The proper response to "you look too young to fly is"?

Being 22 and in charter, I get the 'you look too young to be a pilot' quite a bit. Usually just respond with thanks, and smile. Sometimes I wish it were socially acceptable to heckle them about their old age, or ask what they were doing at 22 years old.
 
As one that looked too young to fly for a period of time, just give it time because it's not permanent.

I spent most of my career with the "Damn, I got kids your age" and now, in my mid-40's, you become the old man/"Wow, did you fly the Convair when we had those?" with cat-like quickness.
 
RA390 said:
Being 22 and in charter, I get the 'you look too young to be a pilot' quite a bit. Usually just respond with thanks, and smile. Sometimes I wish it were socially acceptable to heckle them about their old age, or ask what they were doing at 22 years old.
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Ungh! (@Derg) I get that all the time. Shockingly enough, being 22 in charter, I get it less than when I was 19 at the airlines.
 
Soku39 said:
New airline pilot here, on IOE. I'm 26, but look a lot younger, so I get a lot of the too young to fly/be a pilot comments. Now I know there's an opportunity to inject some humor and wit here, but I can't quite figure out the right response. That said I'm sure ya'll have had the same thing and come up with good stuff over the years, so help me out!
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"Yeah, when the FAA finds out I used a fake ID, I'm so screwed."

"You're too stupid to be a passenger."
 
The awkward things corporate chief pilots say when they've been drinking.

Let's hashtag that!
 
Use it to your advantage. Tell them you're a virgin too.

male-virgin-2-e1394820182131.jpg
 
I actually had this conversation more with the FAs when I moved base. I actually had to get my passport out before one of them believed I was 30, not 23.

I take it as a compliment and make rubbish jokes about my boyish good looks. I did then start wearing my Navy Veteran tie clip to make a point though.
 
It's awkward because I occasionally have a TSA lacky make a comment about me looking young when I go through KCM. I'm just glad I have a baby face and only have to shave on day 1 and 4!
 
Last time someone said that to me I replied "that is incredibly rude".

Was there a better way? Perhaps, but it is rude and it gets old.
 
Retired in SAN said:
Wait till you're on the other side of the age problem when it becomes a real issue called discrimination. A lot easier to have a job and have people poking fun at you than out of work not being able to prove whether it's discrimination or not.
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My dad is/was considered a genius due to test scores. Graduated high school at 14/15 with AP honors(don't know exactly what they called it back then). Got his Masters by 22. Worked for a company for over 20 years and decided to start his own business. It didn't work out and now he drives a cab and teaches SAT prep for underprivileged kids in NYC. Can't get an interview anywhere to save his life.
 
Just tell them there are no shortcuts.

I looked younger than my age and was younger than my peers in school and thereafter. I graduated from high school at 16 and graduated from college before my 21st birthday.
 
Soku39 said:
New airline pilot here, on IOE. I'm 26, but look a lot younger, so I get a lot of the too young to fly/be a pilot comments. Now I know there's an opportunity to inject some humor and wit here, but I can't quite figure out the right response. That said I'm sure ya'll have had the same thing and come up with good stuff over the years, so help me out!
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"Thank you."

:<

I never hear that anymore.

-Fox
 
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