I hear about the first year pay all the time, If you are at a regional right now, and have any consideration for the likes of NK and F9 you need to apply now, both are going through huge growth right now and seniority is everything. Beg, borrow or steal enough $$$ to get you through first year. Beyond that you should be ahead for the rest of your career all while enjoying better QOL. We just started a hiring wave at NK, 50+ a month "for the foreseeable future" was the exact quote from the System CP, classes are full through the end of summer. The time is now! if you were to get in a September class, you'd have 150 people junior to you by Christmas.