That's an option not generally available to major FO's, and it is more readily available to regional CA's than in the past. It used to be a small clique, now the criteria is basically don't have a CJO or an adverse training/discipline record.

I could still get there on a NB, but it would be painful and on the bleeding edge of the realm of the possible.

So good consolation prize for those who stayed (I left before all the pay raises, so moot point for me).