Xpress Jet or Mesa

[shroomwell]

I want opinions from people on who they think would be the best to work for and for what reasons. Who has best upgrade times, best pay, best quality of life etc.

 

[TOGA]

ExJet!

 

[Stinkbug]

My guess is upgrade time will be faster at Mesa, but considering the shaky ground their partners are on, going there may come back to haunt you in a few years. On the other hand, ExpressJet is going through contract negotiations and there's the risk that you could be a casualty if things went as far as a strike. Overall, ExpressJet has a better reputation, although Mesa would be a fine choice too, especially if you're just looking to build your resume.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm being wishy-washy, but in my opinion you can't really go wrong either way.

 

[phishhman]

XJet. I would rather clean toilets with my tongue than fly for Mesa.

 

[mckpickle]

You must live in the southwest. Otherwise you wouldn't even be asking this. XJET no doubt. Our contract is 5 years old and better than Mesa's. And when our new one comes out we WILL be the highest paid regional.

Plus the upgrade time might not be too bad. CAL is starting to recall and that is making romm for almost 400 pilots. That means 400 upgrades plus whatever growth we get. Many people may beotch about XJET but is is a good place with determinded people.


OR you could go fly a 1900 upgrade and make less than our FO's. Or you could enjoy 8 days a month off while on reserve at MESA. (sorry....8 days per bid period. ie 9.2 days off a month).

Dude hitch your wagon to a winner not a loser. MESA is fish sh1t in the pond scum.

 

[d.fitz]

As I was told by a friend at a crappy commuter.

"you'd never believe how much you can hate flying!"

Take your time and go with a winner dude...

Xjet will have the best contract in the industry in less than 6 months....

I have friends at Mesa too and they dont like it much....

 

[I.P. Freley]

Q: What happens when XJet's "exclusive" deal with Continental expires in a few years?

The only reason I ask is that an XJ captain I ran across recently, and a fairly senior one at that I gather, suggested to me that XJ was "screwed" (his term, not mine) when that point rolls around. He seemed to think they'd have to take concessions at that point or lose the Continental code-share... Because they wouldn't be able to compete with, among others, Mesa.

Frankly, this had never occurred to me until he brought it up, so.... Any thoughts from those currently in the XJ trenches?

 

[Stinkbug]

I would rather clean toilets with my tongue than fly for Mesa.

Get over yourself, man. Trust me, if you fly for a regional, you don't have it that great, no matter where you're at.

OR you could go fly a 1900 upgrade and make less than our FO's.

McPickle, how long do you have to be an FO at ExpressJet before you're making $30 plus an hour? Not that that's a lot of money but does ExpressJet honestly pay their FO's this before four or five years' longevity with the company? Consider that a Mesa pilot as it stands right now will be in the left seat of an RJ by that point, and that's after having spent a couple of years in the left seat of the 1900 or Dash. If you want to argue the merits of ExpressJet based on the great pilots or work rules or something, that's fine. But try not to let your emotion get in the way of your argument. Mesa's contract is inferior, but that can always change down the road and shouldn't be the sole reason for choosing a job at this level.

I have several friends at both companies and again, for the experience you'll get, they're both great choices. You'll be flying top-notch equipment to diverse destinations and be surrounded by a lot of terrific people. As I said before, currently ExpressJet has a better reputation and a seemingly healthier affiliate. Currently Mesa has a shorter upgrade time and better domiciles. Tough choice, but at least you have one.

 

[nimtz]

Q: What happens when XJet's "exclusive" deal with Continental expires in a few years?

The only reason I ask is that an XJ captain I ran across recently, and a fairly senior one at that I gather, suggested to me that XJ was "screwed" (his term, not mine) when that point rolls around. He seemed to think they'd have to take concessions at that point or lose the Continental code-share... Because they wouldn't be able to compete with, among others, Mesa.

Frankly, this had never occurred to me until he brought it up, so.... Any thoughts from those currently in the XJ trenches?

According to the deal that won't happen until Mid '07. In this business that's a long time away and I'm sure the industry will look nothing like it does today. H*ll Cal might well be merged into DAL before then. Maybe the Mesa guys will finally get the b*lls to stand up to Johnny O by then.

In my opinon the whole thing is subject to change because our Board of Directers real interest is more in CAL rather then XJet. That's why were really a shell of a corporation at the whip of CAL.

I'm sure in do time CAL will bring in someone else to fly jets for CAL, most likely Skywest. However I don't believe it will be as adverse to an XJet career as the captain you talked to seems to think. I'm not going to laugh at concessions until our TA is signed. Eventually we will be part of the portfolio just like DAL, but like I said before we might be working for DAL by '07 anyways.

It will affect our negotating abilities in future contracts. That's why this contract is so critical for us. If we go on strike CAL is f*cked. There is no other regional that takes up as much of the mainline operation as we do for CAL.

 

[Ben Franklin]

Q: What happens when XJet's "exclusive" deal with Continental expires in a few years?

Why would CAL buy 374 airplanes, paint them in the mother ship colors and then terminate the agreement to have those jets flown?

- CAL could end up dissin' XJT and put the planes on its certificate, thereby creating instant demand for 3000+ more CAL pilots.

- CAL could end up dissin' XJT and five 374 planes to another carrier to fly for less money, thereby creating instant demand for 3000+ pilots.

- I could be extremely drunk right now on wine, chess and my american life!

Sincerely,

B. Franklin

 

[mckpickle]

McPickle, how long do you have to be an FO at ExpressJet before you're making $30 plus an hour? Not that that's a lot of money but does ExpressJet honestly pay their FO's this before four or five years' longevity with the company?

