Is working for Delta Airlines worth it?
Can I Get rewarding employment at Delta Airlines?
Delta Airlines is considered to be one of the biggest flight companies in the world and the biggest one in the United States. Atlanta-based Delta Airlines operates more than 700 aircraft and serves destinations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Major hub airports include Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St Paul, New York, and Salt Lake City.
Delta, being a legacy airline, often has higher wages and benefits that it provides its workers than those found in low-cost providers. However, is the job opportunity with Delta Airlines good enough to warrant such problems? Here is an overview of the pros and cons: Here is an overview of the pros and cons:
The following are the benefits that one can expect when working for Delta Airlines:
Pay and Benefits Loyalty plays a significant role in the remuneration policies of Delta; it is a legacy airline that provides relatively good wages and incentives to pilots and flight attendants. Even the typical low-wage jobs, such as customer service representatives, may start at $10–$15 per hour, while Delta pilots earn $198,000 on average. Customer service personnel, such as flight attendants, earn approximately fifty-five thousand six hundred US dollars annually.
Besides the wages they receive, Delta workers are offered bonuses, 401k matching, healthcare options, and flight and travel options. Housing and relocation assistance, scholarships and tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, and volunteering are also options with the airline. In the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, Delta chose not to furlough staff and provided incentives to leave voluntarily.
Job Stability Delta is now the most profitable and has the highest growth rate among the legacy airlines in the United States, and it has come out strongly from problems associated with mergers and bankruptcy. Delta, being an international carrier and one that is investing in newer growth sectors such as refinery oil production, will have longevity behind the jobs, unlike the usual airline companies.
The employees’ feedback on their performance points to high levels of job security that are well above average, especially during trying times such as during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The capital expenditure of Delta in the form of aircraft acquisition, employee training, and new route expansion also signifies a robust future for the company.
Travel Privileges Being an airline company, the major benefit that Delta employees can avail of is free or relatively low-cost air travel. Employees can fly on Delta Airlines on a standby basis or get confirmation that he are secured on a flight. Their spouses, partners, and dependents, too, get to fly for free.
The opportunity to travel around the globe aboard an airliner for a cheaper price than standard is beneficial for anyone working at Delta. Another advantage for flight crews and other personnel who travel often for their work is the chance to extend personal explorations.
Disadvantages of being employed with Delta Airlines
Demanding Schedules The jobs that involve working for the airline, particularly the personnel that are involved in flying, such as pilots and flight attendants, are involved in a peculiar, irregular schedule that is disruptive to personal or family life. Some of the regular incidents include: working while on a layover; working during night flights or during a flight that takes off and departs at night; and working during the holidays or on weekends. The other challenge associated with shift work is that it is almost impossible for employees to achieve work-life balance when working in customer-facing positions that require them to adapt to constantly changing schedules.
Besides working schedules, the physical customer-facing requirements, including extended standing, lifting luggage and baggage, and dealing with irate travelers, also confine airline jobs to being more tiring as compared to regular office jobs. Even getting through initial training can be very challenging, and this can all be before you even begin dealing with customers, equipment, or fellow personnel.
Limited Remote-Work Options Similar to the majority of its peers, most of the jobs advertised by Delta are based on the premise of on-site, face-to-face performance of tasks. With regards to the nature of work, it has been observed that the majority of the jobs entail touching things inside airports or on planes, except for a few corporate office or back-end technology positions.
The only way I can see it happening is if you were an employee who worked at a ticket counter or gate at one of Delta’s hub airports; otherwise, transferring to remote work is not possible. Temporary measures were taken during the COVID-19 outbreak in which headquarters staff had to be allowed to work from home. However, aviation is all about having staff present in person to ensure the company’s functions remain unaffected.
Union Relationships Delta has extended but multifaceted relationships with different employee workgroups through various labor unions. Both ALPA and IAMAW have had various interactions, including negotiations and strikes, with Delta management over contract terms, wages, and conditions of service, while the AFA has had similar struggles with the management over similar issues.
Organizations that bargain on behalf of employees also seek to get better deals for their employees and this can also instigate rivalries, federal intervention, threatened strikes, and other forms of disturbance. Delta’s union contracts, in general, have been average or better than average compared to other airlines but contract negotiations influence the job environment and employee morale.
Is it Worth Working for Delta? In the long run, employing an airline like Delta offers opportunities in aviation, in addition to better wages and remunerations than you could get in entry-level positions in customer relations or with low-cost airlines. However, the fact that one can work at any time of the day, the job security, and the opportunity to travel have their trade-offs in that the workload is often high and there is relatively little time for leisure.
The question is: does it pay at Delta? Well, this all depends on one’s career aspirations, personal requirements, and ability to withstand pressure. Positions like corporate finance, marketing, IT, and engineering might be free from unpredictable flight operations while seizing on the advantage of using Delta’s well-established brand.
Book your Delta Airlines ticket now! Call +1 833-902-2090