I caution you to use this as a deciding factor in choosing an airline. I did the same thing, and went to an airline I wasn't super excited about because I had a really good friend there. Short story long, he ended up dying in a plane crash a couple of weeks before my ground school started. With him not around, I realized I didn't really want to be with that company. I would say that starting your career in the airlines is a complicated and lengthy process. There are many differences between companies that could effect your decision. IMHO try to find a place that you can stand to fly at for 5-10 years. Who knows where your buddy or Mesa will be in a couple of years. Good luck, do some research and you'll be fine!

I was at Mesa for 8 years. I was just about to give you a long-winded, constructive and professional dissertation of why you shouldn't go to Mesa, especially when so many "higher quality" regionals are hiring.

...Then I stumbled upon this comment.

All I have to say now is go for it!

You deserve it;)

That is the most short-sighted way to run your life - and if you continue to do so (making life-decisions on such trivial conditions), you'll find things don't work out just as you had planned...

For once, I agree with everybody here - you are a perfect match for MAG.

Jesse-

Most of these posts may come across as arrogant or mean, but the moral of the story is that we all know that Mesa is not a good place to work. I used to work there and have since moved on to a 'real airline'. Completely different. A 'real airline' will value your skills and respect your days off. Mesa doesn't.

Don't take these comments personally, take them seriously because its the best career advice that anyone could get. No kidding. Everyone says don't work for Mesa because they don't want to see another good potential pilot get dragged into Mesa crap. Your friend probably tells you he likes Mesa but he hasn't worked for a company that is good so he has no comparison.

He's still your friend and thats cool but he might have what is called 'crappy company pride.'

By going to work there you will drag the industry down by working for their super sub par work rules. If you go work for a good company it will help the profession. There' a reason Mesa is starving for pilots, its because hundreds leave every year cause they are sick of it (like me), and the company is having trouble finding pilots as more and more get educated here about working for sub-par airlines on the forums.

Anyone here ever PHX based???

MESA PWIDE EVERYBODY!!!!
MESA PWIDE!
:D:D:D

You will know what I am talking about if you were, and all I can say is LOL! LOLLOLLOL!!!!!!!
Bwahahahaha!

Let him go to Mesa. He can handle anything!

Too funny man! Ah, the good old days.:D

Why do we even try?! If it wasn't flamebait (highly unlikely), he's not going to listen anyway. Let's just write it off...

OR..... Maybe he's a really good pilot?