Mesaba vs. ASA
 

Hey everyone. I just finished interviewing with both Mesaba and ASA. Somehow, I ended up getting job offers from both companies which means I now have a decision to make! Everyone at both companies was super cool and both had great facilities. They both seem like a good place to work. If anyone has experience with these places that could weigh in on QOL, commuting, schedules and anything else that would be great. Thanks!

From someone who used to commute: if one of them makes it so that you don't have to commute, go with that one.

First off congratulations, you’re in a rare position seeing you have a choice which is something many don’t get. Both are good companies but there's a world of difference between them.

Mesaba's set to get 10 more CR2's and 22 more CR9's (#’s could be different, just pulled it off of APC). That's HUGE when you look at the big picture. Also if NWA decides to pull more a/c from Pinnacle then you can expect Mesaba to grow even more. Mesaba's owned by mainline which could be good and could be bad only time will tell. For examples just look at DAL and Comair/ASA (ASA was sold to SKW) also AA and AE. Growth means little reserve, relatively quick upgrades and better QOL because of seniority gained from massive hiring. Pay is industry average to below for almost all years (except first) but I'm sure that's set to change. 3 domiciles to choose from also improve QOL. It’s always nice to have choices.

ASA's got no growth on the books and maybe some reduction with DAL announcing a 35 jet reduction in regional flying in 08. Also, I could be wrong, but I think the ATR's time is extremely limited. Pay is near industry leading with excellent QOL and pay rigging. 1 Domicile means no choices. Upgrades around 3 years and they'll probably stay there due to attrition.

My advice, look at were you live and choose which ever has a base there. If neither do and you plan on commuting then look at the number of daily trips between the two cities taking into account the type of a/c (50 seaters are not good a/c to depend on when commuting). Also look at the airport itself, example ORD is not a good apt to commute to due to shear volume and a poor design that restricted apt growth. MEM and ATL (based there and ATL’s very efficient even though it’s the worlds busiest apt) should be very easy to get in and out of. If you’re going to move to the domicile then look more at the airlines position as far as its future’s concerned. This website should help you determine the number of daily flight and types of a/c, it's a wonderful tool for all commuters.

http://www.nonrev.net/tools/timetable/

In the end I think both have good futures but Mesaba’s where I’d be headed if I had your choice. Their growth and domiciles are the determining factor for me.

Best of luck!

JJ

Very good post. I agree with Jetjock. If you have to commute, I would also choose Mesaba. Mesaba has a commuter friendly policy and over 70% of its pilots commute including myself. Mesaba is also experiencing a phenomenal growth at the moment, and due to the actual flowthrough to NWA that has started this month, there will be a even faster movement upward once you get on board.

Thanks guys, great info. Unfortunately I'm going to be stuck commuting for a couple of years anyways. Thank you so much for the tips.. Keep 'em coming!

Avoid ASA like the plague. You have been warned. I have a few friends there and they all are trying to "escape." Go where the growth is - Mesaba at the moment. Of course, you never know what will happen if Delta and NWA merge. All I know is that my friends at ASA hate it. Enough said.

The upgrade is now 2.5 for ASA no?

It could be but with no growth and DAL's reduction of regional operations, do think attrition will be enough to maintain upgrades at 2.5 yrs?

Just asking for inside opinions.

In my opinion 2.5 is best case scenario at ASA where at Mesaba you have growth that will sustain 2.5 yrs being worst case unless you choose to hold off.

[quote=Lighteningspeed;304100]over 70% of its pilots commute [quote]
wow, where'd you hear that?

Right now I agree Mesaba's the hot place to be but we all know the industry is critically unstable right now with mergers and all being in the works. If we're talking about this very second Mesaba is the better choice. If we're talking long term its an absolute toss up.

I work at ASA, and I really like it.

Amen to that! Honestly I have yet to meet someone that works here at ASA and hates it exclusively. That is, they would probably hate most flying jobs out there. Then again Im sure they have had much different experiences than me. It's been a lot of fun and I enjoy the people I work with. That probably helps.

I also interviewed at both ASA and Mesaba. I was also offered a job at both. So I really feel your pain. Both are great places to work and I am greatfull to have been lucky enough to have to make the hard decision. I ended up choosing the Mesaba job, but it did take some major thought. I am glad of my decision, but one thing that I did not account for in my research was that it will take me longer to actually start at mesaba. I interviewed at asa on 12/09 and class was to start on 12/27. I interviewed at measba on 12/18 and got a 3/10 class. Soooo....if you are poor and need to start right away......?

