The problem with upgrade time in the regional industry is that its very unpredictable... todays stagnant company could get some new flying and they they will hire like mad and upgrade a bunch of people then people will go there looking for the quick upgrade and be on the back side of the curve and it will take them a lot longer to upgrade. Now they are bitter and ****ed becuase they were "promised" a quick upgrade.
Expressjet is a prime example..I worked there and dont get me wrong... great company and great people, what is about to happen there is typical. They had to furlogh after 9/11 with the Cal flow back and all... CAL took their people back and a bunch of new airplanes were showing up (they were always getting jets but they were also parking the props). So the exodus of senior people to Continental and massive aircraft delieveries made it look like the place to be, they hired 16 a week+ for probably 18 months to 2 years. The lucky forks who were on the leading edge of the wave just started upgrading in the past 3-4 months. For them the 2 year upgrade was a reality...but now The aircraft deliverys have stopped and there is not massive exodus to bigger and better things (yes people are leaving for CAL (like me) and JetBlue/Airtran et. al.) Now that the aircraft are all there they are only hiring for attrition for people leaving which has been exelerated with the whole 69 airplane thing.
But the reality of the situation are as follews in order of likely hood
1) If XJT keeps the 69 airplanes (flys them elsewhere) classes will be run at a trickle to keep up withe people leaving so if you are on the bottem of a 3000 pilot list that only moves 15 numbers a month. This is about an 6-7 year upgrade. (that assumes junior ca sits about 1700 on the list) Can you say American Eagle any one?
2) XJT loses the birds and they have to put people on the street. Not good. Assuming you keep your job upgrade isnt something that your going to have to worry about upgrade anytime soon.
3) Some how XJT find growth and and more airplanes show up....Go back to the start of this post and read over.
The moral is... Do go some where for a quick upgrade unless its somewhere that no one really wants to be for a long period of time (ie AirMidwest , Regions Air, Great Lakes), by the time you realize that Airline X is going to have quick upgrades and you get your self hired you are probably going to be on the back side of the curve.
Work for the place that lets you live at home and offers decent quality of life... Things may change in a few years when all the majors (except CAL) start hiring again but that is probably 3-5 years off.
Sorry to issue a sharp does of reality but this is life.