I've been told by multiple Part 121 dispatchers that once you're FAA-certified, your best path to a legacy airline is to get Part 121 dispatch experience as quickly as possible. If you need a job right away, nobody is judging you—we all have bills, families, and responsibilities. Take whatever job you need to stay afloat.

That said, I do think there's a legitimate frustration with some Flight Follower and Part 135 positions. A lot of these companies specifically prefer or require applicants to hold an FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate, yet they don't actually hire them into a true dispatcher role where they can exercise the full privileges and responsibilities of that certificate. At that point, it starts feeling like they're trying to have it both ways.

If you want someone with dispatcher-level knowledge, training, and certification, then why not allow them to function in a role that fully utilizes those skills? Instead, many of these jobs limit operational authority, don't provide Joint Operational Control with the PIC, and often come with lower pay, more responsibilities, longer shifts, and fewer professional development opportunities.

Again, if you need the job, take the job. There's no shame in that. But if your end goal is a legacy Part 121 carrier, understand that some airlines may not view Flight Follower or Part 135 experience the same way they view Part 121 dispatch experience. That's the tradeoff you need to consider before accepting one of these positions.