Typically, pilots aspire to leave from the Regionals to go to the Majors because the Terms, Conditions and Compensation (TCCs) are vastly superior..

However over the years, in AS's case, the TCCs has deteriorated so much, that outside of the hourly rate, many Regional Airlines' Terms and Conditions have gotten to be much better than Alaska's - an inversion if you will..

Coupled with that, JetBlue like all the other Majors has a "normal" balance of mixed flying, while AS flying seems to be more heavily slanted towards a Regional type network and there's not much apetite to put their brand out there as a national carrier. And they have said as much....

Across the US, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who DOESN'T KNOW who JetBlue, Delta, American, Southwest or United is.... while we know that outside of the PNW and California, it's the reverse for Alaska - you'd be hard pressed to find someone who KNOWS who we are...

It's this big picture that makes AS look more like a Regional than a Major, and nothing close like a Legacy carrier.... (and yes, I know the Regional vs Major designation has more to do with revenue but that aside, I hope the bigger point is understood).....