Originally Posted by BoeingBoy

As it happens, coach is right. Due primarily 2 bankruptcies and the downsizing that accompanied them, the average US (East) pilot has more years experience than the average pilot at other carriers. As recently as 2007, the most junior active pilot had 18 years with US - enough time with any other big U.S. carrier to be a captain, possibly on widebodies. With the recalls in 2007/2008 the average has come down slightly but most of those recalled were flying somewhere else during their furlough.

Having said that, I've never had qualms about getting on an airliner operated by AA, CO, DL, etc. We're all trained to the same FAA standards so the range of performance variations is small.