Well BOING, there were no negotiated pay rates where I have worked for the last 25+ years, overseas tax-free salaries were offered to attract experience, and those airlines received the experience that they paid for, especially with regard to check & training. And I certainly would have to agree with others here when executive management salaries and bonus packages are mentioned. Considering the poor level of management that many airlines have received, these execs should work for nothing...because that is what many of them have put back into the companies they have "managed". Harding Lawrence (Braniff), Icahn (TWA), Borman (EAL), Conway (AmWest, National) and the list goes on...