Opinion on Airlines
 

I am kind of new at all this but, I am a military guy that will have 2500TT, all multiengine (1000 KC-135/B707 and 1500 T-1/BE40). I will have 1500 PIC when all is said and done. If I can't get a job at the majors (I am assuming something is wrong if I can't), then should I go commuters or fractional? Which commuter is best for long-term work and benefits? I have heard good things about SkyWest and it looks like I should steer clear of Mesa. What is everyone's opinion? Which fractional is best? What is everyone's opinion.

Like you said, it looks like you have enough time to go to a major. If you can't get hired by one then you need to self-elvuate and find out WHY.

It appears that lack of time would not be the reason, but if you decide you need some more glass total time or just 121 experience, then any regional with lots of RJ's will do, so you would pick Skywest/ASA or Air Wisconsin depending on whether you want to live east or west. These are both top-notch employers and hiring.

However...if you think you need more turbine PIC, then you want to stay away from good companies because their pilots don't want to leave and you'll be an FO for years and years. In that case Mesa and Chatuaqa are both hiring.

There are obviously other regionals but many are in BK or downsizing right now.

If you have some kind of background issue, puting some time between you and the event might help, so you would probably want to go to a good company (in case you get stuck at the regional level).

There are also a few companies that give interview preps. It may be a good idea to check them out before any interview with a major.

In addition to general pointers for the interview they can provide simulator preps - in some cases you get to fly exactly the same simulator as the one in the actual interview. Some of these companies will even refund your money if you are not hired which implies they have a very good success rate.

Something to think about if you get invited for an interview at a major.

I am far from being an expert, but I am not sure that 2500 TT makes u super competitve nowadays. there are a lot of guys with tons of flight time looking for jobs(furloughs from united:2000, us airways:2000, american:3000 independance air, etc...). I am not saying that you can't find a job( remember ,though that internal recommendation is golden or absolutely necessary for certain companies) but I don't know if it would be so abnormal that you don't find a job with a major in the next hour.
have you thought about cargo companies? ( focus, kallita, southern...) they are not amazing but would allow you to get time in heavier ( but older) equipment.
Some of the fractionals are hiring like mad ( netjets 450 until rest of the year) and you would start at a lot better pay than any of the regionals. the equipment might be smaller and the kind of flying different. ( u could get 1week off 1 week on for example). a company like netjets allows u to start in a small airplane but top of the line is a BBJ. there is also netjets international with a fleet of 50 gulstreams. I talked with one their pilots in the bahamas the other day.they were flying Mariah carey from NYC. I am not fond of Carey but it could be another kind of flying you might like.
just my 2 cent.

Talk to others in your group who may be in the same positionas you, or someone who recently mustered out and got a job for an airline. They would have the best first hand knowledge

A lot of those furloughs from the majors don't have the PIC time. That's why they are not competitive.

Also, 2500 TT 1500 PIC turbine may not be that competitive for civilian pilots but seems competitive for military folks.

1500 would probably be enough for a military guy, if it's almost all PIC.

Civilians need 5000 because:
1500 CFI
2500 Turbine SIC @ regional (2-4 year as FO)
1000 Turbine PIC @ regional

= 5000 TT

it makes sense. I never thought of it like that.
What if you'd have 2500 TT and 1000 turbine PIC in a metroliner 121 ops.
Would you be competitive nowadays?

At some majors, yes. I think SWA would go for that. Some of them are starting to require turbojet time however.

From what I have heard from people in the know at SWA, the average PIC turbine time for new hires in the last year was about 1,800 hours.