It's not just pay, but promotion and recognition of previous experience. Those making the hiring decisions at the majors have very specific and limiting criteria. I had 7000 total time when I quit the biz, including 5K PIC and 3K twin turbine PIC. But all that meant nothing because it wasn't jet time, just t-prop. My only option to get into the airlines remains the right seat in the regionals, and that's never gonna happen. Only way I would even consider going back would be DEC into at least a large RJ. Even in the current situation, I don't see any company being that desperate yet.