Originally Posted by pangolin

I was initially responding that your logic was flawed and that the low CA pay had nothing to do with it. Then I started to type this response:

Yes Mesa pay is presently low. But CA pay is MUCH higher than FO pay. So the upgrade is a raise that is better than a lateral move to another regional, Spirit, Frontier or any cargo outfit......

Then it hit me. You are right. Because FO's SHOULD move laterally or to an LCC or to a cargo outfit BECAUSE the CA pay IS what it is. You are better off making the move as an FO than you are as a CA - because financially the only move that makes sense after upgrade IS to a major. So if you are going to jump it's actually better to jump as an FO than as a CA. HOWEVER if CA rates were on a par or a bit higher then it would be more attractive to stay and make the jump to a major when the time comes. So I agree with you.