Also^^^^^
Probably more RTP priority depending on how the program pans out.

The advice is directed AT those people trying to get their first 121 experience. But even so, putting in applications at F9, B6, NK, AS, and WN costs nothing. And if the alternative is waiting 4-6 months for a regional class date ( and one that may well slip) to become the bottom guy on reserve at a regional still not getting 121 hours very fast, it’s a viable path.

And while management may indeed “be getting wise to this” it’s not like they have a lot of options or can avoid the risk. With legacy retirements as they are, there WILL be a drain from other 121 operations, and most legacies would actually prefer to hire pilots away from their LCC/ULCC competitors than they would cannibalize their own regional feed, so however “wise” F9 management may be, they are still going to lose experienced FOs to the legacies.

Take a look at NKs recent TA. Everyone got increases, but those increases weren’t evenly distributed. They were greatest percentage wise at the year 3 and 4 FO level, because if they can retain FOs past that point they will soon be CA’s making (counting 401k DC) over $300k a year, after which the ‘golden handcuff’ effect comes into being and it becomes a lot harder to justify jumping to a $100k legacy first year FO slot.

Conversely, most regionals are doing just the opposite, freezing FO payscales after four years to create a situation where they are trying to compel regional upgrade to regional CA.

So I think the advice is still good. If you have your choice of gathering 121 SIC hours at a place flying CRJs and/or ERJs or gathering those 121 hours quicker in 737/320s you’d be a fool to chose the former.

The other issue for folks like myself is the F9s and NKs of the world aren’t yet taking folks with “decent experience” without an ATP. So financing your own ATP or even finding somewhere that has a multi for rent with an ATP guy to sign you off isn’t exactly easy. These 135s are wise to it too, no reason to get you your ATP if it means you’ll be hirable a million other places right after.

This is the exact spot I'm in.

Whoa killer. Lay off the APC a bit. I didn’t say don’t apply anywhere. I simply said experienced 121 FOs probably won’t be getting the call from certain LCCs. And our recent hiring, and statements from Mgt, agrees with that statement.

Not true. Spirit responds within 30 minutes if you apply as FO with 5000 hours.
Frontier not far behind.

Yes. You need an ATP. Any cfi with 750 hours should be gaming that out. Flying pays well enough now to fund your own certification.

Unless things have changed, no one has to sign you off either.

And you know this because you’re gainfully employed or have gotten CJOs from both of these companies?

An ATP??? You are holding off on your career advancement because a ULCC won’t pay for your ATP???

Go get one:

https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/..._Providers.pdf

So you are out $5k…. That’s two weeks guarantee pay for a year one ULCC FO. Less than that for year two. And by then you’ll have a line and be able to pick up stuff to make more - right up to FAA limits if you want to. And in year one, they’ll be flying you - even on reserve - more than most regionals.

So in two years you can either have 1200 hours of 737 or 320 121 SIC time or maybe 700 hours of CRJ or ERJ 121 SIC time. Which do you think will get you a shot at a legacy interview quicker? And seniority is the name of the game.

I've applied for fun. You get the call almost immediately. What you are saying is not correct.