Originally Posted by
captnate702
Just chiming in… the McDonalds vs chef analogy was flawed just like you pointed out.
Better analogy is that we are no different than other professional services like lawyers, accountants and physicians. We do the same work, same degrees/qualifications, same procedures but those that work for bigger more prestigious hospitals/firms/airlines make more. Never understood why people don’t get that at reality.
Highly trained ATP pilots are commodities and, as Scott Kirby recently said, become "pass-through costs" like jet fuel. An A320 pilot is an A320 pilot, interchangeable but equally scarce, at Delta or at JetBlue. Lawyers, accountants and physicians aren't commodities. Their specialties and personal characteristics/talents vary, and as such they command different pay from each other. Never understood why people don't get that.