Airline Post » Delta Airlines

Flight attendant salaries and ratings uncovered

TC — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:17:25 +0000

Ever thought of applying for a flight attendant job or just curious about the salaries, carrier, school and training of a flight attendant? Search no more!

Working for an airline company, not only offers you the chance to travel if you are keen on traveling, but it may also provide a decent living in time. As built into each contract, flight attendants receive $1,000 annual pay raises, as they grow older and gather more experience. This means that one’s salary may jump from the starting wage of $17,000 a year to over $30,000 per year in 12 years.

A junior flight attendant will usually start with a wage of $19 per hour, or in some case less, around $14 a hour. These figures may vary a little depending on every airline, but generally flight attendants are given a minimum of 75 to 80 hours per month. Like in most cases, the bigger the airline the higher the pay. So you can expect to start out a few dollars higher for getting hired at a major airline like American, United and Delta, etc. over some regional airlines such as Comair, ASA, American Eagle, and etc. Still, there is always a way to increase your income, if you choose night shifts, to work during some weekends, holidays or even fly international flights.

Very important, flight attendants are never paid this hourly rate for every hour that they work! The time spent commuting to the airport, sleeping in hotel rooms, standing around the airport between flights, and assisting passengers during boarding and deplaning is basically unpaid labor. Most airlines only pay from the time an aircraft pushes back from the gate to the time it arrives at the gate of its destination. This is commonly referred to as flight time, block time, or hard time. The major exception to this is meal expenses. Most airlines pay a nominal hourly rate to cover meal expenses, while hotel lodging is paid for by the airline.

Other bonuses include: flight discounts of up to 90% for you as an employee and even for your family. You should also know that different companies offer buddy passes, especially designed to cut flying cost for your friends.

So, if you ever wondered of becoming a flight attendant, you should know that the major requirements for becoming a flight attendant are standard: not too tall or short, friendly and only a high school diploma. Once you are selected, the airline hiring you will provide with specific training between 3 to 6 weeks. Also, job performance has virtually no impact on your pay. As a flight attendant you are expected to work at a high level and will never receive a promotion of any kind, even for exemplary service.

No cash in coach?

Abbey — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:08:12 +0000

If you want to fly with Delta Airlines, then you have to take with you a credit or debt card in case you want to eat grape jelly sandwich or a grilled chicken gyro. But sooner than expected, cash transactions for airline food will soon become history.

Eight years ago when terror attacks happened in September, the company decided to make their food service chargeable making reference to financial problems.

At present Delta Airlines made up its decision to give up on cash in the sky for all flights to and from North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. It means that the company lines up with main airline companies that executed a noncash cabin for the last year.

As for Continental Airlines, the company will extend the policy to almost all flights all over the world. As a result US Airways is considered to be the last major company that provides paid food services.

“We like having the option for customers to use cash or credit/debit cards,” said a publicist of US Airways.

But according to Michael Boyd, the aviation consultant, US Airways would join other carriers, it just needed some time. He also added that cash would be considered as a hindrance in the nearer future.

Why will it happen so? Because having chargeable food service on board requires much more time when serving passengers.

One should say that there are advantages of noncash cabin, i.e. you will not be bothered by the staff to change $50.

Nowadays many business travelers are disconcerted as some airline companies accept only cash. Despite the fact that Delta acquired Northwest last year, the latter keeps to the following: accepts only cash for food and beverage purchases. According to a spokesman, Delta is still in the process of merging with Northwest.

Delta & Japan Airlines to join the Far East Alliance

Abbey — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:57:52 +0000

The Sky Team grouping of airlines that is headed by Delta Air Lines volunteered a helping hand to Japan Airlines (JAL) which equals to $1bn (£600m). According to Delta, cash assets were proffered to Japan Airlines in case it quitted from the One World Alliance where American Airlines was the member of it.

It became known that Japan Airlines were looking for a financial support from the Japanese government which was considered to be the fourth attempt since 2001.

Delta is looking forward to enlarge its direction to Japan which means the company wants JAL to become the part of SkyTeam’s Far East alliance. Korean Air and China southern are the members of SkyTeam’s Far East alliance. Making a merger with JAL, Delta will have a good opportunity to expand routes between the US and Japan.

