Originally Posted by
ecam
I really don't understand why you are all competing to be the tallest midget in the bar by arguing whose crappy regional is better.
Why even jump to another regional? All of the LCCs are hiring, even without PIC time.
The regional game is over. First Comair fell, then ACA/Indy, and now ASA/XJT. From now on, the regionals won't be a worthwhile career like so many of us fought for back in the day to try and make it. Why not go ahead and jump to an airline that IS career worthy, flying Boeings and Airbus aircraft for pay and benefits competitive with the legacy carriers. And you can always keep your apps out if you've just always wanted to fly that big airplane over the ocean, but you'll have a Boeing or Airbus type in your pocket, instead of a sideways or backward jump to explain. To me, going to a regional and starting over just doesn't make any sense. Look forward, not back.
First, the regional game is not over. What is happening is the consolidation that already happened with the legacy carriers and is now happening at the regional level. ExpressJet was in the crosshairs and still is- an expensive, top-heavy pilot group. Yeah, other regionals have a bigger top pay rate now, but now many of their pilots are around to get it?
As for the LCCs, I've been around this industry to know that every situation is not right for a pilot. While I'd be open to JetBlue, Virgin and SWA, Allegiant and Spirit just don't work for me. Since none of them or legacy carriers are calling, that leaves me with staying in place or a lateral move. Neither is appealing, but oh well.