The truth about Delta’s Purser Program

Management feeds us inaccurate information when it comes to Purser Pay at Delta. They claim that Delta offers us industry-leading Purser pay, but is that the truth?

In the past, Management combined BOTH the Purser and Service Leader hourly rates when making an OAL Comparison against unionized carriers like United and American. This is misleading because the Purser and Service Leader are two DIFFERENT positions.

And a Flight Attendant who is Purser-qualified CANNOT fly both positions at the same time on the same flight.

A Purser-qualified Flight Attendant either receives $6.65/hr for flying Purser or receives $4.80/hr for flying Service Leader. Compared to American and United, our Purser pay falls way behind.

Management’s ‘solution’ for our low Purser Pay is to make it appear higher by adding two separate forms of compensation that cannot be earned at the same time.

Fewer Leadership Positions, Fewer Chances to Maintain Qualifications.

Delta recently downgraded routes to KEF and LIM from Transoceanic to ‘International Exceptions Markets.’

Why does that matter? These routes no longer require a Purser and Service Leader, meaning fewer leadership positions and fewer chances to fly the segments we need, especially for junior Pursers.

We’re still expected to meet the 32-segment requirement each year with rare exceptions - but with fewer Purser positions to go around, that’s getting harder and harder.

The ‘Evolution’ of the Purser Program?

Management says there’s ‘targeted communication planned for May,’ but without a union, we have no voice and no transparency.

They already saved money by eliminating Pursers from KEF and LIM - leaving regular Flight Attendants to fill complex leadership roles with no extra pay. Now they’re eyeing more ‘evolution,’ which likely means more cost-cutting at our expense.

Just like when they introduced Delta Premium Select without increasing staffing, we’re expected to do more with less. And with no contractual staffing protections, nothing stops them from stripping even more from our program.

We deserve better than manipulations.

Let’s negotiate a Purser premium pay and protections for the program that are truly industry-leading, reflecting the premium service we provide to our passengers!