Since this has become a Mesaba/Pinnacle debate I was wondering which airline everyone prefers out of the two? I know there are a lot of things to make you say well it depends on what you want, but I want to know which one everyone else prefers. I also wanted to know what to look for in work rules and where to look. I graduate in dec from UND and Mesaba is flying me down there on the 18 for my sim ride and pinnacle said this fall they would interview me. So how do I know which one is better?

which one do you want to go to.... For me it has and always will be Mesaba, but that is for reason of my own. which one will be the best? who nows, but Mesaba has been in the past and probably will be in the future, bankruptcy was NWA not XJ. I think eventually the only redtail regional will be XJ, but who knows, it only makes sense being owned by NWA

hahaha,,, you obviously know nothing about the history of nwa, mesaba, or pinnacle...
let me start by saying.. did you know pinnacle was owned by nwa just 7 years ago???

here is whats going to happen my friend. NWA has 2 regionals. Pinnacle and Mesaba. One day nwa decided to put the 2 regionals against eachother. competition was brewing. mesaba won. pinnacle was kicked out of msp, all the new avros and saabs were going to mesaba, pinnacle was shrinking every day. It looked like it was all over,, our fleet was reduced to rubble, everyone thought that we would be closing the doors in the next couple of months. BUT WAIT,, a new light was appearing,, OUT of the darkness came... NWA to save us. they bought us, and then treated us like their own,, all those new crj's were going to pinnacle,, they opened up msp again, they gave us 139 regional jets to fly,, IT WAS A MIRACLE!!!! Then just a few years later, 2003, nwa decided to make a couple dollars for their hard work and put out an IPO for Pinnacle. Pinnacle airlines was sold and become the number 1 regional for nwa. NWA made millions on the deal. life was good. but what about mesaba?? well, they weren't doing good at all. they lost all the rj flying to pinnacle, the avros were disappearing every day. mesaba was reduced to rubbel this time. Starting pay for the f.o's was going to be 11,000 a year after they paid for more than 60% of their own healthcare,, (remember guys when they said that??). Mesaba was in danger,, mesaba needed help!! BUT WAIT,,, Low and BEHOLD NWA comes to save the day,, It was another FESTIVUS MIRACLE!!!! Now that nwa owns mesaba they will get all the new flying, they will get built up,, and yes they will get sold. Then the cycle will repeat (this cycle has been going on since the days of the jetstreams, i am just replaying the last cycle for you). Then it will be mesabas turn again.. beat down till their is nothing left, pinnacle will prosper and it will look like all hope is lost for mesaba..

so in other words, being owned by nwa means nothing except that they will build you up, sell you, make money, then destroy you.. then repeat.

You *do* know that Mesaba Airlines declared bankrupcy on October 13th, 2005 while parent company MAIR didn't declare, right?

You gotta get your head out of the sand and quit drinking the kool-aid, man. You wanted to work at Mesaba and are happy there - that's great! Even with that, you've GOT to take the rose-colored glasses off and do some research on the last 5-10 years of Airlink history before you make such asinine comments in the future.

Funny thing was that Mesaba FOs were still making more than 9E FOs even when the sky was falling, and Saab Captain nearly what CRJ 9E captains. I know that's not saying much, but everyone loses is a correct prediction with the RedTail overseer. Why work an extended time at either place anymore when this is the future to look forward to; and now Compass to?

Good Luck!:(

First of all you need to read a little more into the post and realize that what it was intended to say was that NWA caused the bankruptcy of Mesaba. I never said mesaba wasnt in bankruptcy. Secondly I think you need to get off the high horse that you put yourself on. Thirdly, Yes I know that there are two redtail, soon to be three regionals. I know that NWA owned pinnacle (formerly express one) turned it into a profitable airline, then sold. I have no doubt that it plans to do the exact same thing with Mesaba. Point being that future is five to ten years down the road. About the same time frame in which most other airlines, including your precious AWAC will have cycled through back to the bottom.

Change your avatar, it's freaking me out.

I think what has made MESABA, MESABA is the people. Mgt a side, MESABA is a legacy regional (i'm coining the phrase) and our people are great at what they do. It's our corprate culture that has set us apart. I would like to see this continue with the newhires here on this forum. When the Redtails fight, the terorists have all ready won;) Quality pilots come here and we should be proud to walk through the concourse and not have to fend of snickers from other regionals. Our training is excellent and we are paid during taining and treated like part of the crew from day one! No Games like the other guys play. I'm not here "untill" something better comes along. I'm here 'cause I chose to be here. I NEVER blanketed HR departments with my resume. I came here to work. We 'are' better. Let's set the tone for the rest. Start by not bickering!

Seeee Yaaa!!

Amen, most other groups will never understand what you just said, and yes I will change my avatar, just because you asked politely.

As a new hire I must say that the people in the interview process have impressed me and made me want to work at Mesaba. I haven't started yet so those are the only people I have had contact with but it has been very positive thus far. I am looking forward to training in a few weeks and hope the same attitude prevails which I am expecting.

Now I have to tell my currrent boss that I am quitting in two and a half weeks and that he needs a new full time CFII ...