Guess it depends where you want to wind up down the road... DAL, UAL, and AA all have fairly junior NYC bases... If you live in the area, you can gain seniority there pretty quickly (because everyone hates NY), never having to move, and live in base... Of course getting there is 90% of the problem. Perhaps the hopes of that down the road could make putting up with companies like Endeavor and Republic worthwhile... Maybe put in 3 years of time there and take a shot at JetBlue to wait for "the big leagues." 5 years down the road, it's hard to tell who will be around doing what flying, but I think it's a safe bet to say most, if not all of the airlines you listed above will still be around with NY bases for at least the next 3. At least those are the cards I'm playing (I live on LI). As Gearswinger said, you could just find a close easily commutable base like DCA and put up with commuting for a few years... For me, I'd hate to move away, only to find myself commuting back to NY in 5 years flying for Blue, United, etc because it's their junior base... Fuhgeddaboutit.