Originally Posted by BeardedFlyer

I went over the exact same question for months. What I decided on was AMF and here is why:

The toughest minimum to meet for the majors is the twin turbine PIC. Regarding who will be hired at a major first, a 121 CRJ Capt vs. a 135 AMF capt, it's not a black and white answer. A 135 guy with internal recs has a very good chance of being hired over a 121 guy with no connections. Everything else being equal, the 121 Capt will probably get the job but he had to sit there for half a decade or more waiting to upgrade while the AMF guy got the 1000hrs ME turbine PIC in three years.

In three years at AMF you will meet the flight time requirements for any major and can go right ahead and start applying. A 3 year FO at a regional cannot even apply until at least 1.5 years after making Capt.

Worst case scenario; if you can't get hired at a major right after your 3 yrs at AMF due to lack of 121 or jet experience or whatever then put in a year or two as a CJ FO at any regional which will take a 3 yr AMF guy in a heartbeat. Now this is the reason why AMF is the better route, even if you can't get straight to a major afterwards and still end up having to put in time at a regional you won't be sitting there under the mercy of upgrade times because you will already have the ME turbine PIC! All you're there for is a little 121/ CRM/jet experience, and from your last day at AMF throughout you first, second, or third years (doubt it will take that long) at the regional you can continue updating and sending resumes to the majors while your fellow FOs are still waiting for their PIC time.

So in summary, AMF route has a fair to good chance, depending on your connections of getting you to a major in 3 years. BUT, even if you still end up having to transition through a regional after AMF, you should still be at a major within 5 years.

Now the wild card is the average regional upgrade time. Right now its 5-7 years but 1, 2 or 3 years from now who knows, it could drop way down.