Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Generally I'd say go back to the regional, given current pay scales and your seniority.
However... legacies are currently metering hiring from their affiliated regionals, a lot.
If your regional is AA only, great, apply to DL and UA. But if your regionals flies for 2 or 3 legacies, then you should do some research on the state of metering, and also consider which legacies you'd prefer.
All the legacies will hire from 2nd tier/ULCC without any reservations. You already punched the PIC ticket, even if only briefly, but that's more than many legacy new hires can say right now. Given your background a fresh NB type and a few hundred hours online should get their attention.
There's also something to be said for going back to a plane you already know, returning after that long of an absence is not trivial (nut two years is better than ten years).
My regional is WO, just not owned by American. its not hard to deduce which regional that is. Delta LOVES hiring from our regional and I would be more than happy to accept an interview with them if ever offered the opportunity.
if we were talking about NK or f9 LCCs, then I would be 1000% onboard with what you're saying. But adjusted for inflation the hourly wage here is dead-nuts on what my hourly was at my regional in 2018, and that's with a lesser min guarantee of 70 hours a month here flying the bus vs 75 hours a month at the regional. living in base on that wage back in 2018 was not a good time.