OK, so I can read everyones griping and boasting about all the regionals, but WHY?!! I know that Mesa is bad and the QOL sucks..but WHY? So how bout anyone with any knowledge of any regional offers some insight as to why they like/dislike that particular airline. My application will be going out in about a year so I'd like to get know know what it's like out there. Care to enlighten us guys? Maybe a top 5 good and bad? Here's how I see it now. I live near Cleveland and have a mother that works for CAL so I've been partial to the airline forever.

Good:

1. Horizon (LOVE the Dash 8's and it's west which is where I'd like to live ultimately.)
2. Skywest (West, KDEN )
3. Commutair (Dash 8's, Cleveland, CAL)
4. Republic
5. ExpressJet (CAL, Cleveland)

Bad

1. Mesa
2. PSA
3. Comair
4. Mesaba?
5. Great Lakes? (Although I really would LOVE to fly Beech 1900's out of DEN through the Rockies with no auto-pilot. Seems like a great experience, put the pay is just so damn low)

Do you actually know anything about Mesaba or are you just throwing that one on there because of the red tail?

A year from now the whole scene can and probably will be entirely different. Mesa is bad because of sh!tty management. Employee mgmt relations are horrible, the contract is substandard, and even with that mgmt doesn't honor the contract! I only lived a fraction of the hell most guys go through due to military leave. Avoid Mesa or Air Midwest at all costs. You'll live a longer more prosperous life. There's no reason to put up with the BS with so many other regionals hiring today. If you want 8 days off a month and a chance to fly in China, then go for it.

Don't let him get to you....Mesaba rocks

Nah, I respect NW, The only dislike I have for Mesaba is strictly based upon the complaining of furloughed pilots.

Pants with a zipper in the back will help make things a little easier...

In all seriousness, do some research on pay and work rules. Mesa seems to think it's ok to pay "average block". Their computer program decides it takes 2 hours to go from DEN to PHX on average. You get paid for 2 hours regardless of if it takes 2 hours, or it takes 5 hours because of a groundstop, holding, etc.

Most other airlines pay "Block or better". You take 1:45 to make that same flight, you get paid for two hours. You take 4 hours to get there, you get paid 4 hours.

As for the other airlines, I think it's pretty much a draw. Sure a few are slightly better than the rest, but that's all reletive to what you're looking for. Some want a fast upgrade, some want better pay, some like a regional because of the base options. What works for you? Do your homework before you take a leap. First year pay sucks no matter where you are.

What made you put CommutAir into the "good" column? I've heard nothing but bad things, and have been avoiding them.

There is no such thing as a catch-all "best" regional...only the regional that best meets your goals and objectives for employment.

Absolutely right.

Skywest would be in my "bad" list just because most of the bases are in the west.

Choosing an airline is not like choosing the right dishwasher. There is no Consumer Reports airline rating guide.

Whatever works for you.

Yeah commutair good, comair bad.......Im confused! Do some research