Depends on who we're talking about. Mesa got as big as they did as quick as they did because after 9/11 all anyone at the majors (primarily Delta, UAL and US Air) cared about was price and getting the lowest. Period. Service was a secondary concern. Mesa was able to do a fair job but as they got bigger, their bare-bones way of running an airline quickly broke down and that service became poor at best. My dad is a frequent UAL flier and man has he got some Mesa horror stories. Seemed like every other week he was calling to ask me why they would do the things they were doing or if I could find him a way to his destination non-revving on CAL since UAL/Mesa's best guess was "maybe tommorow or the next day".

You'd be surprised at how quickly passengers (and CAL's own operations people) at CAL turned against CHQ, at least here in IAH. More times than I can remember I've had passengers tell me about how they avoid the CHQ flights or how they got screwed on a CHQ flight. So yes, service is important. But in point of fact, CHQ was actually MORE expensive in the bid than XJT AND cost CAL a significant amount more in operational difficulty in their first 6 months (last number I heard was something like $70,000 per month per CHQ station in denied boarding compensation ALONE). So you gotta ask yourself, why did CAL pick CHQ when they turned out to be SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive and much less flexible than the product they already had. Most of us here at XJT think Kellner wants 170s at a regional (RAH). Yes I know, scope clause prohibits that but CAL is entering contract negotiations so they could dangle some carrot that makes the CAL guys give up scope. I hope not, but the only thing thats certain in this industry is yesterday.

 

Well lets get something straight. I am not a newhire. Just because I haven't joined this site until recently, does not mean I am a newhire at all. Second of all, I wasn't an intern. O for 2. You don't know my background, so dont try and explain terms to me that I already know. Finally, you want to talk about undercutting? Every regional does it! Thats what were created for, so someone can do something at a cheaper price than mainline. You shouldn't be so ignorant. Don't pretend like you are better because you work for XYZ regional, they all are the same. Since SKW is out there setting the bar, why is first year pay lower? And yet, I don't sit here and say...those SKW guys are the reason first year pay is lower! Get real! And if you want to bring up QOL, yeah from what I hear Mesa's most senior guys still only get about 10 days off a month, but if you think thats going on here your uneducated. Im getting 16 days off with all weekends off and a 94 hour line. Thats not a bad QOL especially if you live in domicile. And if you want to bring up second year pay, well here you upgrade in second year, so 2nd year pay is Capt pay. That was the point of this discussion anyway wasn't it. I am not ignorant, and of course i know what pattern bargaining is, and of course I know the entire industry needs a complete makeover. Also, I too would take TSA down if thats what it came down to. I'm not a company man by any means. I will however defend this pilot group against this slander, if nothing else. We are looking for advancement in this industry. I just see the big picture which is advancement at the next level, not here. Get in and get out. That's the goal isn't it?

P.s. I didn't mean to double post, wont happen again.

 

Should be, "get in, get out and done ******* everyone else!". But thats my opinion. And just FYI, I based my opinion of your background on the fact that you're still an FO at TSA. Like you said, year 2 is upgrade so you've been in the game a year or less. Good for you.

You wanna talk about first year pay at SKW, yeah it may suck but the work rules make up for it. If you had their first year pay and TSA's work rules you'd be filing a claim with the Department of Labor that they aren't paying minimum wage. I'm glad you're enjoying TSA. Lets hope you get your 1000hrs PIC and your winning personality opens doors to all the majors you could ever hope for. If not, it might be a long miserable ride for you with Hulas in the saddle. I think GoJets is a great example of how Hulas has no qualms about undercutting your work group if its to his benefit. You better hope you get out before he figures out a way to sponsor enough visas and get enough Oompa Loompas trained.

 

Yr 2 is upgrade, but not two months in to yr 2, except for three guys. Three or four months in for the rest i guess. so again your wrong. 0 for 3. My point was I wasn't an uneducated newhire.

My final word on this is gonna be who CARES! Your being retarded with the Oompa Loompas, not funny. And not everyone needs that 1000 PIC. I was using that as an example because most people strive for that as fast as possible. You picked your company based on personal reasons, and everyone here has done the same, just as at any other regional. For some its pay/work rules, for some its going to be the fastest way to get the time needed and get out, for some its because its close to home, etc. People should only be criticized for "damage to their profession" if they are stabbing their own pilot group in the back, i.e. Go Jets. Every regional undercuts. That was the point of my post. And yes, it should be "get in, get out and done ******* everyone else!" because as you know, seniority is everything at the next level. Nobody else is looking out for you, so you've got to. Get the big picture man.

 

I disagree. If you don't understand how bottom feeding carriers affect the industry, then yes, you ARE uneducated. Newhire or not.

 

You just can't get past your own arrogance. All regionals are bottom feeders. BTW, this is way off the topic of the original post, so can we stop now?

 

You call it arrogance, I call it perspective. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Consider it dropped. We return you now to your regularly scheduled programming.