My company doesn't hire S/O's or F/O's. They screen, interview, and HIRE Captains. Those new hires must wait for that oportunity however. I think most of you must be assuming that an airline is manned with right seaters that are there only to be rescued that that wise old sage to the left. Simply not so. And to have someone slide in line in front of you in line would have disasterous results on moral. There have been wars over merger integration issues in the past, can you just imagine the results given an ongoing integration. It would also reward those that have made poorer or "less visioned" choices in their employment history.
My two cents
[ 16 July 2001: Message edited by: Brad737 ]