Originally Posted by cactusmike

Ask the 20 year Comair guys how that worked out for them....

Every major has low first year pay. Most make it back within a couple of years. Risks mean rewards. Someone that got on at SWA 20 years ago versus staying at Air Wisconsin? How about Mesa? Worlds biggest regional a few years ago.

You may be happy living in Bumfk, AR making good coin but when your flying gets outsourced to the next guy who outbid you then your lifestyle will be gone.
Airlines are not for everyone and a lot of corporate guys are happy where they are. But if you are in the airline business then it doesn't make sense to not try to play with the big jets. That's where the money is. The majors control the flying the regionals get. That is the nature of the beast. As a regional you are flying the small routes that are incremental revenue. Gas goes up, small jets get cut because those flights don't make money.

Enjoy your lifestyle at XJT. But don't be surprised when your F/O you are flying with now calls you 5 years from now with his layover stories in Rio or London and he's making more than you are. I have seen it over and over the past 30 years.