I'm encouraging my younger sister to do this as an option, she's been furloughed the last 4 mos. from a crappy Part 135 operation. I can only offer so much help because I left the 121 world a while ago and not sure what a regional airline can offer when it comes to internal employee transfers.
I'm assuming that once you're off probation, done a great job in your initial job capacity, kept instrument current and continue to study, and you meet the mins (or are atleast close) one would have a pretty good shot of at getting atleast an interview. She has a Bachelors degree, clean FAA & DMV records, 1100TT, 650 ME, of which 500+ ME Turbine time. She continues to fly small stuff at the local airport, but I think it's pretty useless and quite a waste of money at this point.
She has a great attitude and is excited to work, but I just don't want to see her start something (ramp, working the gate/tkt counter, being an FA, etc) that will only slow her flight career.
As most of us already know, it's going to be hard (but not impossible) to fly on the side and build those last 400 hours while working full time. At about 10 hours a month of x/c flying for a $100 hamburger, she will potentially have set herself back about 5 years. I'm a believer that if it's not consistent flying, what's the point. People who do this, need to get some useful experience out of it. I think it will be a good experience for her and keep her in the industry, but I need info.
Thanks to everyone who contributed, I really appreciate it!
-FW