I surprised so many people said "the one that would hire you." True you can only pick and choose so much, but what if RAH came up to a furloughed pilot and offered them a job? GoJet? Mesa?

Part of me would argue, bide your time a bit as a CFI and keep on eye on several airlines you would like to start with. Watch them, see how they hire/fire/furlough. When the time is right, strike. That may require you to wait, 2,3, or even more years. How long have there been Comair pilots on the street?

The other point I want to illustrate with my first paragraph, is how QUICKLY things can change. Each of those airlines was the APC hated-airline-of-the-year. And not just with hate-ability (and yes, hate IS a strong word, but it applies) but hiring. 2 years ago, people were getting hired as wet commercials - the socalled "250 hour wonders." If they made it through training, they may have flown 1 or 2 legs before the airlines gave them the boot. One person I know made it 2 days in class before the airlines cut them loose.

As a CFI, my job is to teach how to fly and I have to encourage some love of aviation, but spend a good hour or so on this board for a week (regional forum specifically) and you can learn mighty quickly what you are getting into.

Welcome to the jungle!

p.s. my point with RAH/GoJet/Mesa was just to illustrate popular opinion here at APC. No flame baiting, trolling, etc intended. No one can argue that members of those organizations are/were hated, or atleast really really disliked.