Pinnacle vs. Mesaba

[Boris Badenov]

Just how horrible is the life of a 9E reserve captain? Would a "semi-street-captain" hired today spend three years of 10 days off a month, or will the PBS system benefit reserve guys at all?

Thanks.

 

[bluefishbeagle]

It doesn't matter which you choose because both make sure you will not want to stay any longer than necessary to build time and move on.

The top of the pay scale is the carrot, and the work rules quality of life is the stick.

 

[kmox29]

Wow...I've been gone over a year, but the gool ol' grudge match between 9E and XJ is still alive! I thought with the creation of Compass that you guys would join in a unified hatred of the new stepchild.

I don't miss the job, but I certainly miss the people I worked with at XJ. I wish all of you the best.

 

[willbob]

Clearly, you've never been married. A "snap back" is what happens when your wife mouths off at you after you did something she perceives as wrong. The worst is when a 'snap back' happens even if you haven't done anything wrong! This case is known as "that time of the month" you should try to bid away from home...

Now that,s funny!, actually I thought is was what happens when you get a bunch of high school boys in the gym shower room with wet rat tailed towels..ouch

 

[FlyingGuy]

Currently Mesaba has better work rules but who knows once 9E's contract is done? Another factor since you want DTW is that is Pinnacle's junior base which will help your QOL while I believe DTW is senior for Mesaba.

 

[AvroJockey]

I remember this exact thread about 2-3 years ago. All the the Mesaba pilots were saying go to Mesaba, and all the Pinnacle pilots were saying go to Mesaba. Some eventually pointed out the obvious!

Anyway...I spent 8 years at Mesaba, and enjoyed my time there. Sure, there were tuff times, but I always enjoyed going to work there. The people you work with on a day-to-day basis are first class. Also, now that JR is back things can will only get better!

You don't hear any Pinnacle pilots singing praises about their airline.

 

[FlyingGuy]

"You don't hear any Pinnacle pilots singing praises about their airline."

That may be because we don't know how to polish a turd.....however we have great people too and I for one enjoy the flying. However there is no getting around the low pay and lousy work rules. Both companies have to live under the thumb of penny-pinchers that take orders from NWA. Meanwhile Pinnacle stock is up 200% in the past year and management doesn't appear to have QOL issues. You never know until you leave or retire if you picked the right company. Pinnacle is a gamble now in my opinion until the contract is finished. We may be on strike later this year or we may end up with a decent (for a regional) agreement. The good thing is there is no reason you have to stay if things don't work out. They're both stepping stones for most people though I know many that would like to be there for good if some reasonable improvements were made.

 

[fly4ever]

A snapback is something that is supposed to happen when "growth" actually occurs which is not happening at Mesaba. "Replacement" is what is happening.

"Growth" is a long ways off.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

22 of 26 New Hires on the latest vacancy are going to DTW. MSP will start moving again once the 200 training kick back into gear. MEM is a stagnant right now until the 900 makes its way down there. Most junior cpt is DTW, MSP is pretty close.

 

[Boris Badenov]

And about the QOL if you come in with 3500 and upgrade fast?

Sorry, but I don't know where else to ask. 10 days off for 3 years makes all that jet PIC seem way less sweet.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

Just how horrible is the life of a 9E reserve captain? Would a "semi-street-captain" hired today spend three years of 10 days off a month, or will the PBS system benefit reserve guys at all?

Thanks.

You will never get off of reserve (unless you plan to make 9E a career) and never get more than 10 days (probably 8 or 9) a month off.

Guys hired during the middle of 2004 who upgraded within a few months (semi-street captain?) are just now starting to see lines, and only because of PBS. Hiring levels won't be nearly as high as they have been for the past three years, so it will take forever while you wait for 600 FOs senior to you to upgrade.

 

[FlyingGuy]

At Pinnacle the reserve times in DTW are fairly short. People will often bid DTW for upgrade because of this. I can't give you specifics since I'm not based there.
memphis is a different story where captains are on reserve for a long time.

 

[SplitBar]

A snapback is something that is supposed to happen when "growth" actually occurs which is not happening at Mesaba. "Replacement" is what is happening.

"Growth" is a long ways off.

Tell that to a new hire who is going to see XJ more than double in size over the next couple years. Factor in attrition and XJ is "growing" like crazy. Call it what you want but life doesn't suck at XJ right now.... Deal with it.

:beer:

 

[PinnacleDude]

The people I know at Mesaba are great folks. Whenever I have needed a ride, etc., they have gone out of their way. The pilots at Pinnacle are also great and I have enjoyed getting to know them.

With that said, there is no way around our contract. It is terrible and our upper level managment is .... well don't have anything nice to say about them. Some of the local managment guys are great and some ... well .. .. Reserve is just plain wrong. If you want to know how it feels to be a street Captain just picture this little phrase in your head for 2-3 straight years "BOHICA". It's like that old drug commercial. This is your life. Now this is your life on Pinnacle Reserve.

I am sure you get the picture now. If anyone comes to Pinnacle, be prepared to meet a lot of great pilots. Just know that you are seen by management as a liability and will be treated as such when it benefits them.

Good luck with your flying career. May I recommend Expressjet?

 

[XJohXJ]

A snapback is something that is supposed to happen when "growth" actually occurs which is not happening at Mesaba. "Replacement" is what is happening.

"Growth" is a long ways off.

Nevertheless, at Mesaba, snapbacks are what happens after any growth over 49 Saabs, of which we seem to be getting plenty. The snapbacks are scheduled for Dec 2008, and should increase until Dec 2010.