What criteria do the major airlines look for when hiring a pilot? What
determines the type of aircraft a new pilot will be assigned to and
the city they fly out of? What does the application process entail
(including time from application to the date-of-hire?

*What criteria do the major airlines look for when hiring a pilot? 

Commonly the minimum requiremnts are:
1) U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. 
2) 2,000 hours or more pilot time in fixed wing aircraft, with many
requiring PIC turbine experience of 1,000 hours. (These are minimums.
Competative hours are often far greater.)
3) A current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate. 
4) Authorization to work in the United States.
5) A valid United States Driver's License.
6) Graduation from accredited, four-year college preferred.

*What determines the type of aircraft a new pilot will be assigned to and
the city they fly out of? 

The pilots seniority. The first day of class the available equipment
and domiciles are posted. Pilots in each class pick what they want
based on their seniority in class. The last person gets the last
choice. Seniority is often determined by the oldest to youngest in the
class. Some airlines use the last 4 numbers of the SSN, the smallest
being the most senior.


*What does the application process entail (including time from
application to the date-of-hire?

This varies by airline greatly. To see the gouge on each airline
hiring and interview process, visit http://www.aviationinterviews.com
or http://www.willflyforfood.cc/

Applicants & interviewees posting on those sites also list their
flight experience so you vcan see what kind of flight tiems are
getting called for the interview.

THANKS for your help. How do the airlines view fighter time/military
training? Also, you mentioned seniority w/ reference to age/SSN. Is
that, no kidding, how it generally works? I was under the impression
that seniority = time w/ the company and time in specific equipment.
If it is age-related, are the domiciles and equipment for newbies to
the company less desirable ones or is there a chance of getting a good
piece of equipment (sts!) and city/route right out of the gate? Thanks
for your time!