In Revolutionary Move, Delta Will Start Paying Flight Attendants For Time Spent During Boarding

Delta has made a move that’s going to be a huge hit with employees, and engender jealousy across the industry. Flight attendants are getting a raise, and it’s coming in the form of addressing a real sore spot in compensation. This could keep unionization at bay, while trolling employees of their biggest competitors. Already I’m hearing from cabin crew at other airlines who are up in arms over their own pay.

Flight attendants are paid based on how long their flights are, but this doesn't include time spent boarding, which can be one of the most difficult times of a flight. This isn't an accident.

• Flight attendants get more money for the time they are paid to account for boarding
• Flight attendants generally want it this way since they negotiate it as part of union contracts, it’s a perennial sore spot.

A Change.org petition obtained over 160,000 signatures to get flight attendants paid during boarding, even though not paying for boarding time has been viewed as an elegant solution to a complex problem. Flight attendants don't want to clock in and out of flights at the same time, so they don't check in to work the flight. Flight attendants don't want to make less money when a flight is delayed because boarding takes less time.

Delta will pay a flat amount of time based on scheduled boarding. This coincides with moving boarding time 5 minutes earlier for domestic mainline flights, and in an internal communication the airline describes it as an industry first.

Here are the new pay rates. The hourly wage is paid out based on the amount of time boarding is scheduled for.

Delta is mostly non-union. The airline's messaging hasn't always been spot on. Sara Nelson is a flight attendant at Delta.

The move is designed to keep unionization at bay. Lack of pay during boarding is something that many flight attendants resent.

It could lead to a new trend in the industry. The flight attendants union is in contract negotiations. It will be hard for them to sell a membership that doesn't include what Delta flight attendants are getting. If the APFA can deliver what flight attendants can get without a union, what good is it?

Most airlines pay based on door close/door open time, which is exactly how flight attendants have agreed to be paid in their contracts. It took a non-union airline to change this. Delta gave its non-union employees a big raise just before the Pandemic, and then they didn't have to lay off anyone, even though unions failed to prevent the furloughs at American and United.

There is a big debate going on about whether flight attendants are paid fairly based on the idea that they only get paid for the time they fly and not the time they board an aircraft. A Change.org petition to change this has over 100,000 signatures. The petition is not active.

In airlines.

I wrote on Tuesday that American flight attendants are being encouraged to serve predeparture beverages in premium cabins. Flight attendants aren't going to take the time to offer beverages if it delays a flight. A late boarding is done quickly.

In general.

Jessica Chastain is angry that flight attendants are not paid during boarding, how can this be legal? The nominee is not the only one. Several flight attendants who read this said they shouldn't have to serve predeparture beverages.

In the commentary.