I also got offers from both and chose Mesaba. Starting in May and am upgrading this spring. I am an upper midwest guy though so an MSP base did it for me. We are still growing and have great people who are generally happy (getting some provisions back after bankruptcy) and the flow through has started. However, as noted before, if you are coming in now the instabilty of the industry as a whole means don't count on upgrades/flowthrough or anything a year from now.

I would say go with QOL--whatever that means to you.

QOL is everything. Which company would you be happier at? (Or less grumpy...)

Pay could be higher year for year at ASA, but poor is poor, so which company would you be happy at while you're poor?

QAL is the most important thing. If you have to comute to both then I would say Mesaba is your best choice. Just from experience, after you make your choice make the best of it. You can be happy anywhere! And some people can be unhappy anywhere and try to bring you down with them. The grass is always greener during the hard times. In this industry companies go up and down!!!!
Good Luck!

Go to the place with the easy commute.

Onthemissed, did you used to work for Big Sky?

If I recall, Pinnacle has a fixed-unit contract with NWA. They can't reduce it below somewhere around 120ish...so not many more. I'm pretty sure they can't reduce the number of units unless those units are replaced with 900s. Which leads me to believe they'll give at least some of those 900s to 9E once they get their 900 rates settled (IF they get those settled)...because 1) 50 seaters are money-losers now, 2) NWA can't reduce the number of units 9E has without replacing them with at least 50 seaters, and 3) NWA has much more leverage to mess with their fully-owned subsidiary than they do with now-independent 9E. Witness Comair transferring planes to ASA once ASA was sold off to Skywest...perfect industry example.

Insanely radical, yup I did.. I was just finishing IOE when we got the bad news. Did you work there too?

No, I think I was at the ASA interview with you though. We were the only two that made it through.

Oh hey, good times! I got stuck in ATL for like two days after we were done because of that storm that hit. Have you given your 2 weeks notice yet?

Great info, thanks guys.. I have another question if its okay. Does anyone know if Mesaba offers any trip/duty rig?

We don't have trip/duty rig but we do have 'block or better' and trip guarantee, as well as some other good work rules. Not the best in the industry but certainly not the worst.

Mesaba also has a 4 hour min day. That's as close to a duty rig as we get. I don't know how the jet schedules are, but on the Saab, if your duty day is 12-14 hours, you're probably scheduled for 6-8 hours of block anyway.

At least you get to fly a tprop past 12/2008 at Mesaba... At ASA, we all have to fly the jet once they retire the ATR's in 12/2008.

Are all the ATR drivers going to the 700 or 200? Is it split?

I haven't yet. I am going snowmobiling in Yellowstone for a week the first week of Feb, so I told them I couldn't start until after that. Have they offered you a date yet? I am hoping they have a class starting Feb. 11th. You made up your mind about ASA or Mesaba yet?

they are ging to be split based on what you bid

How much time do you have TT/Multi?

Fly the Saab at Mesaba, it will put hair on your chest.

I have 900/ 60 I'd love to fly the saab, or the ATR for that matter. I just got into the 1900 when bigsky shut down. Of course I woulnd't complain a single bit if I found myself right seat in an RJ :D

What is the upgrade like at Mesaba? Do they hire with less than 50 multi?

I am so sick of people with "less than 50 multi" asking about their "upgrade" times at 121 airlines. give me a break.

1. If you have less than 50 multi, its going to be awhile then. ;)

2. Yes they have been, throw your application in and see what happens.:)

If NWA merges with DAL which apears very likely, all bets are off. At anycase, it is unlikely at best that NWA will give any CRJ900 to 9E. Using your analogy, why would NWA reward 9E with CRJ900 flying when, as you have cleverly indicated that NWA has no control over 9E anymore?

I disagree with your blanket statement that NWA can't reduce 9E CRJ200 units without replacing them. NWA have in the past found ways to get around many contract provisions. So if they want to they will find a way. At anycase, XJ does not need more CRJ200s right now.

I think he was asking if he can be hired as an FO with 50 hours multi time.
From his question, I am deducing that he wants to apply to regionals that has a reasonably fast upgrade time.

I didn't want to start a new thread while this one was going on, since it is related.

It seems that everywhere is starting to slow or stop hiring all together. What is the outlook at Mesaba for hiring and growth?

How does this possible Delta NWA merger impact things? I know it is purely speculation, but I would appreciate some "speculation" from someone more "in the know" than I. :rolleyes:

Same here, I'm curious as to find out where Mesaba would fit in after the merger!

Oh Dj, we better start looking for a new job now! hahaha. You in town yet? Call me biatch