In the third year pay scale. (IE after being there for 2 years) the pay is 30.11 an hour, a rate that hasn't changed because our contract became ammendable.

 

[mckpickle]

Q: What happens when XJet's "exclusive" deal with Continental expires in a few years?

The only reason I ask is that an XJ captain I ran across recently, and a fairly senior one at that I gather, suggested to me that XJ was "screwed" (his term, not mine) when that point rolls around. He seemed to think they'd have to take concessions at that point or lose the Continental code-share... Because they wouldn't be able to compete with, among others, Mesa.

Frankly, this had never occurred to me until he brought it up, so.... Any thoughts from those currently in the XJ trenches?

A very valid point and one that not enough people are thinking about. I'd like to say that with one pilots union representing the Continental "Brand" name that our union brothers at CAL will toe the line so that all CAL or Express pilots end up performing CAL Brand flying. BUT we see how the CAL pilots continue to infight and shoot themselves in the foot. Kind of sad that we are counting on them. So basically ya we're fukced

 

[Otto Coarsen]

Mckpickle

This thread is PERFECT for you!!! It seems anytime Mesa is mentioned on this board, you're so fast to chime in with a "God I hate Mesa" or "Mesa Sucks" or something along those lines... A truely deep seeded hatred....

NOW someone is pitting Mesa (your arch enemy) against Continental Express (The biggest point of pride in your life).. Beautiful....

Wake up pal, Mesa may suck, but so does just about EVERY other regional including CoEx...
___________________________________________________

As for the original question: The "Mature" follow up posts were right on... Go wherever! The best regional to work for is the one that will hire you... Choose one based on bases and equipment and whatever else floats your boat....

The botom line is that things at the regionals change constantly. In the past, Comair SUCKED! it was PFT and paid jack crap... Now people "wood out" on them as if they were ATA or Airtran caliber.. Chautaqua used to be very VERY small and had a fairly crummy reputation, now they're kickin tail.... ACA may be the next southwest... Tons of 1000 Hour wonders once thought Eagle was the last interview they'd ever go for (Flowthrough to AA) and now they're recently recalled SJU ATR FO's with all kinds of problems... More 1000 Hr wonders also laughed at PSA Dojet drivers when they left for ERJ school with Coex Pre-911... Some of them just declined recalls cause they now work as accountants or something...

Nough said.....

Mesa offers a variety of planes and bases nationwide... Their pay is about the same as everyone elses... They are going to hire over 1000 pilots in '04 which will nearly double their seniority list.. They have a MATCHED 401k (few others offer that)! Upgrade in the DHC-8 and BE1900 are LESS than 1 year... I heard about a dude in DHC upgrade class NOW who was a Newhire 4 months ago!! That's the fastest upgrade in a 30,000+ Lb aircraft around!

 

[SneakyJake]

The January class at Mesa will probably type the DHC-8 guys and some will probably go straight to captain. Not bad for first year pay.

 

[mckpickle]

Just show me a non Mesa regional pilot that has anything flattering to say. Hey I know the Regionals suck, but come one what they did is inexcusable. It would be one thing if it were a new play out of the play book, but jeez Lorenzo did this all 20 years ago. And now My company and Mesaba and Comair and ACA and Air whisky and CHQ and everyone else has to deal with it. So no I don't like Mesa, I think they caved and are hurting the profession.

 

[ACE]

McPickle, how long do you have to be an FO at ExpressJet before you're making $30 plus an hour?

LMAO

 

[Stinkbug]

ACE,

Understandable. I'm not defending the wages at Mesa. In my opinion, they're too low at every regional (yours included). I was just trying to get McPickle to clarify his point regarding right seat pay at ExpressJet.

 

[Beantown]

In the third year pay scale. (IE after being there for 2 years) the pay is 30.11 an hour, a rate that hasn't changed because our contract became ammendable.

And Mesa's 3rd yr jet pay is $30.57. What's your point? The fact is that Mesa first, second, and thrid yr jet pay is better then at Coex but Mcpu$$y would have you think that Coex is the end all be all to all other regionals. What ever. I have a good friend that is a 2nd yr FO(for pay, 4th yr seniority) at Coex and he just got off a two yr furlough and can't even hold weekends off on reserve in Newerk! At Mesa he would have been holding a line from day one (Phl and Den) and would be a 4th yr CA because he wouldn't have been on the street. So instead of making $27+ an hr getting abused on reserve he would be making $56+ and holding a line.

I'm not trying to say that Mesa is better then anyone else (I would have to be a good fiction writer to do that) but I am sick of people that have no idea about Mesa constatly taking shots. Give it a break or do some REAL research first. -Bean

 

[145FO]

Go to Mesa. The upgrade time should be a lot quicker than CoEx. I came to CoEx for the quick upgrade and it hasn't happened yet (3 years and 8 months). I am still a few hundred numbers away from upgrading. If your goal is to go to a major than I would go to Mesa for the upgrade.
Also, CoEx is one of the lowest paid pilot groups. ie 2nd year FO at SkyWest makes more than 6th year FO here at CoEx. Pay should improve on our next contract, but nobody knows what the pay rates will be or when our contract will be signed.
You should also consider where you want to live. CoEx only offers Houston, Cleveland, and Newark for domiciles. Commuting is an option, but the guys I fly with that commute say its a pain in the ass.

Good luck wherever you go,
145FO

 

[juventus]

man I must be livin large I fly a Jetstream31 FO and I make 55,000 a year.