Originally Posted by Buschpilot

Sure it has. I don't think you liked the answer, though.

Here's my take. Don't do it soley for the easy shot to Alaska. Those people that got hired got extremely lucky. No one knew that this was going to happen, and it just fell into their laps. On the flip side, those people may now be forever stuck at Alaska - for better or worse.

The reason Alaska opted to hire QX Fo's was because someone with some foresight realized that QX pilots were not being hired at Alaska. They also realized that was not helping the hiring situation at QX ('why would I go to QX? I can go somewhere else and get hired at Alaska easier!!'). This person also sat down with the Chief Pilot and hammered out what qualities makes for a good FO at a Major airline (at the time AS was losing FO's left and right to SWA and Fedex due to diminished work rules). One of those qualities was being hired from an FO position (read between the lines here people). 1 + 1 = 2, and now we have a hiring program for QX FO's. This program was implemented by the AS Chief Pilot, and could easily turn into dust tomorrow morning. I certainly wouldn't hang my hat on it.

Hindsight being 20/20, I never would have come to Horizon. My goal wasn't Alaska, but it was to be at a major of some sort. That probably won't happen since I opted to work for QX. The upgrade is horrendously long, and in the mean time life happens. Now I'm all grown up and have responsibilities that are more important to me than this career. Had I chosen to go someplace like Skywest or where ever that had a more reasonable upgrade time, I think the story would be different.

Look at it this way: Go to Skywest (or insert other regional here). Upgrade. Get PIC. Interview at Majors. Get Major job. I'll still be twiddling my thumbs in the right seat at QX while you'll have out-career'd and out-earned me in much less time.

And if you're thinking of QX in SEA for QOL, then look elsewhere. On paper QX looks great - but the reality is many other regionals have better work rules with pay that matches ours. Our QOL is not anything to brag about.

But maybe I just think the grass is greener on the other side.