Do pilots get to choose where they fly?

Airplane pilots have a great deal of autonomy when it comes to choosing their destination. While they may be assigned certain routes or flights, the pilot ultimately has the final say in where they fly. Pilots can also choose to take on additional flights that are not part of their regular schedule if they wish.



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A pilot's schedule is based on a monthly bidding system. Each month, the airline publishes all the routes and schedules they have for the following month. Each pilot goes into the bidding system and bids for their routes, or lines, in order of preference.

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Nearly all airlines have trips that do not get you back to your home every day. Pilots “lay over” in other cities and are provided per diem and a hotel for the time they are there. It is a great opportunity to see a place you may never have been, enjoy time with your crew, and rest for the next day of flying.

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Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

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This benefit varies from airline to airline. Family members may fly free when space is available or at discounted rates. Flying stand-by is a common benefit, but it can be challenging when there is a group. Some airlines provide “buddy passes” to pilots to share with friends and families.

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Yes, the airlines know they have married couples in their cockpits and they're okay with it.

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Section 44902(b) of the FAA, known as “permissive refusal,” provides pilots with broad authority to remove passengers. The pilot in command stands in the role of the air carrier and can decide whether to remove a passenger from a flight for safety reasons.

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Fatigue is particularly prevalent among pilots because of unpredictable work hours, long duty periods, circadian disruption, and insufficient sleep. These factors can occur together to produce a combination of sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm effects, and 'time-on task' fatigue.

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Pilots have variable work schedules that may include several days of work followed by some days off. Airline pilots may spend several nights a week away from home because flight assignments often involve overnight layovers.

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The amount of time spent away from home depends on a crew member's seniority, preferences, and aircraft. The most labor-intensive schedule might place a pilot out of base for 12-15 nights in a month. An entire month's schedule for a line holder commonly includes four 4-day trips.

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Some airlines compensate pilots for significantly long times between flights (usually two hours or more), but this time is only partially paid. The 30-45 minutes spent in the cockpit prior to push is not usually paid, which has a significant effect on the overall pay of pilots who operate short flights.

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Flight instructors and pilots who fly short-haul domestic flights are able to be home every night more or less; however, airline pilots who fly longer routes are unable to go home every night and can be away from home for up to two weeks at a time.

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An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Chronic levels of stress can negatively impact one's health, job performance and cognitive functioning.

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When you work as a commercial airline pilot, you can look forward to having one of the best jobs in the world while enjoying the following benefits.
  • Travel the World. ...
  • Unbeatable Views. ...
  • Travel Discounts for Family and Friends. ...
  • Job Satisfaction. ...
  • Work Stays at Work. ...
  • Flex Schedule. ...
  • Challenging. ...
  • Meet New People.


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It can be very tough on family life. The universe has a way of making all the bad things happen while you are away on a trip. Car breaks down, plumbing gets clogged, kid gets sick on a day your spouse has an important meeting. It never happens when you are home, only when you are away.

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Being a pilot can be stressful at times. It requires immense concentration, quick decision-making, and a lot of patience. A pilot is responsible for the well-being of all crew members and passengers on board, and they sometimes have to fly under unpredictable conditions.

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