True, but I don’t know a single pilot who doesn’t have multiple airlines targeted on Airline Apps. I’d imagine it’s widely known and accepted by airlines who use that service. Filling out one extensive app and then little addendums for several airlines and updating the hours each week is easy mode.

It’s entirely possible that a direct application says ‘I want this company enough to apply independently of that super convenient service everybody else uses’. I have no idea what the method to their madness is, but I was advised to apply direct by a PSA Pilot. If that’s what got PSA’s attention, then those who are asking for the “magic formula” should get that advice too.