Candlerkid: I am not the youngest anymore. I don't want to do the jumpseat / crashpad thing and wasting entire days (of my time off) going to the other side of the country because that is where junior base is. If I go to any major I will upgrade the day before I retire. Yes, they have my application, 1 out of 10.000, and I know nobody that can recommend me, or can act as one out of three references that works there AND has flown with me, the only DL pilots I know were previous NWA and took the early retirement. UAL is the same.
I cannot afford first or second year wages at a lot of the low cost outfits. I am digging myself out of a giant financial hole from a few years ago and don't have the savings back to overcome that kind of low pay.
Atlas has a base 15 minutes drive away from my home. The local airline is not hiring, its commuter is, but again, the pay is very ****ty. Allegiant has a base 2 hours driving away, don't think I will do that every day, unless their pay really goes up.
So what is left? Atlas. I know many people there that all would like to see me come, who have flown with me. It is hr that is blocking the door.