Hey all, I'm about to ask some questions that I'm sure are asked all the time. Every single one of you has had this debate in the cockpit at one point or another. But I think I'm going to ask it in a different way.

How long should I embrace the suck at a regional? Or in other words, at what point do I accept that a legacy carrier is out of the question? How long do I continue to pass up corporate / charter jobs that pay 3x what I make now; holding out for the dream job at the big daddy D? I literally get a corporate job offer like 2x a month. I flew corporate for a while and have quite a few connections in that world.

I'm currently flying for a regional. I'm based close to home, it's one of the better regionals *I know this is something of an oxymoron*, and I have a pretty good schedule with weekends and roughly 14 days off. I fly with cool people, good aircraft, and generally don't DREAD going to work every week.

I am NOT unhappy here. I know I could have it much worse and know guys that do. But I fly with Captains who have 5000 hours and 2000 hours PIC, but might have a bust on a recurrent ride, or perhaps they don't have a masters degree, or an aviation degree. *I fly with guys that for all intents and purposes SHOULD be moving onward and upward but aren't, and it's discouraging to me.* These aren't weirdos either. Not your guys with Asperger's or anti-social or non-hackers. These are personable, pleasant, professional pilots that are trying to get to their dream legacy job for more than 2 years and just can't seem to even get an interview.

I have a 3.2 GPA in a non-aviation degree program. I don't have any check-ride busts, yet (heaven forbid a blow it on a recurrent ride). I don't have a dad, mom, uncle, cousin, brother, or even any friends at the legacy carriers. I have a clean record so far.

So again, at what point does a person like me look at themselves and say...Delta is probably out of your league? At what point do I say...Jetblue or Spirit or Frontier or Allegiant is out of your league?