I hired in a year ago on the Saab, and I thought the training was great. All the answers given in the previous posts were correct with one caveat that the Saab doesn't have ACARS. I don't mind any of the hotels we stay at, although I'm more used to hostels so perhaps I have a lower standard. I like the job, the people I work with, I think its a good place to work. Then again, I come from previous jobs in manual labor and customer service, so to me flying is a huge improvement. I also don't have to commute so reserve is a piece of cake for me.

But there are pilots at Mesaba who don't like the job. I have found that they are often:

1) Commuters

and/or

2) People who this is their first job (other than instructing)