Seniority
Whats the big deal with seniority?
Well seniority is a big deal but it is important to understand how and why the
airlines use this system and what it means to you, a future airline pilot.
Everything at an airline with regards to pilot schedules, training dates,
upgrades, and vacation is awarded with respect to the pilot seniority system.
This means an airline pilot with 10 years of seniority gets to pick
vacation and schedules for work before a pilot with 1 year of seniority. This is
a very simple example so let’s see why this system is in place and some standard
rules for seniority accrual.
What Does Seniority Affect?
Being a senior pilot at an airline brings with it the benefit of improved
schedules or at least the opportunity to pick the schedule that best suits your
needs. What one pilot considers a great schedule may not be the same as others;
therefore the seniority system allows pilots with a greater amount of time at
the airline to pick schedules that better meet their preferences for a moth of
flying. Check out our Airline Pilot Life section to see how schedules work and
how they may differ.
Why Have a Seniority System?
Seniority Accrual
Here is a sample of the standard practice airlines use in determining pilot
seniority
The seniority of a pilot shall accrue from the pilot's first day of training by
the Company and shall continue to accrue thereafter during his period of service
with the Company, except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement.
When 2 or more pilots are placed on the Seniority List on the same date, their
names shall be placed according to their age; i.e., the older pilot shall
receive the lower number. When 2 or more pilots are placed on the Seniority List
on the same date and have the same birth date, their relative seniority position
shall be determined alphabetically by last name with the first letter of the
last name closest to "A" being more senior.
Except as otherwise provided for in most agreements, seniority shall govern each
pilot in case of promotion or demotion, filling of vacancies, his assignment or
reassignment due to expansion or reduction in schedules, his retention in case
of reduction in force and his reemployment after his release due to reduction in
force.
Once having established a seniority date and relative position on the Seniority
List, a pilot shall not lose that date and relative position, except as provided
in the pilots colective bargaining agreement.
A pilot whose employment with the Company is permanently severed shall forfeit
his seniority rights and that pilot's name shall be removed from the Seniority
List.
A pilot shall be on probation for the first 12 months of active service with the
Company.