16 years. 9-11, terrible economy and age 65 didn't help. However, I enjoyed being home almost every day, not commuting, working for a good solid company with an above average contract and excellent quality of life. Most people overlook quality of life. Marriage and family were always number one with me. Career and money was next. I survived off low pay for a couple years, but as a captain was making 100k. I budgeted my life off of that amount and was happy. Envoy has a great 401k match as well. Not to mention free travel on AA. And once you get to AA, they give you 16% of your salary into your 401k for free. Not bad. First year pay is around $80/hr and second year pay is $115 at AA. Slow down and smell the roses. Don't follow the crowd jumping ship to the fastest upgrade. Your wife and family will thank you for the stability.

Exactly...I could go to any fast upgrade regional. I might be poor, but the QOL and time with my wife is more important than being a CA. Just got a 5 days off stretch, things are not perfect here, but are not as bad as people want to present them.

There's always a "better place", I've been here when things were great, then BK/PSA hit us hard for about 3 years. Things are starting to feel back stable and movement is about to be faster than 2011 when CAs were going to AA.

I would say that anyone hired in 2014/2015/2016 will be in a great position. The upgrade might not come down to 2.5 years, but there will be steady movement for a while.

envoy CA says go to mesa...
 

You should go somewhere, anywhere but envoy. You're looking at a long terrible life on reserve and 4 years minimum to captain and you have to fly with toxic hateful captains such as myself. I will tell you how dumb you are and fill out terrible probationary reports in hopes that they let you go before your probie ride in an effort to save your career by forcing you to go to a different airline.

I don't post much, but I read a lot, and if there is something that I learned about this and other forums is that very few people can get away from ther mindset on their or other company and be somewhat objective.

Now what I would suggest you is to try to interview with all the companies you are interested in, see what the results and what kind of perks and numbers they will give you. Most of the interviewer are either CA or FO's so they should be able to be somewhat honest with the times to get a line and the base if you tell them that you don't care about the fast upgrade.
Then take all whatever they told you, cut it in half and the remaining 20% might be considered truth.

Of course if the interviewer is at the phone, you cannot tell what is body language is telling you, most likely is just somebody from a HR departement and does not have all the answers to your line related questions...well...maybe it is not an actual interview...but a salesman trying to get you to fall for easy lies.

Just curious, where are you getting the idea that someone hired at Mesa today will see a fast upgrade? The USS quick upgrade has already sailed off into the sunset for anyone with zero 121 time hired after 2014. And it's going to be a long, cold, and dark night for everyone else stuck here on FO pay. I can run some quick cocktail napkin math and show you the numbers so you can see for yourself if you would like me to. I am not trying to sound condescending and negative over this, but rather to give accurate info to a prospective new hire, such as yourself, so that you can make a well informed decision. Don't allow yourself to get duped into a bad decision because of a recruiter taking the used car salesman approach.

Mesa is not an awful place to work aside from the pay, but there are so many better deals out there for those entering the industry.

If you are asking this question then you obviously need to go to MESA.

I'm not sure what reserve is like for you but if you live in base its better than holding a line right now. I'm two years in and pretty close to the bottom of reserve and I hardly ever work. October was my last 4 day trip only because I couldn't dead head out. I get an over night about once a week with the rest being turns or no calls. About every other month I end up with a lost weekend. About three or four times a month I get ready reserve and less than half the time I get called out on those trips. So ill take my 75 guaranteed and work a few turns for OT and make 90-95 and enjoy my time away from work.

Is English your second language? If so you'll fit right in to Mesa.

Is there a lot of Chinese at Mesa?

1. Sum Tim Wong
2. Wi Tu Lo
3. Hooli Fuc

Good Luck!