Everyone takes a slightly different path. No such thing as "ideal path."

When you think of flight time think of "experience." In your gaining of experience process (time building) try to get the best experience you can. Where you live and the airports close by tend to dictate this ability.

Some things to keep in mind.

Aviation is a small community. Widen your circle a bit and look to meet new people to gain more opportunities and more experience.

Look for opportunities to build more credentials. CFI, II, MEI, AGI, IGI, Glider, Sea plane. Why? You never know what avenues will open up to you. Be prepared for as many as you can.

In 1994 I was hired as the youngest pilot in my new hire class for a commuter. I also had the least amount of flight time. However, 2 college degrees and CFI, II, MEI, AGI, IGI, SES, Glider, ATP. All that stuff added up in the interview process and I was hired.

I know. Different landscape today. But the principles still apply. All of those ratings were experience. They all added up. What I lacked in flight time I made up for in other areas. I did have 2 years single pilot night freight, and that was very good time in multi engine airplanes. but, back in 1994 Lots of guys had more time than me. 2500 hours in 1994 made me barely competitive for a turboprop FO job.

The best asset a prospective airline applicant can have is strong instrument skills. knowledge, scan, procedures, and airmanship. That's the best preparation you can have. Leading up to my major airline interview as a regional pilot, I flew for a month, hand flying every leg with no auto pilot, 4 to 7 legs a day. I tightened up my scan and I think it was a big help. auto pilots make you lazy.