Originally Posted by
Neosporin
I go with "Quick and expensive" = Seniority.
When you are in class the other guy that went through ATP or the others, JetU, will be sitting in the right seat gaining all the experience he/she needs and accruing seniority, even if it's an ATR or any turbine. When hiring ever starts, who will be upgrading or picking their base sooner, if that person wants it that bad, they will have the 1000 turbine PIC before you and hopefully it pays off for them, HOPEFULLY. This job is crazy, try being furloughed.
being positioned for opportunity is more valuable than, "Oh hiring is good now, where do I stand? do I have jet experience or turbine time , etc.?" then try getting hired with everyone else that waited. you all will have paid the same amount eventually.
Realistically, how much have all of you paid for everything you have done for aviation, believe me you will pay the same or more than $55,000 by the time you get an airline job, very few don't.
good luck!
Your argument is flawed because not everyone takes the same path to a major. Case in point, when I was a lowly Beech FO there was a Beech CA who was two years senior to me who is now six months my junior at UPS...A+B doesn't always =C in this biz. And not everyone needs to go to a regional to end up at FDX, UPS, SWA, etc.