um, i'll go with a negatron on that. travel benefits better? ok, i'll give you that one, i guess. but work rules? please. every united crew i jumpseat with complains mightily about their work rules. especially about the fact that the 18 year captain and the 12 year fo both have 12 days off that month, and they are working 6 days in a row every time, and they can't get commutable trips, etc. they hate the reserve system, they hate half the hotels they stay at (again, just from what i've been told). they do get better crew meals, though.

i don't know anything about nwa, so if you say it's so much better there, in every respect, not just pay, than at skywest, i will defer to your personal experience and opinion.

i think for the most part "moving up" to a major is something that was a huge, wonderful step in the past, and is becoming more of a tiny climb as time goes on. especially if you're at a good regional like skywest. we all know the glory days are gone.