the huge advantage is you get the guaranteed interview. No waiting for your application to get pulled.

Yes I understand that. What I was getting at is that you will get an interview at lower than the average qualifications of an OTS interviewee. Not saying that’s right or wrong, but it is the carrot.

I had a guy in my old crashpad who was a express jet new hire, he told me he had been on the line for a few weeks when he did his aviate interview.

Getting an interview and getting a class date are two different things. First he has to be successful at the interview just like every other interview candidate. And if that went well, it will take him a few years to get all the requirements fulfilled to transition to United. If he hasn’t finished his degree, he will have to finish that first as well.

I know this, that was not the question i tried to answer. The person asked if the carrot was that you would get the interview at a lower than normal standards. Which it kind of is, you can get the interview immediately and know that once you meet all the hours of flying and the time "served" at the express carriers you have a job to go to at UA. This is the carrot.
I am not at an Aviate carrier and i have to get my interview OTS, so i have 5 years already and i meet all the flying requirements, so now i have to chase an interview slot.

Yeah, that still seems like a shorter path than what an OTS candidate would do. I’d probably sign up for that. Seems a lot easier & quicker. I have no idea what the interview pass rate is, but it sure seemed like most people who made it that far were getting CJOs.

I don't know why people are so stressed about how fast they can get to a mainline. (Not directed at you ThumbsUp)
If you are young, enjoy your life, live life, travel and do stuff, if you are older and closer to the tail end of your career, find a good regional and stay there. Don't only look at the $ sign cause you won't be taking it with you.
I have friends that left for UA/DL/AA in their mid to late 20s realizing they will spend upwards 30+ years at that carrier.
Try to enjoy your life and make it memorable.
I am 46, still have a few years left to fly, i hope a mainline will pick me up. But i am very happy where i am as well. I have good seniority, i am making more money that i have ever made before, of course i would make much more else where. But as i said, life is not all about the $ sign.

No worries, I’m old & never flew for a regional. But this is sure the most money I’ve earned relative to the very little work I actually accomplish, and since seniority is everything in terms of QoL, the fastest path here is probably the best.

This is the lie that every lifer at my former shop told themselves. They are all unemployed now, or working on their first year at another regional or, if they’re lucky, an ACMI or ULCC. The TRUTH is that you will make more $$ in Year 2 at any Legacy than you ever could at a regional…..and that’s while getting 16-18 days off a month. The math does NOT support staying at a regional, for $$ OR schedule, because both are inferior. And……a regional is only as secure as the mainline partner who controls its future. Get your time, get out. No matter how old you are, the grass is WAY greener.

to include a better 401k and medical benefits