Delta Air Lines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) trade union, have put together a website offering a wide variety of travel tips to passengers as some of the busiest summer weeks of the year approach. The site has been created against the backdrop of the carrier’s reliability issues, although some are accusing its pilots of throwing management under the bus ahead of contract talks.

Indeed, in highlighting the fact that the website’s ‘Delta Pilots Care’ website could be read as ‘Delta Pilot Scare,’ View From The Wing asserts that the union is trying to ‘scare’ passengers. It has, however, inarguably been a challenging few months for the airline on the reliability front, with certain operational flashpoints resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations.

Delta’s Recent Reliability Issues

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May didn’t exactly get off to the best start for Delta, with 600 delayed flights at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on May 2-3 alone. Elsewhere that weekend, its main hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) saw 300 cancellations amid the operational meltdown, with a lack of staff adding fuel to the fire. Pilot shortages were blamed for the disruption, with no end in sight.

View From The Wing also reported that weekend that Delta executives expected issues relating to pilot shortages could persist all summer, with its crew assignment process subject to chaos amid adverse weather. More recently, Delta has also been in hot water over 20% fare hikes, which it blamed on air traffic congestion. With this recent disruption in mind, pilots commented that passengers should receive a consistent level of service.

“Delta prides itself on its premium product, and we want  our customers to consistently receive the operational reliability you have come to expect when flying on Delta.”

Delta Pilots Share Passengers’ Frustrations

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Upon landing on the new website, passengers are first met with a short statement from the pilots represented by ALPA, explaining that “we empathize and share in your frustration over the delays, cancellations, and disrupted travel plans: (…) it is unacceptable.” Delta’s pilots also make clear at this juncture that they “continue to prioritize safety” despite having to “work on our days off in record numbers.”

Given the likelihood that Delta passengers may continue to experience disruptions throughout the summer, its pilots have devised a ‘Smart Travel Playbook’ to help make travel as smooth as possible for their flyers. They advise guests, for example, to book directly with Delta rather than through third-party sites, as this makes it easier for them to change their itineraries amid travel disruption.

As far as timing goes, the site advises flyers to book early services as “there is a better chance the aircraft and flight crew are in position for the first flight of the day.” Meanwhile, flights later in the day are more prone to disruption due to knock-on effects. When it comes to connecting itineraries, Delta’s pilots advise 90-minute layovers between domestic flights and two and a half hours for international legs.

Passengers Should Know Their Rights

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The site also highlights that passengers have a role to play in enabling quick turnarounds by ensuring that their bags fit in the overhead bins. Meanwhile, flyers traveling with checked bags are recommended to put a tracker in their bag in case it is lost in transit. Tips such as these are more general, but reiterating them shows Delta guests that the pilots are on their side.

This is also the case when it comes to flyers’ rights in the event of a disruption, with the Delta Pilots Care site providing a list of useful links that passengers can avail of if things go wrong. These concern both domestic and international services, with separate links also provided to inform passengers of their rights in Europe.