You want West coast, and can move anywhere? I work at Horizon, and can offer this information:

- I've worked here 3 years, I'll very likely be offered an upgrade sometime this coming year. The company is planning 90 upgrades and 170-ish new hires in 2015, and I'm 50-something from the most junior Captain.

- You'd have your choice of several bases. All very much West coast.

- The pay is more than you'd make at many other regionals. Open time is frequently offered at 200%, with a 4-hour minimum. Our SAP system lets you drop to the minimum if you want maximum days off. I use a text alert system, and when I woke up this morning there were 6 alerts for 200% for today already. At my rate, that's $345 for showing up and flying 2 short legs. My annual income for the 3 years I've been here has been 34k, 48k, and I'm at 53k for this year so far. I usually work as little as possible, and only pick something up if it's too easy to turn down.