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XJ or AE?

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Hollywood82

Hollywood82

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Posts
182
Morning Gents,

Thanks for all the great input on my previous questions, you've all been very helpful.

XJ or AE?... if you were offered a job by both? I am from the MN area and XJ would be closer to home, but I would be in class 2 months earlier at AE.

XJ also offers travel privilages to parents, and XJ services into my hometown. If I worked for Eagle would my parents still be able to non-rev from home?

And the most important, JOB SECURITY. How does XJs future look with the DAL/NWA merger compared to AEs future with the possibility of being sold?

I know these questions may seem kinda dumb, but I've only seen 135 ops so far in my career.

Thanks in advance.
 
Not dumb questions at all. If I were you, I'd go to XJ. Once you try commuting, you'll hate life. Chances are you may be commuting no matter what you choose. MSP is probably gonna go really senior. With the NWA/DAL merger and the AE spinoff rumor, there are no guarantees.

Good luck. They both have their negatives and positives.
 
Neither is really a great option right now.... You are a year late for Mesaba and who knows about Eagle. But you have an outside shot at MSP (if you get the CR2) right out of class at Mesaba. So I'd at least see what they offer first. Commuting really does suck, really....
 
I'm willing to live at my domicile, commuting won't be an issue. I was just wondering what travel options my parents will have if I take the AE route. They live in a town serviced by NWA.

They have done alot for me, and I don't have much to give back to them. Free/ discounted travel would be a good start.

I'm favoring XJ, I was very impressed during the interview. Seemed like a good place to work with positive people. I'm just scared of the late class date.

Your thoughts?
 
Have you looked at XJET right now? Their stock is tanking, pilots are concerned about their jobs, things aren't good...
 
I will ask again, and so everyone know's I am referring to Mesaba as XJ.

I'm willing to live at my domicile, commuting won't be an issue. I was just wondering what travel options my parents will have if I take the AE route. They live in a town serviced by NWA.

They have done alot for me, and I don't have much to give back to them. Free/ discounted travel would be a good start.

I'm favoring XJ, I was very impressed during the interview. Seemed like a good place to work with positive people. I'm just scared of the late class date.

Your thoughts?
 
Hollywood82 said:
I will ask again, and so everyone know's I am referring to Mesaba as XJ.

I'm willing to live at my domicile, commuting won't be an issue. I was just wondering what travel options my parents will have if I take the AE route. They live in a town serviced by NWA.

They have done alot for me, and I don't have much to give back to them. Free/ discounted travel would be a good start.

I'm favoring XJ, I was very impressed during the interview. Seemed like a good place to work with positive people. I'm just scared of the late class date.

Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Go to XJ. Things aren't great at the regionals right now, nor at the majors, so go somewhere you can camp out and be comfortable (as much as possible). Mesaba is growing and if you get the Saab you can transfer to the "9" and fly to far off places like DFW and see the Eagle planes anyway. At least you won't have to be in San Juan. Go to XJ.


Bye Bye--General Lee
 
General Lee said:
Go to XJ. Things aren't great at the regionals right now, nor at the majors, so go somewhere you can camp out and be comfortable (as much as possible). Mesaba is growing and if you get the Saab you can transfer to the "9" and fly to far off places like DFW and see the Eagle planes anyway. At least you won't have to be in San Juan. Go to XJ.


Bye Bye--General Lee
Click to expand...

Why would he have to be in San Juan if he chose AE?
 
General Lee said:
Go to XJ. Things aren't great at the regionals right now, nor at the majors, so go somewhere you can camp out and be comfortable (as much as possible). Mesaba is growing and if you get the Saab you can transfer to the "9" and fly to far off places like DFW and see the Eagle planes anyway. At least you won't have to be in San Juan. Go to XJ.


Bye Bye--General Lee
Click to expand...

Thanks man. 3 year seat lock, unless you upgrade. But the plane I fly doesn't matter to me, its just another panel and set of systems. I already have 2 types, and fly a biz jet all over the country. I want QOL.

