Originally Posted by Race Bannon

HMMM add pay,
I'm sure the majority of pilots are "capitalists". They want to make more money if they choose to work smarter, harder or longer or things go south with the operation whilst on a trip.
Some pilots lean more "socialist" and would prefer to have everyone make the same pay(same seat, category) and have an equal distribution of work.
The capitalist views it as my choice, my pay not your concern. The socialists view it as less productivity equals more pilots which means an increase in my individual seniority and I'll make more pay eventually that way.

It is a conundrum. LUV is basically fly to FAR limits and that's the only pay governor. Delta has numerous ways to really capitalize on add pay and they have the capability to have $800,000 months(albeit only 1 individual) and numerous $1M year captains 7 or 8 years ago with the old pay rates. UAL has the most restrictive of the 3 to boost one's pay above and beyond the "standard". There are very few extremes at UAL. Some add pay will always be needed to remunerate the disadvantaged pilot due to events beyond the companies control. Other times, add pay is a type of abuse governor in an attempt to change company behavior.

Personally, I think it's a bit myopic to paint all "add pay" as bad, and those individuals as participants in the "hunger games". It's merely participating in the "game of life" as we know it in America.

BTW The company is hiring as fast as they can. I personally don't feel getting them to agree to less productivity(resulting in even more hiring) was a realistic option. The result was "add pay" as the negotiated middle of the road.