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Compass...PSA....Mesa...or....stay at Envoy?

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Compass...PSA....Mesa...or....stay at Envoy?

Old 04-10-2015, 01:26 PM
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Default Compass...PSA....Mesa...or....stay at Envoy?

Hey guys, I am asking for some help. Just looking for some fresh perspective and some outside opinions from people working at Compass, PSA and Mesa. I am not trying to start a war, I am not trolling, and I am certainly not making this decision based on some forum. I am just truthfully looking for some positive feedback. I was hired by American Eagle in 2011, picked up just under 500 hours part 121 before going on Military leave in 2012. My active duty time is ending next week and I need to quickly decide where to go from here. I have interviewed and received class dates for Compass, PSA, and Mesa all for the end of April. I left Envoy in good standing so I do have the option of going back to them as well. I have read through all 4 contracts, have read through the forums, now I just want to hear other pilot's thoughts on what you would do? When I get out of the military my wife and I are moving to Dallas as she was just accepted to nursing school. That being said, here are the pros and cons I have come up with.

Envoy Pro's.......Starting out with 4 year pay, a little seniority, driving to work, flow to AA (5-7 years is what I estimate), awesome travel benefits with AA

Envoy Con's.......Shrinking airline, net loss of 57 aircraft in the next 18 months, down to 2 bases, would still be on RSV as 5 year employee, upgrade time is probably 6+ years away, currently would be in the 89% of seniority list, still a chance they end up getting shut down, closing the door to Delta or United as I realistically won't get any amount of PIC time before the next decade.

Compass Pro's...... Growth-19 more E175's, no 50 seaters, Low upgrade times, (I figure 2 years for someone being hired today with 500 hours 121??), PBS, highest first year hourly pay, small pilot group, non wholly owned, keeps my options open to all 3 legacy carriers.

Compass Con's......Commuting to LAX, crappy travel benefits, contract is up for negotiations in 5 years, statistically I'm already on the backside of the hiring wave, owned by Trans States Holdings, hiring seems to be slowing (now paying for hotels, only going to be 5 in my class if I take it)

PSA Pro's.......Most Growth--76 More Aircraft, Lowest Upgrade time (I figure 18 months for someone being hired today with 500 hours 121??), SAP, longest contract-2023, great travel benefits AA, holding strong at 60-70 new hires a month.

PSA Con's.......Commuting to CLT or TYS, 35 50 seat A/C that will eventually be parked, closing the door on myself to AA, (No flow and can't apply off the street while at PSA), working for AAG management that destroyed Envoy (They certainly could do what they did to Envoy to PSA or PDT).

Mesa Pro's.......Driving to work, Growth (7 ejets, 7 CRJ900), not wholly owned so can survive by picking up new contracts should they loose old ones (unlike envoy), EFB, low upgrade time (I figure 2 to 3 years for someone with 500 hours 121), management that is scrappy and outside the box thinkers, keeping the door open to all 3 legacy carriers.

Mesa Con's........Worst travel benefits, lowest pay, weakest contract, roughest history (furloughed half the airline in 08), I am way behind the hiring wave for Mesa, lots of no shows for classes.

Let me know what I am missing. Thanks!!
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Old 04-10-2015, 01:46 PM
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Honestly, Compass will be the best bet.
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Old 04-10-2015, 01:53 PM
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Driving to work is HUGE.

Now, is it worth it given Mesa's pay and benefits (I strongly suggest getting current numbers on their health insurance)? Only you can answer that one.
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Old 04-10-2015, 01:54 PM
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As a former Mesa guy, I'd be very leery about going there. If you got the quick upgrade fine, but if the music stops, is that really where you'd want to be? This is coming from someone from that half of the airline that got furloughed...
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Old 04-10-2015, 03:20 PM
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Compass junior base is LAX but guys are getting awarded MSP and SEA before they finish training or within 1-2 months after finishing it. So I wouldn't necessarily say commuting to LAX is a "con" because you might not even have to do it.
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Old 04-10-2015, 03:20 PM
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Not to mention 2nd year pay is much better at Compass than it is at Mesa.
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Old 04-10-2015, 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by RJ Pilot View Post
Huge Vacancy bid out today at envoy from what I have been hearing.

Goodluck.
Yes there was. With a matching displacement, net zero.
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Old 04-10-2015, 03:30 PM
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Driving to work outweighs everything, except possibly health insurance.
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Old 04-10-2015, 03:32 PM
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Pick what's best for your overall situation. For me, Mesa works great because I live in IAH and my wife and her family are here. If you plan on commuting I wouldn't choose Mesa. Movement is great so far. Of course the pay and benefits suck, but I manage.
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Old 04-10-2015, 03:32 PM
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I'll be living in Dallas for at least the next 18 months, the Sea commute is further than Lax, the MSP wouldn't be bad id suppose.
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