How about my parents flying non rev out of MN... If I take the AE job can they still non rev on NWA? Would there be any travel privilages? I have to think about them too. It looks like XJ just seems to work out better for me.
 
XJ Parents get non-rev benefits on both Delta and NWA. For Parents, Delta is free....even for 1st class. NWA you pay a small service charge. Come to XJ, things are pretty good here!
 
Things are slow right now at mesaba, but they are slow at Eagle too. Why would you think we have had a lot of street captains from there? I would say if you are from MN, try for XJ, I have commuted and lived in base. I liked living in Base so much, I decided to take a different Capt seat which will put me on reserve in my home city for years to come. Like I said, living in a city where you have friends and are close to home. I think if you are worried about your parents so much, they mean something to you, so better to have them close. (they can stop in and see you when they come to MSP to non rev)
 
Got to agree with Hawk... I'm looking at a long time on reserve.... probably til I leave this company. But it's not that bad being at home.... done the reserve thing in the crash pad before, not so much fun.... Though still not the end of the world here (granted that was with 15 days off instead of 11 back in the good old CVG days)
I never really considered travel benefits when deciding where to send off resumes... But Delta has some of the best and we are now supposedly getting those as part of the merger so maybe that is a selling point.... I don't know since I rarely go anywhere with them.
 
Thanks guys.

Looks like XJ for me. They were great to me during the interview. I did (as of Friday) accept their employment offer. I just wanted to make sure that I made the right decision. Looks like I did.

I don't care which plane they put me in but I would hope for MSP or MEM, but I'll go whereever they send me.

Anything you XJ guys can tell me about working at Mesaba? Good and Bad.

Thanks
 
I got hired into XJ back in NOV last yr. I was flying 135/91 prior and I love the change, even though I am on reserve I finally have a schedule, the flying is fun, the people are great. The former AE's in my class are seeming to enjoy it also. Hope to see you soon.
 
Since no one answered about the non-rev questions at Eagle...Yes your parents would get non-rev priviledges. But only on AA and AE, not on NWA. Plus there will be a service charge for your first 5 years. Since you are in MSP, I also think that XJ is your best choice. I've got a few buddies at XJ, and they seem to like it over there.
 
I got hired with the limey guy above and have to agree, as someone with the same background mesaba has been a very good change. I'll also be on reserve forever, but living in base is the key.

No, the timing isn't great, a year or so ago would have been better, but considering the options I think you'll like it here. Good people.
 
Reserve here isn't that bad especially if you are coming from a 135 background.... but you HAVE to live in base for that to be true.
 
WMUSIGPI said:
Reserve here isn't that bad especially if you are coming from a 135 background.... but you HAVE to live in base for that to be true.
Click to expand...

I am a 135 Chief Pilot, I get between 3 and 6 days off a month. My current company likes to count on call as a day off. Rules change depending on the DOs mood. When I started this job last year they told me there would be 2 jets added to the cert., instead we added two PA-31s. Guess what I flew this morning... It will just be good to be in a professional environment again. Wish class was sooner!

How's the QOL in DTW? I have friends in MSP and MEM so that would be my first choice.
 
Hollywood82 said:
How's the QOL in DTW? I have friends in MSP and MEM so that would be my first choice.
Click to expand...

QOL is great, arguably (personal preference) DTW is the nicest hub to work out of. I prefer it over the other two by far. That being said, we are very well staffed-MEM seems to need some guys as of late and MSP needs on the 200 are increasing. As an FO you could have a shot at any base, however, MEM is the most junior follwed by DTW...MSP is notoriously senior-you might hold it but will probably be on reserve longer.
 
Seniority

Raskal said:
QOL is great, arguably (personal preference) DTW is the nicest hub to work out of. I prefer it over the other two by far. That being said, we are very well staffed-MEM seems to need some guys as of late and MSP needs on the 200 are increasing. As an FO you could have a shot at any base, however, MEM is the most junior follwed by DTW...MSP is notoriously senior-you might hold it but will probably be on reserve longer.
Click to expand...

