Mesa has ALWAYS been a bottom feeder.
ASA, I wouldn't call them a bottom feeder. They have however ended up in a crappy situation. Pre 9/11, they had what was at the time a pretty good contract. After ACA's 2001, Comair's contract, and AWAC's, they would have been next in line to "jack up the house" as they say.
Now, with managment bending them over since 9/11, 9/11, stalled contract talks, DAL in Ch.11 (basically cutting them off), and being sold to SkyWest, then have ZERO leverage to even try and negotiate anything better. I don't envy thier MEC's postition at all.