I cannot speak to the contracts internal workings as you can, having worked at both places. But I HAVE compared many of the things a prospective employee can, such as DH pay, CXL pay, base pay ($22.18 vs. $23.23), hotels in base (neither pay for any, yet), uniforms (Mesa pays 50%, XJet pays a stipend, ends up about the same). Not too far removed one from the other (except that XJet has 100% DH & CXL pay). However, XJet tends to have a 1-2 year RSV timeframe, whereas Mesa is more like 3-4 months. I would prefer to be in the air as opposed to in a hotel room or the airport, watching other planes depart. But that's just me.

I have only talked to a handful of pilots at a few places. Wish I could talk to more, and from more companies. But my location precludes that. I think XJet is a nice company to work for, solid and all that. But just as you are unhappy at Mesa, there are many unhappy at XJet. If you don't mind sharing, why did you leave XJet for Mesa? Something must have drawn you (feel free to PM me if you don't want to air it in public.

The pilots I have talked to in person at Mesa (about three), and some who have PM'd me here, all say the same thing; pay sucks, QoL is bad if commuting, but they are left alone for the most part, and they all get along well with their peers.

None of this means I am trying to say either company is better than the other. I am saying they are closely related in the ways I am able to compare today. (That is why I am on APC, reading and sifting thru the BS to try and figure out where I would like to hang my hat. Reading the negative as well as the positive, I learn things) I can say this... I have been to other interviews, and walked away with a good feeling about the company. When I left XJet, my gut told me no, and when I got a class date, I was not excited like I have been at other companies. I trust my instincts, so I declined the job. Might be a mistake, but sadly for me, won't know until a year or two goes by. If only my crystal ball wasn't in the shop...

And as for the beer, sure, I'll still buy you a couple. A guy who works at Mesa and drinks French beer must really be down on his luck, and needs an uplifting hand to help out.