Before taxes, based on the APC pay scales. She is, thanks.

Let's do an experiment, let's follow a pilot who gets hired at Mesa and a pilot who gets hired at SkyWest.

By Year Two...

Mr. Mesa upgrades. Until now, he's made $47,000 cumulatively (based on APC pay scales and minimum monthly guarantee).

Mr. SkyWest is a ways away from upgrading and has made a decent $55,164.

Year Five

Mr. Mesa has been a Captain three years and just got hired at Delta. Through now, he's made a cumulative $246,728 in five years. Not shabby.

Mr. SkyWest is now upgrading. In the last five years he has made $171,264. This is ~$75,000 lower than his Mesa counterpart through the same point.

Year Seven

Mr. Mesa is an FO at Delta on the A320. Through now, he's made $388,728. And he has two years of seniority at Delta.

Mr. SkyWest is also about to get hired on at Delta. He's two years behind his counterpart, and through now has made $313,464, $75,000 less.

Have you crunched the numbers?