From June 2, Delta Air Lines will change how they pay flight attendants.
Currently, Delta Air Lines (Delta) cabin crews get paid from when the aircraft door closes. Despite this being a busy and sometimes stressful time, they are not paid specifically for the 30 to 50 minutes when passengers are boarding.
The industry norm is not to pay for this time, so Delta is breaking ranks with its competitors.
Linked with the extra pay are changes to Delta’s boarding procedures for when boarding commences. For narrowbody aircraft boarding will begin 40 minutes from departure, 45 minutes for a domestic widebody and 50 minutes for a transoceanic flight.
Delta is adding extra boarding time depending on the type of aircraft being operated. Photo: Getty Images
Simple Flying asked Delta to comment on the changes, and the airline sent us a statement and a copy of the memo to flight attendants.
Delta says flight attendants are already paid for all their time at work. The airline says this covers from sign-on and boarding through deplaning and everything in-between.
Senior vice president for inflight service, Kristen Manion Taylor said in her memo,
“Our new boarding pay component – an industry first – further recognizes how important your role is onboard to ensuring a welcoming, safe and on-time start to each flight and for each customer.”
Delta is also offering flight attendants the option to sign in at the gate or a place within the terminal. Currently, they sign in at the flight attendant lounge. Transoceanic and Hawaii rotations will still need to sign in and brief in the lounge.
Delta Air Lines is increasing flight attendant pay to cover boarding – but only at half their hourly rate. Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
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