Progression is important so take the upgrade. Alaska isn’t getting to pick the cream of the crop these days for obvious reasons. They are hiring more and more pilots who would not otherwise have been hired a few years ago when competition was tougher. They seem to be hiring a lot more older pilots and retreads with very low or no turbine PIC time. For example, there are quite a few former expats who weren’t captains at a foreign carrier due to their inability to pass upgrade training or were afraid to even try.
I’m on my way out so there will be at least one more opening at this dysfunctional family. As soon as I’m offered a class date at the real legacy, I’m out of here. I won’t be able to stomach the SLI, especially when our own MEC is bending me over. Good luck.