THIS is how flight attendants normally get paid?

Hey, it’s Rich Dale.  I don’t know about you, but I never dreamed that it was the norm that flight attendants don’t start getting paid until all the passengers are seated and the doors are closed!  What?!  So as I board, they’re being nice and friendly to me for free?

Anyway, that’s about to change, at least at one major airline.  Delta announced this week that crew members will now be paid at a 50% rate once once boarding begins, 30-40 minutes ahead of the scheduled flight time.

Actually, 50% still seems chintzy to me, but I guess it’s better than before.  It should add up to a pay raise of several thousand dollars over the course of a year.

Believe it or not, Delta is the first major airline to do this.  The change goes into effect June 2nd.

Maybe they’ll be even more friendly now.