Stampe a good point succinctly put....you are absolutely spot on with regard to seniority and age being fundamentally different things....As an airline Manager myself (customer services) I can understand your jaundiced view....but please bear in mind that in this legislation crazed world...UK, EU and who knows what else to come....keeping up with every change is a full time job...and the rules are not always expressed in a language readily understood by anyone who is not a lawyer or legislator!