Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
I think they will be able to use the threat of BK to restructure all kinds of deals with suppliers, etc.
The MAG fight with DAL has nothing to do with performance. It is hard-nosed business and nothing more.
I know that lots of folks at the "good regionals" like to think that they are at the top of the profession and industry because they provide such a superior product, have such mad skills, or look so sharp in their uniforms. I think that most of this is eyewash. I do not think the average customer has the first idea about whether the tube in which they just crawled inside says "Operated by Express Jet/Skywest/Mesaba" or whatever in a small font by the door.
The passengers don't notice much at all, but they are "Passengers" not "Customers". In regional-land the "Customers" are the majors who provide our income. To some degree they do care about the trappings of professionalism, and even have auditors whose job is to ride regionals and grade those sorts of things.
But when I say performance I'm talking about what our major partners REALLY care about
: Completion, D-0, A-14. And little things like $100 million for engine rebuilds that got "misplaced"...
Don't know what kind of work you were in before aviation, but mesa is not just a "bad regional" but rather a "bad company". They pay significantly less for the same job, treat their employees like crap, and don't respect their basic dignity.
My experience with a "good" regional is that they pay me 40% more (hourly and bonus), treat me with respect, and will almost always make changes favorable to employees if the benefit outweighs the cost (ie win-win). Is it all wonderful and Rosy? Not by a long shot...but I'm not in a constant state of anger and resentment.
Mesa would literally cut off its own nose to spite its face. I guess some people are comfortable living under those conditions but I certainly wasn't.