For what it is worth, I will be starting Pinnacle here shortly, the notice mailed to me states the $400 per week, bonus at OE, and 6 months. It did mention double occupancy. Hopefully nobody snores..haha! Good luck with the $200 for those getting that.

Nobody is getting $200 throughout training. It will still be $400 for everyone.

KY Flyer is starting at pinnacle... nah thats too easy :D

Don't get me wrong, I hope it is too. I hope it stays at $400 along with the other bonuses (750+500).

I guess it's just a matter of waiting and seeing for the next class, onwards.

Its what I here from ALOT of people, and not just Mesaba people. It has to do with the relatively low number of senior pilots there...alot of green on green pairings from what I hear. And don't get me wrong, its not all 9E pilots and I know that.

As for our growth, I just heard today that we now have a -200 sim of our own and we will be taking those 15 birds in Nov I believe. Even so, going from 49 SF340's to 36 CR9's is still growth...with or w/o the -200's. For the record, I don't intend this to be a ****ing match between 9E and XJ. Regional flying is what it is, but the original poster asked for an opinion and I gave mine. Be safe up there!

MESABA, MESABA, MESABA!!! At XJ you are an employee from day one. You are paid your full monthly guarantee ($22.81x75= $1710.00 Vs. $1600.00 at PNC). At XJ, you are actually an employee from your first day of class with full benefits. You will get a single occupancy hotel room at a decent place vs. Double at PNC. And last but no least, the training department here at XJ is one of the best (staff and facilities). And on a side not, you get a crack at flying the super Saab-o-matic! Good luck with either choice, and I have nothing against Pinnacle, make the choice that fits you best!

I can only speak from my experience at 9E. I live in MSP which is a plus, since I no longer have to commute. I only have to sit 2 months of reserve, and right now just got off probation, i can hold a line with 14+ days off with every Fri, Sat, and Sunday off. Crew scheduling doesn't bother me on my days off or try to extend me, not even once. Great group of CA's I get to fly with. I plan on putting my bid for upgrade in Nov and very positive that I can hold MSP only after being a here a year. If I had to do it all over, and had to pick between the 2, I wouldn't change a thing since i doubt Mesaba can give me the same schedule as Pinnacle after only being here a year. Overall it's not worth it for me to spend an extra year or 2 in the right seat of a saab or RJ. I want to get my time and move back to the Northwest.

Is that 1700 before taxes? If it is, isn't that less than 1600 after taxes? When I was in training it was $200/week non tax.

That income still has to be disclosed, even though the check is for straight up $200.

When you do your tax returns, you gotta disclose it.

If PCL is cutting the checks to you as a contractor, then you can be certain that they are disclosing it to the IRS (so that PCL can write it off), therefore it is taxable income, and the IRS knows about it.