I read alot of posts talking about upgrade times and pay and how you are treated by different airlines. What is an upgrade? If one's goal was simply to have the quickest route to the next level, be it the majors or corporate, is the upgrade times the single deciding factor? Is the corporate level come after time is gained at the regional level or does it come later?

Upgrade = FO to Captain

If you want majors, getting to Captain and loggin turbine PIC time would be invaluable. Although I've read that some majors will take turbine SIC at par. Airlines like jetBlue won't, however. They want to see that you've logged 1000 hours of turbine PIC time (along with a boat load of other time requirements). Corporate outfits will want to see that you have their minimum requirements. Suffice to say, logging Captain time will definitely make you more marketable if competing with an FO for the same job.

You can go regional or corporate today, depending on who will hire you with what hours you have.

So certain airlines might have great upgrade times, but pay low and treat pilots like dirt? This would be a great stepping stone, no?

Excellent strategy !! There is no torture quite as bitter sweet as a good company and eternity in the right seat.


SkyHigh

JetBlue does not actually require turbine PIC time, but it makes you way more competetive.

The quickest upgrade would probably be at a turbo-prop only airline.

But some majors are starting to require heavier time and/or turbojet time...basically means RJ instead of small turboprop.

not necessarily require it. For example continental 1000turbine pic OR 500 PIC and 500 sic turbojet.