TSA or ASA?

[buster232]

Greetings all,
Well I am lucky enough to have a decision to make regarding which of these two great companies to work for. I have sucessfully completed interviews with both. My initial thought is to take the 1st class and run with it but I was looking for some feedback from this forum.

I feel like ASA offers better Domiciles, higher second year pay, and paid housing during trainig but TSA offers better stability and higher first year pay but you pay for your own housing during training so it is a wash.
My only concern right now is what effect a potential Delta Bankruptcy and contract issues could mean for ASA (Strike?). Likewise for US Airways at TSA.
Does anyone have any opinions on this?
P.S. I am just glad to have gotten an offer

Thanks for your help.

 

[lowecur]

Go with the Transportation Security Agency(TSA). The pay and benefits are better.

 

[CODs4ever]

Domicile is everything

Where do you want to live? Commuting is a huge issue if you care at all about your quality of life. I was faced with a similar choice between two regionals and I picked based on location. I could commute or I could live within 2 hours of my base. That was a no brainer...

 

[Varmint]

Buster,

What are your goals? Do you plan to stay at a regional or continue to a major in a few years? How old are you?

If your goal is to work for a regional to build time for a major, pick the one with the shortest upgrade time to Capt. so you can build that coveted PIC turbine. At ASA, the upgrade will probably be 3-4 years if people start getting picked up soon and we do end up getting another 25 airplanes starting in Jan, 2005.

If your goal includes possibly staying at a regional because of age issues or domicile issues and you want to live in ATL or DFW, ASA is the place for you. People will spread rumors and complain about life anywhere but ultimately it is all what you make of it after you learn how to ignore the lounge lizzards. I am able to support a family of 4 on my income here at ASA (5 years of seniority). Things are tight but they work. The scheduling departments is my only beef at ASA but most of the issues should change in the next contract. Realize that most airlines' scheduling departments don't give a crap about your life or plans so when people complain about ASA's scheduling it's pretty much a moot point. With all that said things are good here and the paychecks come on time.

Also, in regards to striking, just keep in mind that TSA will negotiate a new contract at some point also. While the possibility of a strike exists at ASA, it also exists in the near or distant future at TSA (not sure when their PWA is up for negotiations).

Good Luck with your decision if you have anymore questions PM me.

 

[B190Captain]

That's not what I have heard about ASA upgrade. I heard around 7-8 years.

 

[701EV]

Are you kidding?

ASA!

Do you really want to work for H.K. He is right under J.O.

I got turned down by TSA a couple of years ago. My buddy who was their told me it was a blessing in disguise, he was right.

701EV

 

[BRA]

I don't work for either. Both still have some props on the property i believe. If you don't like props...consider a worst case senerio... getting the ATR at ASA (a very big prop), or the J41 at TSA (a very cramped prop).

 

[Sinca3]

Both

I've worked at both and don't regret making the jump from TSA. Yes I could be sitting in the left seat right now on the J41 but I would be living in St Louis or Richmond (no thanks!!) My quality of life is pretty good here at ASA although I am still in the right seat. You can make a living here that's why I jumped from TSA.
I am not knocking TSA b/c I actually enjoyed my stint there, but I would have to go with ASA. Personally I don't think a bankrupcy by DAL would affect ASA too drastically. I also wouldn't say TSA is more stable....I wouldn't say anything in this industry is stable!!
ASA puts you up during training and the training is very good. TSA on the other hand is always trying to wash you out, atleast that is how it used to be.
Right now you can't really go wrong with either. A job in this industry is hard to come by and you are very fortunate to have a choice at all.
Good Luck on your decision
Sinca

 

[Ganja60Heavy]

TSA vs. ASA......duh!

I mean....consider the jobs:

A good day at ASA:

......flying a gusty ILS to minimums and having the cute babe in seat 3B say "nice landing."

A good day at TSA:

....... heroically confiscating a cuticle nipper from someone's grandma and forcing a pilot to remove his shoes because everyone's an Arab in disguise.

 

[buster232]

ASA or Trans States

All
My situation is..... I am 33 and have 1000 ME Turbine PIC however I have only 1600 TT. If the opportunity avails itself in the future to take a position that is going to be a better life for me/us I will probabaly pursue it but for now I am looking for some stability (That is why I am leaving the military 8 homes in ten years and 9 months home of the last two years) so I do not plan on/want to be job hopping for the next few years plus, who knows what the future of this industry is anyway. That is why I would hav reservations about a strike or Bankruptcy. Everyone that I have talked to with at ASA doesn't think that it is an issue so maybe I am reading in to it.

QOL is very important to me and of the 4 possible domiciles ATL would at first seem to the best. Then RIC, DFW, and STL but I have never spent any extended time in any of them a quick upgrade would be a plus do to the increase in pay=QOL but who knows which way the industry will be going then. I don't know enough about the QOL at either airline to make an informed decision.
I realize that these forums can often be a spot for venting and "my airline is better than yours" so I appreciate any constrctive feedback. I am just trying to figure out, if one airline is better and why?



Thx
Thnx

 

[CF34-3B1]

Re: ASA or Trans States

That is why I would hav reservations about a strike or Bankruptcy. Everyone that I have talked to with at ASA doesn't think that it is an issue so maybe I am reading in to it.

ASA, as other posters on this board are so fond of pointing out, is a separate company. And it's solidly in the black.

BK at DAL is possible, although a lot of people think it's mostly just a threat GG is using to get concessions from the mainline guys.

What would CH11 at Big D do to us here at ASA? Anyone's guess is as good as mine, but it seems to me one of the first things to go out the window of the bankruptcy court room would be the restriction on the number of CR7s, so it would probably mean more movement at ASA and CMR. It may not even take CH11 to see that, it may just be one of the consessions mainline winds up giving.

Those of us who'd eventually like to get hired at mainline honestly DON'T want to see a new flood of big RJs, and ceertainly don't want to see CH11 at DAL, but just from the viewpoint of a possible ASA newhire who isn't looking to go to a major, it might not really be a terrible thing short term.

As far as domicile choices, I've lived in ATL and DFW, and both are good places, with lots of options for living, recreation, etc.