Hugmonster - the reason is that at the moment there are too many qualified pilots around. My solution to this, given that I don't have the hours to get a job in the climate, is to work elsewhere until the climate improves. Other peoples' solutions ae to get the hours where they can. They are not actually working for free from their own point of view as always having paid for flying, just from yours as a sometime paid pilot. The experience they are acquiring would cost them a fortune. Even to barely keep the licences up costs a huge amount, at least in the UK.. .. .In fact historically this is a very common way of gaining employment in any over-subscribed profession. Apparently it is still almost impossible to start any career in the BBC without some unpaid work as an intern/student first. Historically apprenticeships were unpaid, though living space and food were provided.. .. .Oh, and on your final point is irrelevant. It would not happen under the current system. The only first officers experienced enough for most airlines to promote to captain would not do so. We are considering a real situation that has occured, not a hypothetical one. It does bring up the issue that of course the seniority system should be dismantled.. .. .Amex, these people are still learning their job (I assume the ATPLs are frozen like my own), as am I though I probably have more hours than they do. See my above points about the value to them.. .. .Jabewar - you clearly didn't even bother to read the sentence of mine that you quoted, and just made up an interpretation that cannot possibly be put on it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> I am confused as to why you did so. It makes for a completely meaningless debate if you answer a point I did not make.. .. .Do you think that PPL flying instructors are selling self-respect for a job? Many do not get paid at all, others so little that the combined value they are getting between pay and logged hours is less than the value of the logged hours these pilots are getting. However they love the job and they gain the experience needed to get a good job later.