I'd just take the first regional class date where the domiciles will work for your personal life.

Unless you have quals which will likely you get you called quickly by a major before upgrade, I wouldn't worry about the contract... you're going to need the 121 TPIC anyway. Now if you fly fighters in the guard on the weekends, then I might consider more carefully.

Also maybe do some math on the cost of buying out the contract (if needed) vs. other options...

1. Delayed start at a major. Likely better to pay the contract. knowing what I do now after decades, I would take the first major seniority number in a heartbeat, most especially a legacy.

2. Fractional instead of regional... probably longer to get TPIC, it's not 121, and it might be in a very small jet. Could be many extra years, is that worth $80k now to delay a job that pays $350K as an SIC?

3. Delay to get job at another regional. Math depends on how long that will take...


That all assumes you're committed on a trajectory to the major airlines. If the question is what if I don't like the regionals or airlines and want to go drive a truck instead, that's different math.