I'm in my mid-40s and just started at AA. I wasn't at a LCC though; was left seat at Eagle which was, until recently, a pretty good gig for the most part. I think I will upgrade in roughly 10 years IF things remain reasonably status quo. Regardless I should have decent QOL (slats is spot on w his advice IMO) in the right seat of pretty much any equipment in just a few years (maybe even making LCC captain pay) and have the last 5-10 in the left seat. Of course if he's gonna do it sooner is better. Giving up less than one year to hire on early in the wave would probably be a good move. JMO though of course.