You're not lying about MSP.. When I finished training last august, I was sitting # 30 in DTW right out of training, and held a line right after my Greenline (that won't happen now). People in my class who went to MSP were sitting at #80 or lower and straight reserve for months....
 
Limeyflyer said:
I got hired into XJ back in NOV last yr. I was flying 135/91 prior and I love the change, even though I am on reserve I finally have a schedule, the flying is fun, the people are great. The former AE's in my class are seeming to enjoy it also. Hope to see you soon.
Click to expand...

I was one of the former Eagle pilots that Limey and Raskal was talking about. I can tell you that you're better off at XJ. Dont get me wrong, Eagle was great too. I lived in base with them, the work rules were very similar and the pilot group was also pretty good. But even if you come in at the bottom at XJ you'll be better off then at Eagle. Why? b/c there's no growth at eagle and no movement what so ever. I went to eagle to escape the 135/91 world (which sux by the way). I didnt regret it at all b/c even though I took at $20,000 pay cut at eagle I was home alot more and was able to fly the SAAB for almost a year before getting hired as a Saab captain at XJ. I commute with XJ and yeah living in base makes life ALOT and I mean ALOT better. But I tell you what my friend my QOL with 11 days off a month and commuting is still 50 times better than it was when I flew charter and was 15 minutes from the airport.
Once you make it through ground school and Sim training you'll get hit with the regional experience like a cold bucket of water. You'll get on the line, be happy that you are out of charter and you will hear a lot of whining and complaining about having to do ready reserve, and only having 15 days off, and wah wah wah. My advice is to tune out a lot of the crying and complaining and just enjoy your job. I can promise you this, that it doesn't matter what regional you go to, the issues are always the same. Management is greedy and f-ed up! and pilots will always complain.
Welcome to XJ and keep living the dream :beer:
 
WMUSIGPI said:
Reserve here isn't that bad especially if you are coming from a 135 background.... but you HAVE to live in base for that to be true.
Click to expand...

True, but even as a commuter with 11 days off a month I am loving this a heck of a lot more.
Doing 135 is like being ready reserve 24/7!

OOOOOHHHH!!!!! :puke:
PLEASE DONT REMIND ME!!
 
Flybet3 said:
I was one of the former Eagle pilots that Limey and Raskal was talking about. I can tell you that you're better off at XJ. Dont get me wrong, Eagle was great too. I lived in base with them, the work rules were very similar and the pilot group was also pretty good. But even if you come in at the bottom at XJ you'll be better off then at Eagle. Why? b/c there's no growth at eagle and no movement what so ever. I went to eagle to escape the 135/91 world (which sux by the way). I didnt regret it at all b/c even though I took at $20,000 pay cut at eagle I was home alot more and was able to fly the SAAB for almost a year before getting hired as a Saab captain at XJ. I commute with XJ and yeah living in base makes life ALOT and I mean ALOT better. But I tell you what my friend my QOL with 11 days off a month and commuting is still 50 times better than it was when I flew charter and was 15 minutes from the airport.
Once you make it through ground school and Sim training you'll get hit with the regional experience like a cold bucket of water. You'll get on the line, be happy that you are out of charter and you will hear a lot of whining and complaining about having to do ready reserve, and only having 15 days off, and wah wah wah. My advice is to tune out a lot of the crying and complaining and just enjoy your job. I can promise you this, that it doesn't matter what regional you go to, the issues are always the same. Management is greedy and f-ed up! and pilots will always complain.
Welcome to XJ and keep living the dream :beer:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Flybet3. My goal is to live in MSP. I know commuting sucks but how bad would a DTW - MSP or MEM - MSP commute be? one leg? should be easy right?
 
Commuting to MEM isn't too easy cause there are so few flights. DTW-MSP is a more crowded commute but there are a LOT more options to get there including making connections through MKE, GRR, IND, ect...
 
Don't forget about FedEx. The flight times aren't the greatest but it's almost a guaranteed ride to/from work.
 

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