I'll echo some of the previous thoughts. I've been with the company since April on the 737. Like I said in a previous posting, no matter who you go with, it's always a numbers game. With the hiring this year, I'm at 10% from the bottom right now & expect to be at around 20% from the bottom by end of next year. Should a down turn happen, I may survive. Not too sure how I would be sitting if I went with DAL or CAL starting at the same point. I sat reserve for 4 months & now hold a build-up line. Do I expect to see a 3 1/2 year upgrade (like what is happening now), no. But. I do expect to see one better that at DAL or SWA. CAL who knows how there upgrades will pan out in 3 years (a lot of short ones right now). I have a short range butt, so the domestic only schedule siuts me just fine. As the others have said, you can expect to work 85 - 90 hrs/month easy. I have yet to credit less than 93 hours a month. Not bad for 1st year FO. Of course how & when the next TA plays out will affect this. Getting on before it goes into effect I feel would be important for you. 3/4's of my new hire class was regional & everyone of them was happy to make the move. All this said, living in the ATL area has made this much more workable.