The Sky Team made an offer to Japan Airlines according to which the team was able to purchase shares of JAL for the amount of $500m. Moreover, $300m will be given to JAL as a guarantee to cover all losses connected with the leaving the One World alliance, $200m in asset backing and $20m to cover expenses of Japan Airlines for changing alliances.

As for JAL, the company decided not to comment on the offer. Lately it was reported by Japan Airlines that the company lost 32.3bn yen ($357m; £214m) during July to September period while it was estimated that it had 40.1bn yen profit a year earlier.

Right now, Japan Airlines is trying to find a way to pay off $15bn of debts and a big pension deficit. The company is also struggling with falling passenger numbers as result of the economical recession.

Airlines raise surcharges on Holidays

Dave — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:56:25 +0000

Remember a few weeks ago when airlines were thinking of charging passengers more for flying during National Holidays? The $10 or $20 fee you had to pay for flying during Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s will be increased to $50.

US Airways will be implementing a new surcharge that 5% the cost of the fare on all US flights on or after May 8. United, Delta and the latter’s subsidiary also introduced bigger fees, raising them on busy day in March or April from $20 to $30.

These surcharges will affect passengers that travel not only during winter, but spring as well. In March and April travelers will be charged for flying around Easter. A $50 surcharge will apply to those flying on Superbowl day – Monday, February 8.

“The number of seats they’ve cut is allowing them to do crazy things,’’ said Tom Parsons, chief executive of the discount travel site Bestfares.com. “They added bag fees and nobody blinked. They’ve got $150 [itinerary] change fees, and now the surcharges.’’

Surcharges on flights during Holidays were applied as early as September and have been extended for the 41 days between Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski declared these surcharges come to match fare increase imposed by Southwest.

Do you think paying more for flying during Holidays is fair?

Delta helps customers affected by Hurricane Ida

TC — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:38:29 +0000

Delta Airlines published new travel alternatives yesterday, November 8 2009, for customers whose flight schedules might be affected by Hurricane Ida. If your flight is from or to a city affected by the hurricane, you might be one of the passengers that receives help from his airline.

Those who booked on flights operated by Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines or Delta Connection, from or through the following Gulf Coast cities: Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Florida; starting from Tuesday, Nov. 10, are allowed to make a one-time change to their travel schedule, free of charge, if tickets are changed before Nov. 11, 2009.

Delta stated that will try take all the necessary measures to help, even thinning flight schedules to and from affected airports to ensure delays are minimized during the storm caused by Hurricane Ida. However, customers should know that they are given the possibility to reconsider their flights in the Gulf Coast area, options being postponing or rerouting their trip without penalty.

Hurricane Ida is the ninth tropical storm and third hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season. Ida developed shortly after November 4 as a tropical depression. In the United States, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency due to the forecasted hurricane conditions.

All travels for changed itineraries must begin by Nov. 11 and any fare difference between the original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of rebooking. If your flight has been canceled, you can always request refunds. Complete details are available at delta.com and nwa.com.

Also, in case you are traveling from or through impacted Gulf Coast cities in the next few weeks, please consider visiting the following websites: delta.com or nwa.com, in order to check the status of the flights before arriving at the airport to avoid possible inconvenience. Updates on flights also are available by calling 1-800-325-1999 (Delta) or 1-800-441-1818 (Northwest).

Delta Airlines is the world’s largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Amsterdam and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to 368 destinations in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year.

Survey finds airline pilots’ salaries in the US

Dave — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:02:10 +0000

We already talked about how much airline pilots earn as told by Michael Moore. What the film director tells isn’t far from the truth. The National Transportation Safety Board from the U.S. recently announced that a regional pilot flying for Colgan Air earns $16,000 a year.

Low wages for airline pilots aren’t a surprise to anyone, since the situation existed for years and it only got worse as the economical recession hit the airline industry. Salaries have been reduced so much that they have been the cause of strikes all over the world. But how much do pilots really earn these days? FltOps were the ones to first tackle the issue releasing a salary survey that took into account major US airlines.

Airline pilots earn considerably more if they have seniority or if we take into account overrides, overtime, special credits or per diem. Airlines taken into account are: AirTran, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, United, UPS and US Airways.

