There was a time not to long ago when a major legacy carrier -- based in Houston -- paid new hires $29.97/hr and offered no health insurance for 6 months: They were basically temps. At the other end, Cathay (and most foreign carriers) pay full guarantee from Day One (with hotel) and their first year pay is in line with their second year pay. This is the trend.

How many top-tier law firms pay new hires one rate during orientation, then a meager salary for their first year, then almost double it for year two? It doesn't happen. They get $90-120K starting day one. No "training pay."

This will eventually be the way at the airlines in 5-10 years. (Unless we stick with the whole "that's the way we've always done it" path.)