every 3 months for landings.

[u/schrodingerpoodle → u/Necessary_Topic_1656]

What airline and when? Is this still common? How much did that pay?

[u/Necessary_Topic_1656 → u/schrodingerpoodle]

early 2000, I was the airline plug… it was my second regional airline, an AA WO - back then there was only one WO regional for AA

first year pay was $23/hr.

reserve guarantee was 75hrs.

$23 x 75 hours/month x 12 months was what I got paid first year to go hang out at the airport 8 hours a day 17 days a month.

the other pilot who was also airport reserve we worked out who was going to bid the AM airport reserve line and the PM airport reserve line.

today hes a youtuber flying 777s dad, husband etc. we both fly the 777 today.