After you’ve earned your wings and successfully completed your Delta airlines initial training it will be time to head to your base for your first assignment!
Delta Flight attendants get their first base assignment during their first week of training! 🌟
Trainees are given a list of bases that are available and need coverage and will make their choice from the list that is provided within the first few days.
Then, after seven weeks of ATL (Atlanta) training, you’re off to your chosen base. ✈️
There is a lot that goes into flight attendant bases and where it needs coverage, but luckily Delta has bases throughout the US that give many different options.
If you’re interested to read more about Delta flight attendant bases, keep scrolling!
Where are Delta flight attendant bases?
🌍 The current bases for Delta flight attendants are:
- ATL (Atlanta)
- BOS (Boston)
- CVG (Cincinnati)
- DTW (Detroit)
- FLL (Fort Lauderdale)
- HNL (Honolulu)
- JFK/LGA (New York City)
- LAX (Los Angeles)
- MCO (Orlando)
- MSP (Minneapolis)
- PDX (Portland)
- SEA (Seattle)
- SFO (San Francisco)
- SLC (Salt Lake City).
Many of these hubs are located in large cities and have a large number of flight attendants within the base like ATL, JFK/LGA, and LAX with both domestic and international flying.
Some of the cities are smaller bases with a much smaller number of flight attendants and contain primarily domestic flying, with occasional seasonal international routes like PDX.
And some locations are medium-sized bases with a good mix of domestic and international flying like BOS and SLC.
Can you pick your base as a Delta flight attendant?
Absolutely! 🙌
As a Delta flight attendant, you get to choose your base through a bidding process.
When you start, your seniority is established based on your arrival day from training, and within each class, assignments are sorted by age.
From there, every year you are there, gives you one more year of seniority, making it easier for you to secure base transfers over time.
The longer you’re with Delta, the more flexibility you have in picking the base that suits you best.
Will Delta give you the base you want?
It depends on a few different scenarios! 🤔
Delta flight attendants can bid for their preferred base, and they’re even allowed to list multiple bases in one bid.
But whether you actually land the base you’re aiming for depends on factors like availability and competition during the bidding process. If it’s a popular base with limited spots, it might take some time to secure it.
Also, it’s important to think twice before transferring because once you lock in a permanent base transfer, you’re committed to staying there for three months. After that time, you can bid for a different base if you wish. So, it’s a decision to consider carefully!
🎯 Personally, I bid for a base that was slightly smaller in terms of the number of flight attendants that were at the base, but had a mix of both domestic and international flying.
It was the perfect way for me to dip my toes into different types of flying, without an overly large airport that had an overwhelming number of destinations. I was so lucky with my first base that I have stayed there over the past eight years!
Are all the Delta bases open for new hires?
Yes and no—here’s the breakdown. 🤔
During your Delta flight attendant training, you’ll receive a list of available bases seeking additional coverage, and you’ll have the opportunity to bid on your preferred location.
The list starts with the first class of the year, and as other classes start behind the first class, some of the options will fill up making the list smaller.
Sometimes the last few classes of the year only get one option because the other classes maxed out the options.
Now, let’s talk about your chances of landing certain bases as a new hire.
Take bases like JFK/LGA and BOS, for instance; these bases are relatively junior, making them more accessible for flight attendants with less time in the company.
On the other hand, bases like ATL, LAX, SEA, and some of the smaller stations like CVG, HNL, PDX, and SFO will be more on the senior side of seniority. This implies that only flight attendants with more seniority within the company are likely to secure these bases.
And bases like DTW and SLC can change seasonally, they might be more junior during periods when seasonal international routes are happening, but will become more senior during the winter months.
How to get a transfer in Delta and how long can it take?
The way to transfer bases is relatively simple.
Flight attendants use an internal bidding system within the scheduling system to put in their preferences for which base that they would like to transfer.
Once a transfer is awarded, flight attendants are locked into that base for three months, also known as three bid periods.
The timeframe for securing a transfer can vary.
Transfers are awarded on an operational need, so during busier months like the summer and over the holidays, fewer transfers are awarded.
Generally speaking there are two big base transfers every year: right before the summer season and right after the summer season ends.
If a flight attendant happens to have a few years of seniority under their belt, transfers are easier.
If a flight attendant is more junior, transferring bases can be a bit more difficult.
Still! It’s always worth putting in a transfer bid because you never know! 🤞
What is better, a smaller base or a bigger Delta base?
There are pros and cons to smaller and bigger bases.
Each flight attendant has a different wishlist for what they want in a base, so it creates the chance for everyone to find the best fit for their own needs. What works for one person doesn’t work for another and it allows people to find the best fit for their own schedule.
Bigger Delta bases like NYC/ BOS/SLC/MSP:
✅ Pros:
- International flying
- More commute options
- More junior base
- Get off reserve quicker
- More swapping flexibility
❌ Cons:
- Crashpads are hard to find and expensive
- Hotels are expensive
- Rarely working with the same crew more than once
Smaller bases like SFO/PDX/CVG:
✅ Pros:
- Flying with the same people frequently
- Consistent trip schedule
❌ Cons:
- Less trip options
- Less swapping flexibility
- On reserve for longer
What is the best base for a new Delta flight attendant?
It is up to every flight attendant to decide what base is the best for them!
There are so many different options that go into what makes a base a great fit for someone.
Personally, I think somewhere that has good flying and greater flexibility is great for someone who is just starting. These would be bases like NYC and BOS. But these two cities have a higher cost of living, so they can be less desirable for new hire flight attendants.
Some important things to think about are whether you want to be a commuter, what kind of flying you want, and if you want to be on reserve or not. 🤷♀️
Conclusion
There are so many different factors into deciding what is a good fit and what isn’t.
At the end of the day, each base is amazing and flight attendants will love working with their crews!
There’s always the option to try each base until you find the fit that is the best one for you.
Every Delta base is welcoming and diverse, allowing flight attendants the opportunity to see the world, one layover at a time. 🌏✨
