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They both suck
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Great answer. I'm wondering when you worked at these airlines and what qualifies you to make this assessment. In fact, which 121 airline have you worked at?
So, jb, your advice would be to go to neither? Seems like sound career advice to me . . .
Anyway, Ray, I'll try to lend a little unqualified advice:
I don't know much about Mesa, other than what we all hear about their contract. Here's a few uneducated thoughts on Mesa:
Mesa PROS:
--They're big
--More bases
--Operate in a larger geographic area, serving more airports than TSA.
--Probably a quicker upgrade (not sure though)
--They will probably aquire some other, smaller regional. It might be better to be at Mesa than whomever they aquire.
--I think they'll be around for a long time and may soon rule the world
Mesa CONS:
--Very substandard contract
--Less pay than TSA
--Substandard work rules
--Lots of disrespect from other airline pilots (justified or not)
--JO
Thoughts on TSA:
TSA PROS:
--Very tight pilot group. Arguably the best group of pilots to fly with.
--Industry average pay.
--Industry average work rules.
--Recent, explosive growth.
TSA CONS:
--History of poor labor relations (this has improved lately)
--Codeshare with two unstable airlines UAL/USAir
--Only two pilot bases.
--Smaller route network
--The whole CQFO thing (if you don't know, don't ask. if you do know, that's all I need to say)
--Long upgrade. This should change with the new growth, but NOBODY leaves lately--just the guys that hit 60.
TSA has had a long and distinguished reputation of pilot abuse. This may still exist, but to a much lesser extent than the lore would have you believe. The MEC is pretty aggresive in this arena and certainly does not roll over. I think that labor relations continue to improve. We still have no 70-90 seat payscale. The MEC will not consider Mesa rates for these planes and would rather not fly them than fly them at those rates.
Anyway, good luck, let me know if I can do anything else.