Tommy,
Do I take it that you're not a fan of agencies?
I'm not particularly looking for an agency job, but I realize that it is an avenue worth considering. There is no "career path" with my present employer. For those of us in the US, the (growing) regional industry is a financial dead end.
Firestorm,
From what you have written, I may have sold myself short. I have ~2000TT, but still under 500hr in my current type (which unfortunately is neither an Airbus nor a Boeing). I consider that to be low time.
I've seen some companies advertising "commuting" contracts, so surely there must be ways of getting back to your home. How do these work?
Why is it laughable that I would want to bid my next month's schedule? Is it that the bidding system within most of the airlines are bad, or that expats will generally only get to bid the worst lines, after the local pilots have had a chance to bid?
I recognize the value of having PIC time, but waiting for it at my present airline is probably my last option because of the pay.