Don’t pick a airline based on check ride type.. pick one you could will be at for 5-10 years... look at there fleet, type of flying and the airlines they fly for. Ask your self if thats a safe 5-10 year plan. Then go and try to get out before that time window...

I’ll add QOL to that. It’s huge if your able to avoid commuting

It absolutely is. I'd rather have my events broken up into bite sized pieces rather than getting it slammed down my throat all in one chunk.

LOL. Have you done an initial PC?

I would recommend Skywest unless you really want to be based in STL or RDU. Both STL and RDU are outstation bases so the trips start early and end late as compared to other bases that are Hubs for the majors. TSA has zero awards for regional airline of the year while Skywest has 3 awards for that as well as recently being labeled as a Fortune magazine admired company. I don't work for Trans states or Skywest. I have asked many new Skywest pilots who I see commuting how they like it and they all say it is pretty good and they like it. TSA is about 10 - 15% of the size of Skywest, TSA recently lost flying from American within the past 1.5 years. Rumor has it Skywest training its much better and the majors love hiring Skywest guys. When the CRJ550 gets certified, my guess is United will dump those small Embraers TSA flies because no passengers like the small Embraer. I think job security is much better at Skywest as well as they have never done involuntary furloughs while TSA has had to furlough pilots in the past.

This, I’d rather just do the whole thing at once instead of stressful pieces.