The highest paid airline pilots work at Southwest Airlines. The company has a first-year minimum of $49,572 and hires more experienced pilots on average. US Airways pays first year pilots the lowest wage out of all surveyed airlines (a minimum $21,600 a year). The wage assumes 72 hours per month, a large part of this being flight preparations or overnights.

The lowest salary for an experienced captain is $123,480 at JetBlue Airways while the highest if found again at Southwest, at $181,270 a year. Airlines that offer higher wages in the US are UPS and FedEx, with a minimum of over $200,000 a year.

Delta Airlines, American, United and Continental pays aircraft captains a minimum between $156,000 and $167,000 per year.

Delta Airlines sued for $11 million

Dave — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:22:56 +0000

Delta Airlines is being sued by a consumer lobby group in the United States for hacking into email systems and stealing personal details. The lobby group that accused the company, the Coalition for an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights, claimed that Delta conspired to hack into their PCs to steal their info and files in relation to a “Bill of Rights” the group is starting.

Kate Hanni, the lobby group’s Executive Director & Founder, who also started the FlyersRights.org website, is working with the Houston-based The Gibson Law Firm for US$11 million in punitive damages.

“This lawsuit is intended to show the flying public how Delta responded to our organization’s promise to help improve the health, safety, dignity and well-being of airline passengers. Delta’s conduct at our nation’s airports and behind the scenes deserves scrutiny” declared Ms Hanni.

The list of items that Delta allegedly obtained consists of donor list, spreadsheet, correspondence and other important info related to the Bill of Rights. According to the lobby group, if the Bill gets approved, it could cost airlines US$40 million in revenues a year.

“Obviously the idea that Delta would hack into someone’s e-mail is clearly without merit. Since this involves pending litigation we cannot comment further,” said a Delta spokesperson.

Smaller jets, fewer flights this fall

Stewart — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:29:44 +0000

Major airline companies in the US are planning drastic cuts in spending starting this fall. What does that mean? Smaller jets, fewer flights, less flexible-schedules and one of the most dramatic decrease in the industry after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The first sign is the decrease of domestic seats on sale for October: less than 21%, according to OAG, one of the most important aviation-data firms. And since this is not enough, companies intend to reduce much more flights this winter. Big airline carriers are canceling their less lucrative routes and pushing the ticket prices higher, hoping that they will crowd their planes, although the economy is still weak.

Another trend noticed in the airline industry is a slowly but surely shift to the low-cost practices. Major airlines, operating international flights used to carry more than 83% of the domestic passengers in 2001. Nowadays, the same airlines take 61% of the travelers, while the regional and the low-cost companies grew to 39%. These usually operate smaller planes and this means not just traffic jams in the main airports, but also uncomfortable seats, poor customer services, smaller bathrooms and bumpy flights.

The cuts are obvious: the nation’s biggest airlines – Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines reported a 26% shrunk of their domestic capacity, since 2000. By contrary, the most important budget airline, Southwest Airlines announced increases of 70% for the passenger traffic, since the beginning of the decade.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Airline traffic decreases as fees fatten

Dave — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:50:08 +0000

It’s a well-known fact that airline traffic has seriously decreased due to the economical recession. But U.S. airlines have found a way to increase their profit margin in spite of this fact – they are making more money by fattening their extra fees.

In the first six months of 2009, U.S. airlines made $3.8 billion for checking bags, canceling or rebooking flights, carrying pets and seats assignment, says a report from the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

This means an increase of $2.3 billion compared to the same time of 2008.

Everyone has noticed that airline fees are much higher this year than before.

And the most profitable fees are those for checked-in baggages, bringing in $669 million in April, May and June (a 276% increase compared to 2008). From January to June, airlines collected $1.24 billion in baggage fees.

Still, this is not the only source of profit for airlines. Revenue from fees on cancelling or rebooking a flight went up 52% (to $606 million) in the second quarter of 2009, while fees for carrying pets or choosing seats brought $673 million in the second quarter, as opposed to $565 million in 2008.

When should be expect smaller fees? It’s hard to say when the industry will recover; until then, we have to get used higher fees for our airline tickets.

photo source