Mesa versus Skywest?

[Maggieee]

Hey guys, could use a bit of insight. I've been reading some great info from other gals on here about the benefits of Skywest, which is really what I'm looking for. My husband finished his first year at Mesa and is considering either staying at Mesa or going to a Skywest or similar. The pros/cons seem to weigh in both directions, with the long term pros outweighing the bad (going with Skywest). If we transfer there we'd go back to first year pay but then the second (third etc.) year pay is substantially higher. If we stay with Mesa we are already "enjoying" (puke, gag) the ENORMOUS second year pay ... ;-) ... and his upgrade time is likely to be quicker since he now has seniority. HOWEVER, the Mesa situation is very uncertain and their lack of employee centricity is obvious ...

If he goes for Skywest, could he (and if so, would they) place him in ORD? He seems to think so since most of his buds have gone there and apparently there is a great need in ORD. However, some of your posts indicated differently (SLC etc.). We want to stay here in ORD. He's not looking at the Brasilia, but rather CRJ/ERJ.

Any thoughts, suggestions? I like to be informed so we make good choices ...

[amelia]

Dh has met so many Mesa guys here at Skywest. There is a huge need in ORD for the CRJ. It seems like most of the new hire guys go to either ORD or MKE (but he could get back to ORD pretty fast). When DH did his upgrade training, more than half the class was Mesa guys. One of his last FO's was a Mesa guy and he is much happier at SkyWest than he was a Mesa. I guess he hated Mesa (and so did all the guys he met when he was in upgrade training).

I know what you mean about that first year pay. But, I think it would all be worth it in the end.

Good luck on ya'lls decision.

[jr_lenz]

from my understanding, you don't get a choice of plane, we didn't find out until we got the class date, and it told us what plane DH was on. Maybe it is different if you are coming form another airline. but I pretty sure that they group interviews for all positions, then you are randomly assigned. What I mean is there is not specific interviews for CRJ's. FYI i'm not sure where express jet flys to, but if it is in your area, look into them, first year pay raise just went up and it is double that on skywests. probalby in trouble for saying that....

[rgphib]

Originally Posted by jr_lenz

FYI i'm not sure where express jet flys to, but if it is in your area, look into them, first year pay raise just went up and it is double that on skywests. probalby in trouble for saying that....

ExpressJet bases are: EWR, CLE, IAH (all as Continental Express); SAT and ONT (as branded flying) and LAX (as Delta flying). They only fly ERJ.

[Amanda]

Maggie-
Nick met some of his closest friends at Mesa. Mesa has poor mgt but some great pilots. He ended up lasting 3 years which is all he could take. Mind you Nick's goal was to get as many hours as possible and move to Cpt as quickly as possible. In order to do that he moved around... A LOT! I stayed put in PHX, hoping that this would all work out. He was able to get on with CAL earlier this year and it is his dream job.

We used to talk about him moving to another regional all the time while at Mesa, but for us it didn't make sense. Even though Mesa is a crappy airline he built seniority and really didn't want to take a step back with that and his pay, expecially since he was a Cpt building PIC time. If he was an FO with less seniority I think he would have moved to another regional.

If he goes to Skywest, most likely there is no guarantee what base he will get. It is a risk you will have to discuss. Good luck with your decision. Nick still has a lot of friends at Mesa praying that they get out soon.

[BAC]

Skywest's most junior base is ORD, so chances are if he went there he would get placed there right away.

I don't know much about the company.. but living at a base might improve quality of life for you both significantly. It all depends on what you prefer.

[roz]

Some airlines have training contracts. If you don't stay a given amount of time, they charge you for the cost of training. I'm pretty sure Mesa has one because I heard they are going after those that broke the contract. So, make sure he doesn't leave before the contracted time or you will have to pay them back.

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by roz

Some airlines have training contracts. If you don't stay a given amount of time, they charge you for the cost of training. I'm pretty sure Mesa has one because I heard they are going after those that broke the contract. So, make sure he doesn't leave before the contracted time or you will have to pay them back.

True Roz but although they took Nick's last paycheck and he also didn't get reimbursed his lost vacation time, I don't think he had to pay back anything towards training. Maybe they got more aggressive recently since theyhave lost a record number of pilots and can't seem to replace them all.

I'll have to check with him on that though... maybe he did have to pay something...

[roz]

In Arizona payout of vacation upon termination is based on company policy and, no doubt, Mesa doesn't allow for it. But that would not count towards the training contract, unless spelled out as part of the contract.

[amelia]

Originally Posted by roz

Some airlines have training contracts. If you don't stay a given amount of time, they charge you for the cost of training. I'm pretty sure Mesa has one because I heard they are going after those that broke the contract. So, make sure he doesn't leave before the contracted time or you will have to pay them back.

That sucks.