So you fly the saab in Alaska and want to come to Mesaba for jet experience? You're going to take a paycut to any regional airline regardless of what equip you're on. Having flown the jets and prop at XJ, in the end it's all the same. Maybe a little more cush on the jet, but at the end of the day, it's the same job. I wouldn't let equipment dictate your choice in airline, especially when the pickings are slim. On the brightside, we have more jets than props now, so the odds of a jet are higher. If you got hired on the jet at Mesaba, you'll be logging SIC anyhow, so it wouldn't matter if you're so conserned about getting hired at DL. As for T-prop PIC, it's turbine PIC just like a jet. Don't let the misinformed fools at the all jet regionals try to tell you that you'll never make it to a major if you fly a t-prop.

Don't let the folks with "tons of experience" discourage you from looking into Mesaba. As I said before, we can't hire everyone and we're being deluged with applications, the odds of getting an interview and even the job are small. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.