Title | Road to the TA 26-04: Delta Pilot Commuting Provisions -- Lagging The Industry

7/9/2026

Road to the TA 26-04_Commuting

July 9, 2026

26-04

Delta Pilot Commuting Provisions: Lagging The Industry

Delta pilots, regardless of how often they commute, have had a contractual commuting policy, Section 23 X., since Contract 2000 (C2K). As long as a pilot follows the rules laid out in the PWA, they are protected from discipline. These provisions have been essentially unchanged since their inception over two decades ago. In that time, our industry peers have implemented stronger commuting protections that improve the quality of life for a significant number of pilots.

In addition to the contractual provision above, Delta pilots are also covered by FOM 3.4.1. (Unable to Commute Policy). The highlight of this policy is that a pilot will be provided positive space travel on their backup flight in the event they are unable to make their primary flight. However, none of this is codified in the contract, thus the Company is able to unilaterally change or cancel it at any time. It is important to note that if a pilot’s commute plan complies with the FOM, but not the provisions of Section 23 X., PWA protections may not apply.

The two policies are independent and have differences in both requirements and procedures. While the disciplinary protections in our PWA are valuable, Delta pilots have fallen behind multiple other carriers.

Contractual Commuting Requirements

Delta	Requires a primary and a backup flight separated by at least two hours.
American	No requirement for a backup flight.
United	No minimum time required between primary and backup. No backup flight is required if a ticket is purchased at least 12 hours prior to report, and that flight is scheduled to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to report.
Southwest	No backup flight required for on-line commutes provided the flight arrives at least 1 hour prior to report.
Hawaiian	No backup flight required if, 24 hours prior to departure, the pilot has the jumpseat reserved or if there are more open seats on the flight than the pilot’s position on the standby list. Additionally, a ticket purchased on another carrier does not require a backup flight.
JetBlue	No backup flight normally required for on-line commutes provided the flight arrives at least 1 hour prior to report time and there are more open seats on the flight than the pilot’s position on the standby list 24 hours prior to departure.

As the chart above shows, our peer airlines do not require a backup in many or all circumstances. Delta pilots deserve the same trust and support that other carriers extend to theirs.

Commuting is a fact of life for many pilots in the airline industry. Delta management needs to recognize that our outdated commuting policy creates additional stress for our pilot group. When we compare the Delta PWA to the rest of the industry, it is clear our commuting protections fall short. A modernized commuter policy will cost the Company very little while treating Delta pilots like the professionals they are and improving their quality of life.

Stay informed and engaged. Visit contract2026.org.

This is a product of the Delta MEC Communications Committee.

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