Mesa Pay

[wheelsup]

Does anyone out there especially Mesa guys relize comair FO's are taking a 20 percent paycut, and will still be paid $4/hr more per hour

Comair isn't the only one.

AWAC 2nd year FO pay prior to concessions
CRJ200 (50 seat): $39/hr
Mesa: $28/hr

After 15% concessions: $34/hr
Mesa: $28/hr

The Truth - $4/hr is over $4k/yr. While I agree it's not a tremendous amount of $$ every $1/hr is $1,000/yr more income. Also, mesa's per diem is what, $1.17 or something? With average trip lengths over the course of the year, I will earn over $1,000 more in non-taxable per diem here. So my first year pay is ~$24,000* as opposed to $22,000* or so for mesa, second year jumps to $36,000* vs. $29,000* - pretty significant when you're talking about that low of pay in general, IMO.

*Using the tried and true hourly x 1000 hrs. Doesn't include "soft" pay. Includes per diem.

Still, if you want a quick upgrade and can put up with the initial lower pay, go to mesa. If you made your choice to go to another company and receive higher pay (initially, until you upgrade @ mesa) then don't expect to upgrade as quick as the mesa people and don't b1tch out it. I made my choice, and am so far happy with it...

You can't have good pay, good QOL, and quick upgrade. It just doesn't work like that...

~wheelsup

 

[The Truth]

Good post wheelsup.

"You can't have good pay, good QOL, and quick upgrade. It just doesn't work like that..."

Can't argue that!

 

[NJA bound]

I started at NetJets a couple months ago, FOs salary is $46,286. the first year, and perdiem adds up to around another 5K on top of that that you should be able to save because the company buys your meals while you're flying.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Just curious what is the sched like there, is it on-call or do u bid lines?

I've never actually heard how it's done over there...

(serious question!)

 

[RCA]

First I fly for comair. And your right 4 bucks is nothing, however prior to the 20 PECENT PAY REDUCTION it was $13 or so which is like the truth said 13k. Not to mention $1.75 vs $1.21 per diem not to mention work rules.
I feel like Im fighting with the old lady. We all agree the industry sucks. But when someone points something out they defend the sucky part.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

$13,000 is alot of money per year. What the fark have we all gotten ourselves into? I feel for you RCA....good luck.

 

[The Truth]

Okay, RCA, what's your point? Every post you make is bashing Mesa, claiming Mesa is solely the reason for all of your troubles, blah, blah, blah. What is it you're ultimately after? How about this...I'll try and convice every Mesa pilot on this board to contribute to an "RCA Relief Fund". Would that do it?

Do yourself a favor. Read the Business section of your local paper...not just today, or tomorrow, nor even for the next week. Read it for a month (don't worry, you can still read the funny pages!). Familiarize yourself with the plight of all the unionized auto labor employees who have had their jobs cut after 20+ years with the company. THOUSANDS of them! And maybe all the THOUSANDS of tech sector jobs that have been outsourced overseas due to cheaper labor costs. You know that Indian voice you get when you call for a problem with your computer? Well, that used to be an American voice, ya know? Yeah, and that's just a SAMPLING of the injustices going on in the business world today. You're not alone, by any means!

If you refuse to believe me that the aviation business isn't fair, and owes you NOTHING, then how about this...LIFE ISN'T FAIR EITHER! Life could give a rats a$$ if you went into debt on financing your flight training, or how much sacrifice you went through to get to your "dream job". It could care LESS that your wages were cut by 20%. Boo-freaking-HOO! Guess what...if you're a man, you suck it up, and do something about it.

If you're having trouble making ends meet due to your wages being cut, then perhaps try a second job. Why do you think such a large proportion of Realtors are pilots? Either they do it to cure boredom, or maybe they actually need the money. Were all the USAir, Delta, and United pilots crying like little girls when they had their wages and pensions cut?...blaming everyone for their misfortunes? Maybe a few, but the majority sucked it up, and if they HAD to, went out and found other means of supplementing their income. They were ADULTS...something I'm doubting you'll ever be.

Sorry if I'm sounding harsh, but you need to quit blaming everyone else for your "misfortunes" (and is it really that bad!) and get on with life.

