When I was there, any Captain was able to "opt in" to a retention bonus. $50k/year, basically an extra check mid-month for $4166.66 minus taxes. Conditions were -basically- that you'd have to pay it back if you left before 1 year after signing...plus some other hooks. That said, there was a letter of agreement that was signed later with conditions that if you aged out, lost your medical, or went to United, you didn't have to pay anything back.

I'll say it again: I should have chosen a different path. Best of luck!

Update from the rumor mill (I know several FOs that stayed due to AViate):

ALPA has new leadership, and should be getting better.

Scheduling has actually become more reasonable lately, total guess they either got the bad Lead schedulers out, brought United people in, or both. The reports I'm getting are that scheduling is doing a "better job" and actually following the contract. Mostly.

Unfortunately if the contract still allows 8 hours of airport standby it's going to be hard to recommend to new street captains or FOs who will be stuck sitting in crew rooms instead of getting the flight time they need.

C5 worked out for me but that isn't an endorsement.

Republic. No airport standby and no junior manning.
All regionals are not the same, and pay rate is just one portion of the total compensation and quality of life.