I'm sorry you have to live in Pasco :p

If you want to live in the PNW I think you'd be fine either way. SKW is expanding in the PNW, Horizon seems like a legit place to work. Both are not a quick upgrade.

My friend made 10K in premium pay his first year at QX.

Do the smart thing and leave the industry.

You're in luck my friend I worked for both! Both are great airlines so it's going to be a tough choice. If living and working in the PNW are what you want then QX is where you'd want to go. There's another APC'er that I'm sure whill chime in soon who's been at QX about 4 years and I think he might be upgrading this year so that would make upgrade over there less than SKW. In the end I think both will be around a 4-6 yr upgrade with the attrition the industry will continue to see. You could possibly get into SEA within a yr or so at SKW but it'll be faster at QX and I'd imagine you'd be able to get home more often commuting from one of the QX bases to PSC over a MSP SEA PSC commute. Pay and bennies are better at QX, but not enough that I'd choose one over the other. Either way you're in a great place at SKW or going to QX.

Thanks Cruz5350, I was hoping you would comment because I could see that you have worked for both. This is the first I've heard of Horizon being a faster upgrade. If Skywest would only be about a year to get SEA that wouldn't be so bad. I'm having a hard time making a decision and just trying to gather as much info as possible.

10,000 in premium pay...what is that?

SEA is 8 months and dropping fast with the Alaska growth. It wouldn't suprise me if you were able to hold it in less than 6 months.

You should be able to work your way west pretty quickly. I was hired in June and only spent about 6 weeks in MSP. Things are moving even faster now.

Horizons upgrade may be lower then skywest? Man last I heard it was like a decade.

I was surprised when I heard it to, but people that are there now would be able to give more specific details. I'm just going off of what one person said. With that being said SEA is expanding at SKW, but they're still very senior so don't expect to move up as quickly as you would at a base out East.

As far as premium pay is concerned it's usually 150% or 200%. I guess it could be whatever you want to wheel and deal with crew scheduling on. At SKW it's mostly been 150%. I saw 200% for awhile last Christmas at Horizon though.

What Regional?
 

Not all companies have this rule. Some companies' requirements are an ATP and passing the upgrade training. This 1,000 hour rules is silly and should not be viewed favorably by a new hire. Especially if he is going to a regional that is touting quick upgrades!