Your friend,
Dr. Phil

 

[RCA]

Im not blaming anyone. Personally I could give a rats arss about any of this crap thats going on, however I have a difficult time understanding how another ALPA carrier can fly the same stuff for a lot less. The truth is you must work for MESA. I do have a second job, I will suck it up. And if comair goes under and The upgrade at mesa is 6 months I will refuse to work there

 

[The Truth]

Good try. I don't work for Mesa, never have, never would...nor any regional for that matter. I did my 3-1/2 years at one, got out, went back to my previous career, and never looked back. I got sick of a lot of the BS you're sick of during my tenure in aviation, and decided it wasn't worth it anymore. By far the best decision I've made thus far in my life.

Fortunately, we live in America, and not some Communist regime. We are afforded choices. If we make a poor choice, or are unhappy with the choices we made, we can choose to do something to better ourselves, and our lives. If you're unhappy with putting up with all the crap in the aviation industry, perhaps look into doing something else? Trust me, it may not be easy at first, but you may end up looking back (like me) and seeing that it was the best thing that could have happened to you.

Just a thought.

 

[imisscorplife]

Great post! Ive been with Mesa for 5 months after being in corporate for a short period of time. I thought it would be better to get all that flight time much faster, but Ive already put in my 2 weeks at Mesa because their contract (which I didnt even have any experience with) is horrbile and I cant afford to live on those wages while being treated like an inmate. The crews at Mesa are the only thing that keeps you sane there..... I just know its not for me so im leaving them to go back to corporate and better my QOL. I will tell people how it is there if they are curious about the company, but you shouldnt just start bashing the company because your company isnt doing so good. We are the "Made in China" airline and it is hard for anyone to compete against us with contracts, but thats how THEY run the company, not the pilots. I agree, hopefully ALPA and the pilot group can do something for all the pilots out there when it comes time to make some changes to the pilot contract. Are you this negative in the cockpit? Your captain just wants you to STFU and fly. stop whining because you will never win. We all need to be in this together and unfortunately it takes more than a couple thousand grievances to make a change to any union contract out there. Im VENTED!

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

RCA - Maybe your lack of understanding is your problem.

ComAir's contract was signed under very different economic, industry and company ownership conditions.

ComAir's contract was signed pre 9/11. The airline industry was at its peak, and regionals airlines were the darlings...ComAir in particular. Delta had just gotten through paying 1 billion for ComAir (isn't that right?). So what was Delta going to do when it came contract time and the pilots went on strike? Was Delta going to shut the place down when they just shelled out a billion dollars? Yes, it was gutsy of the pilot group to strike, but then again they had a lot of bargaining leverage in their favor.

Mesa's contract, however, was signed post 9/11 which means very different economic, and airline industry conditions. Then there is the whole Freedom - alter-ego mess. Also, Mesa is not owned in whole or in part by any airline for which it provides feed. In short, we did not feel like we possessed the bargaining leverage we needed to get a much better contract. Most people say that we were gutless and a host of other things, but then again most did not know, and still don't know the facts. Also, these people were not in our shoes.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Spaceman,

Nice 50-seater in your avatar.

 

[Bryan D]

Free lunches!

I started at NetJets a couple months ago, FOs salary is $46,286. the first year, and perdiem adds up to around another 5K on top of that that you should be able to save because the company buys your meals while you're flying.

I hate it when people that toot their own horn! $51,286. plus free lunch. Just remember this, there are no free lunches. :laugh:

My dad can beat your mom up.:smash:

 

[NJA bound]

Bryan,

Didn't mean to sound like I was tootin, just letting people know there are options other than the airlines. The starting base salary is 46,286. and you should make at least 5,000 more in overtime or extended day pay, so you should easily clear 50K, you can than add the 5K perdium ontop of that, and I guess I should also mention the medical, dental and vision is 100% paid for by the company, and a 401K that matches 50% of what you put in up to 15% of your salary, not a bad place to be.

And they are doing a lot of hiring right now.

 

[Nancy Pryor]

Please tell people how it is there

Ive been with Mesa for 5 months after being in corporate for a short period of time. ...... I will tell people how it is there if they are curious about the company ......

Please do that. I'm interested, and I'm sure many others here are too. What is a typical trip like at Mesa? We know what the pay is, but what is the lifestyle actually like when you're there? How do other crews treat you? What is a typical day there like? Anyone else who actually works or worked at Mesa please chime in also. Looking for useful information, not just the same old bashing. Thanks.