I couldn’t afford 3 grand to buy my ATP back when JetBlue required it. I applied anyway. When I finally got my ATP 6 years later, JetBlue hired me fairly quickly. Of course I lost over 1000 numbers seniority-wise; it probably cost me 5 years of Captain pay, plus two regionals collapsed under me in the meantime.

Now, if I need three grand, I pick up a 2-day trip on my days off. So looking back, I should have done just about anything to scrape together that three grand for the ATP to get out of the regionals. Live and learn.

Anyone who spends *one minute* longer than they need to at a regional has extremely suspect judgement, in my opinion. Being comfortable is absolutely your enemy when you're at a fee-for-departure company.