6/30/2026
CA Bulletin 26-06_Crew Meals Settlement Agreement
DALMECContractAwareness
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A Publication of the Delta Master Executive Council
June 30, 2026
26-06
 
MEC Grievance 24-03 – Crew Meals Settlement Agreement (SA)


On January 31, 2024, the Delta MEC filed MEC Grievance 24-03 alleging that Delta had violated PWA Section 5 C. and other related sections of the PWA. The grievance alleged that the Company failed:

  • To provide arrival meals as specified in Section 5 C. 1.
  • To provide breakfast meals on subsequent flights as specified in Section 5 C. 2. Exception.
  • To provide the same main course meals as those served to the highest class of service as specified in Section 5 C. Note one.
The Company and ALPA attempted to resolve our differences on this issue utilizing the mediation process in 2025, but were unable to reach an agreement. At the end of April 2026, ALPA engaged Delta to reopen conversations with consideration of the improved quality of service and meals being provided by Delta since the grievance was filed and as the operation recovered from COVID-era policies and provisions. The fruitful discussions produced a Settlement Agreement TA.
 

The TA stipulates the Company will:

  • Provide a second meal (arrival meal) on flight segments scheduled for 4:00-9:59, when passengers seated in the highest class of service are provided a second service.
  • Increase the service failure stipend from $10 to $25 per approved claim.
  • Provide breakfast for flights departing between 0400 to 0800 local time, inclusive, if the Company has catering service available at that location at any time of the day.
    • downline catering is acceptable
    • quality of the breakfast remains as defined by Section 5 C. Note one
    • Section 5 C. 2. Exception still applies with no changes
  • Provide a main course meal, when eligible, that is served to the highest class of passenger, including when passengers do not receive a service, based on the same stage length and time of departure.
    • The meal may be hot or cold, but must be a main course and not a “snack”


A copy of the executed Settlement Agreement is available on the MEC Grievance Tracker located on the MEC Contract Administration (Enforcement) Committee webpage.

 

Pilots experiencing continued issues with crew meals should still submit their claims via the Crew Meal Issue Reporting Form so the Association may address the individual issues.

Frequently Asked Questions: Crew Meals Settlement Agreement (SA)

 

Q: What did the MEC grieve when it ?led MEC Grievance 24-03?
A: The grievance asserted that the Company failed:

  • To provide arrival meals as specified in Section 5 C. 1.
  • To provide breakfast meals on subsequent flights as specified in Section 5 C. 2. Exception.
  • To provide the same main course meals as those served to the highest class of service as specific in Section 5 C. Note one.
 

Q: Will arrival meals be provided under this agreement? If so, when will they resume?
A: Yes, as part of the Settlement Agreement (SA), pilots scheduled to operate ?ight segments between 4:00 – 9:59 block will receive a second meal, provided passengers seated in the highest class of service are provided a second meal. Arrival meals will be available starting August 1, 2026.

 

Q: What has changed to the service failure stipend?
A: Under the SA, pilots who experience a crew meal service failure will receive a $25 stipend for each instance. The process to submit a claim has not changed. Previously, approved claims paid $10. The new amount is effective July 2, 2026.

 

Q: Does the SA change what determines catering services available?
A: No, but there has been a clari?cation that catering services available means a station where Delta has a contract for catering service at any point during the day, regardless of catering service availability when a breakfast meal is required. At such locations, a main course breakfast meal is still required, even if catering service may not be open or available at the time of departure.

 

Q: If I am eligible for a main course breakfast meal due to my departure time and departing a station where catering service is considered available, does the meal have to originate from that station?
A: No. Some stations do not have catering service available at all times of the day. In this case, Delta will cater the ?ight from another catering station, and the meal will be available downline.

 

Q: If I am eligible for a main course breakfast meal, but I do not depart from a station where catering service is available, does the Section 5 C. 2. Exception still apply?
A: Yes, it still applies. The SA does not change the meal requirement on a subsequent segment when the pilot does not have at least a scheduled ground time of 1:30 at the arrival station.

 

Q: What should I expect as a main course breakfast meal?
A: A main course breakfast meal is one that Delta serves to the highest class of passenger seating on the ?ight as part of their onboard food program. It may be hot or cold, but it should never be a meal created especially for a crew member. Examples of some entrée options include a yogurt bowl, protein entree, sweet entree, cereal entree or egg entrée. Currently, Delta updates their onboard food program on a quarterly basis. Section 5 C. Note One still applies when there is no passenger meal service.

 

Q: Are there any exceptions to a pilot receiving a main course meal?
A: No. A main course meal is always the required standard for a crew meal. Meals must consist of  the same make-up as what is served to passengers. Snack baskets, snack boxes, and meal boxes  available for purchase or a la carte items available for onboard sales are not considered main course meals.

 

Q: Are there pilot speci?c meals?
A: No, there are not. Pilots should always receive the time-of-day appropriate same main course meal options available to the highest class of passenger. There are no pilot alternative main course meal menus. Note: a pre-selected special main course meal (when eligible and available) is speci?c to that pilot.

 

Q: I am eligible for a main course meal other than breakfast, but passengers on our ?ight are not receiving a meal service. What should I expect as a main course meal?
A: Pilots should expect a main course meal that is listed in Delta’s onboard food program for the highest class of passenger seating available on a ?ight of that stage length and time of day. The meal should include the full complement of items served at any other time the meal would be served to passengers. There are no main course meals created especially for pilots.

 

Q: I am eligible for a main course meal other than breakfast, but passengers on our ?ight are not receiving a meal service. Is the meal required to be hot?
A: No, the meal is not required to be a hot main course meal. It is required to be a main course meal that is listed in Delta’s onboard food program.

 

Q: Are there any changes to my ability to select a special meal on eligible ?ights?
A: No, there are no changes in this agreement that impact  special selection meals when available on eligible ?ights. Pilots who do not select a special meal should never receive one.


This is a product of the Delta MEC Contract Administration  
 
 
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