Honestly, anyone contemplating the choice between the two companies just needs to look at the facts related to the employee group and the equipment offerings.

Compass has virtually no lifers, whereas Skywest has a large number. This simply means Skywest is a good company for a lifer but for those of you that are employable at a major, you will be waiting longer for that upgrade.

Skywest operates a lot of CRJ200 aircraft, which the industry is getting away from. They do fill a certain need but nobody manufactures 50 seat aircraft for a reason. These aircraft will go the way of the dinosaur before long. If Skywest can't secure new contracts to replace those aircraft with larger RJs, this will equate to stagnation as the pilots are displaced to other fleets.

Yes, Compass does pay their pilots less. This means they are more likely to secure futures contracts as opposed to a company that pays more. It's only one part of the puzzle but it does have a direct effect on the resultant competitive edge of the company.

If you are worried that you may be stuck at the regionals forever, go to Skywest. If you are marketable and just want to get your time and move on to a major, Compass is a better choice.