Seriously?

soooooo expressjet would be a good option? really hope they give me a call. Im currently and FO on the SF340 and thinking of getting my ATP on my days off. thanks for your opinion guys.

Yeah, give me one good reason regionals should be a "stepping stone".

Because airline management says so and they clearly know what's best for us pilots!

Because you are nothing more than CONTRACT FEED for a mainline partner that can give you the middle finger at any point in time. Your life cycle depends on Air Service Agreements that you can only HOPE don't get destroyed in bankruptcy, thrown out due to performance issues, or just flat out re-bid via RFP for someone who can do it cheaper.

You want a lifetime full of that? Have fun!

I'd venture to say probably 20-50% of regionals today will not exist in the next 10 years.

Uh, how about career earnings to start. Guess who wins, by miles. Do you seriously think whatever you invested in flight training was worth it for a career track that tops out where co-pilots at majors average?

Over the last decade the "majors" have furloughed more than they have hired. When you spend 13 years on your "stepping stone" it starts to become a foundation. Your kids/house/life does not get any younger. You start to think about shoring up that foundation.

Build as strong a foundation as you like, but if it's built on shaky ground...all it takes is one earthquake.

Look at Comair.

My point exactly. When did a Comair pilot think a strike was a stepping stone?

It sounds like you're talking about how things are, not a good reason for it. That right there is the issue. How many slots are there compared to regional slots? You truly still think the "major airline" job (and any chance of captain?) is the realistic end-goal? Yes, regional jobs used to be a stepping stone, but methinks you're in denial about how things have changed...