Your nearly in the right forum ''questions'' so ask away.
Back in my early days, I joined the local RAF Air Training Cadets, they gave me a really good insight into aviation, and most years we got a couple of trips in Chipmunks. I don't know if they still do this but it's worth a look. Also you may try writing to some aeroclubs, go and have a chat with the resident Flying instructors, some of them may and do hold airline jobs as well as instructing aspiring pilots.