Why not LAFF? Please explain why. You said the big picture was getting from A to B, right? Getting from that first crumby flying job to that 747 flying across the oceans, right? What lines aren't you going to cross? Ever thought about what it is that people in this industry don't like about scabs and alter-ego airlines? It's not just because someone told us not to like them (unless you are one of those people who let others make up your mind for you). It is that they are willing to undercut their brothers and sisters for their own gain. How is that undercutting any different than working for ATP at $6/hr and undercutting all the other hard working, independent CFIs out there who?

The only difference is that CFIs aren't unionized. What if you go to work at ATP as one of their $6 CFIs. A few months after you start your fellow CFIs are fed up and decide they want to improve working conditions by raising wages and establishing duty limits. What are you going to do? You wouldn't be crossing a picket line (since there is no union) if you decided to continue working there rather than support your fellow CFIs. What if the management decides to cut costs and fire all of their current CFIs. But don't get too upset! They will rehire you at $5/hr through a different company title? What would you do? You don't want to give up all your ME time and fast time building, do you? Why won't you work for Mesa? Is it the low pay? Is it the poor work rules? Why? Because ATP has both (low pay, poor work rules) in abundance. The only difference is that a place like Mesa offers moderate protection against abuse from management in the form of a union.

You are right in your assessment about ATP being a good deal for their customers (students) I will not argue that point with you because I agree 100%. They are great for their customers and keep costs down in the same way companies like GoJets and Mesa keep costs down for their customers (the majors).

PS
Pinnacle, great choice... I bet you get real excited when they tell you that they are the lowest cost 50 seat operator out there. But its good for their customer (NWA), right?