I have a couple of thoughts that I would like the poster who started this thread to consider when reading what you've written.
- Great training is something to be proud of and to appreciate but it is doubtful that either of these two carriers have inferior training or intimidating/old-school training to worry about. This category is a moot point.
- Good pay: the pay appears to be similar to Compass. Depending on time to upgrade, the pay could be significantly higher at Compass as year 3 could be captain pay vs. waiting another year or two for a higher hourly captain rate at SKW. Of course, this part is impossible to predict. Therefore, I think this category is also a moot point.
- Better travel benefits. I have traveled the world over on pass benefits that are probably considered worse than what SkyWest has. It is absolutely not even on the radar when considering a job in this section of the industry. Moot point.
- I agree with your advice that considering 'current' upgrade time as important is foolish. However, of these two carriers, one is about to basically have a guaranteed immediate 25% dump of the seniority list. This proportion of movement is unheard of in the industry. A year later, depending on things, another 25% could disappear. This would put a new hire in the left seat in about two years, without any growth. Again, unheard of. Traditionally a two year upgrade is not possible without massive growth. Massive growth is hard to find in this section of the industry these days, with many new airplanes really just being part of an up-gauge deal to park some amount of smaller jets.
Congrats to someone who actually knows how to spell "moot" properly!!