Anti Ice,
That is exactly my point ....
If I accept that the reason for the maning level over minimum permisable maning level is its necessity to maintain the defined product (which for the purpose of this discussion I am more than willing to do) then ....
1) It is the passenger who gets short changed and who should receive the 'sweetener' (although I suspect he/she is more likely to get a lift home on the next passing pig)
2) No other job that I can think of pays a basic (and acceptable) rate and varies it if you have to work harder to achieve the set task.
As to the comment concerning that "if this happens in an office, you prioritise and/or leave it till the next day - we don't have that option" .......
I would suggest that my second gin and tonic or a 'kind word' is very likely to be prioritised (lowly of course).
In the office, the tendency is simply to cancel the dinner party and get it done (or at least it is in my office) - I accept (for the purpsoe of this discussion) that it is not possible or legal to extend the time applied to the tasks demanded. The cabin staff can simply do as much as is possible in the time allocated i.e it is the customer who suffers in terms of the product he/she receives.
Equally, if the defined product is achieved (by hard work) it is then - by default - possible, so why should anyone be rewarded additionally for doing what is possible ?
TimS