Do the math. You need about 2 to 3k tpic to be pretty competitive. Usually you're supposed to spend about 2 or 3 years as an FO to become captain. So a few years as an FO and two or three years as captain, about 5 to 6 years to mainline. That's best case scenario, it could be 10 years or more depending on how you pursue it. Usually low quality of life means you upgrade quicker, better qol by choosing a certain base or type of plane could delay your upgrade. I would not sacrifice having a life in order to get that quick upgrade but on the other hand I would not delay you becoming competitive because you want a good qol at the regional.

I totally agree! If you cant make it to a major like Hockeypilot did in under 4 years, especially now a days something is terribly wrong with you. :rolleyes:

Haha are you trolling? You can't even get off reserve as an FO at most regionals by 3 1/2 years. Upgrade is 6-8 most places. The big three UA, AA and DL only hire with no PIC if you're a girl or the son of the chief pilot. I haven't heard of anyone who fits into neither of those two categories who has gone to a major in under 5 years recently.

If you're counting Spirit, Allegiant and Virgin as majors I can see people getting there in 3.5 with a lot of persistence, but definitely not UA, AA and DL.

A month over 3 years for me... had almost 2000 TPIC from that gig, too.

Different day and age now, and 5 years from now, it'll be another completely different picture.

Took me just under seven w/zero TPIC.

Are we talking legacy or LCC?


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Three and a half from regional to major(came from same regional as hockey pilot). Recently left first major for a US legacy at tens yrs from right seat at regional. Seems a LOT of my friends are getting their first major gigs now so is say average is 8-10 yrs.

8 years still stuck in right seat...

I think that there is some difference of opinion about what a "major" airline is.

DL, us, Ual, Luv, Fedex, ups.....a lot longer than

B6, Redwood, allegiant, spirit, etc.