I got hired this year but also at Delta. There was a huge part of me that wanted to take the Hawaiian Job (ties to japan, A330 I international flying, outdoor life, way more of a zen paced life) I kinda really wanted that both short and long term. But I just couldn't get over the pay disparity in the first year. And the more I thought about it I also couldn't justify the reasoning behind it. The willingness to sacrifice financial stability should never be a measure of "loyalty" or "how much you want to be here" . Just because they have applicants is no excuse for a good company that is financially successful. Even with the large increase in 2nd year pay you would be digging yourself out of a hole. Your final career destination shouldn't involve you living below the basic cost of existing as a single human being let alone with a family. And so I found myself not willing to do it even for a year.