They're trying to.

Hopefully this post will prove informational to those of you who can put together a sentence larger than two words. Yes, a reserve line at Mesa will land you 8 days off, and a hard line 10, but unlike almost all other carriers, Mesa operates on 28 day bid cycles. 13 bids a year. Our number of days off still suck, but for all those saying we lowered the bar on pay, do some math. The following information in based on the payscale on APC for 3rd year 50 seat jet captains times minimum guarantee. These numbers equate to one years salary:

Mesa $52,780
XJet $52,200
Comair $53,100
Pinnacle $53,100
Trans States $52,392

With that in mind, yes, Mesa still sucks. However, they probably have the friendliest most considerate pilot group out of all the regionals. If Mesa does pull out of this inverted flat spin with no wings, I assure you the pilots will not settle for another contract like the one in place.
Peace out.

Now factor in that Mesa pays historical block instead of the standard block or better and you'll probably see the other airline's pay go up a solid $10k a year to account for delays and over gurantee.

I will add that I have NEVER had a bad experience on a Mesa flight, and I have jumped many times. The crews have been fantastic. But the company stinks.

I am torn between the folks who work for the company and the leadership of that same company.

We have ex-Mesa pilots at my carrier and they are terrific. Just flew with an F/O who is ex-Mesa. Solid as a rock.

I don't wish ill for the crews at Mesa.

I think work rules would ultimately make a significant different in pay.
-Historic Block or better
-Duty & Trip Rigs
-Cancelation Pay
-100% dead head pay
-Performance Bonuses

There are more things to consider but hourly pay rates are usually just the beginning of the story

Well, since some of those numbers appear incorrect, here are the numbers, as I saw them, based on the pay scale on APC. I also added Per Diem based on 200 hours or TAFB (Time Away From Base). This is strictly minimum guarantee and based on the reserve guarantee.

3rd year CA_______________Per Diem______Total
XJet_________$58,500______$4,080_______$62,580
Amr Eagle_____$58,500______$4,080_______$62,580
Republic,CHQ_ $56,700______$3,960_______$60,660
Mesaba______$56,700______$3,720_______$60,420
Skywest_____$55,800_______$3,960_______$59,760
Comair_______$53,100______$3,720_______$56,820
Pinnacle_____$53,100_______$3,360_______$56,460
Mesa________$52,986______$3,072_______$56,058
Trans States_$49,560_______$3,360_______$52,920

3rd year FO______________Per Diem____Total
XJet________$33,300______$4,080______$37,380
Skywest_____$33,300______$3,960______$37,260
Amr Eagle____$32,400______$4080______$36,480
Republic,CHQ_$32,400______$3960_______$36,360
Comair______$31,500_______$3,720_____$35,220
Mesa_______$29,184_______$3,072_____$32,256
Mesaba______$27,900______$3,720_____$31,620
Pinnacle_____$27,000______$3,360______$30,360
Trans States_$26,880______$3,360______$30,240


2nd year FO______________Per Diem_____Total
Skywest_____$31,500______$3,960______$35,460
XJet________$30,600______$4,080______$34,680
Comair______$30,600_______$3,720_____$34,320
Amr Eagle____$29,700______$4,080______$33,780
Republic,CHQ_$27,900______$3,960______$31,860
Mesa________$26,448______$3,072_____$29,520
Mesaba______$25,200______$3,720_____$28,920
Pinnacle_____$21,600______$3,360______$24,960
Trans States_$21,000______$3,360______$24,360

Don't forget work rules and performance bonuses (neither of which mesa has). A 3rd year SKW CA will probably make $75K, assuming higher-than-guarantee lines.

I debated typing this because it sickens me to defend this company, especially in public, and especially during contract negotiations.

Here’s how it works at mesa. You are guaranteed 70hrs/bid of which there are 13. Any junior assignment or volunteer flying is double time above the guarantee.

Example: I fly 65 regular hours and am junior assigned an additional 15 hours in a bid. 70 hr min + (15 x 2) = 100 hours.

As a second year FO I will very easily clear 40k this year. I know CA's that clear 100k. My basic attitude is this: Mesa will consistently try to F me, and often they succeed. All I can do is try to F them back for every penny I can get. I try to play the game better and smarter than they do, and sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don’t. Yes I go into work everyday with a militaristic attitude. I wish I didn’t have to, but I do. I agonize over open time numbers and work over my schedule with a fine-tooth comb. I argue with crew tracking often. I am the king of open time IAD-IAH-IAD day trips. Why? Because they’re worth 14 hours of pay, keep me in my own bed, and time me out for other junior assignments on days I have plans. You have to be smart, know your contract, and stick up for yourself or this company will run through your ass.

I’m fortunate because I don’t have a wife or kids and because I live in base. Admittedly I’m in a better defensive position than some. There is so much that is wrong with this company that I wouldn’t know where to start. I do not mean to defend mesa.

You can bust my balls about working for a bottom feeder, fair enough. And you can make fun of my 11 days off a month, yeah that sucks. But don’t think I’m not getting paid...

Obviously mesa has work rules written into the CBA. Unless you're talking about rigs...

Mesa also has performance bonuses (though awarded rarely).


I know many 3 year captains that do that at mesa too, granted they'll have to work more than the skywest fellow to do it.

So, your point is..................?