Compare / DL vs AA
Delta Air Lines vs American Airlines
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Delta Air Lines and American Airlines for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Delta Air Lines
DL · Atlanta
8.0
crew score
American Airlines
AA · Dallas/Fort Worth
7.6
crew score
Choose Delta Air Lines if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 3% more per month
- ✓Faster progression (career 8.2 vs 7.8)
- ✓Better layovers and lifestyle (7.9 vs 7.4)
- ✓Actively hiring right now
Choose American Airlines if…
- ✓Bigger network: ~350 destinations vs ~290
Side by side
| Delta Air Lines | American Airlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,600-$3,400 | $2,500-$3,300 |
| Senior pay / month | $5,500-$7,500 | $5,200-$7,000 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Atlanta | Dallas/Fort Worth |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~990 | ~980 |
| Destinations | ~290 | ~350 |
| Alliance | SkyTeam | oneworld |
| Minimum age | 21 | 20 |
| Reach / height | — | — |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Language beyond English | None required | None required |
Crew scores compared
Delta Air Lines
American Airlines
Apply
Delta Air Lines
Accepting applications for upcoming 2026–2027 classes, including bilingual LOD roles; expect long portal wait times and a sub-1% offer rate.
American Airlines
Hires in waves tied to fleet deliveries and attrition; postings open and close quickly on the careers site, with language-qualified roles appearing most often.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does Delta Air Lines or American Airlines pay cabin crew more?
Delta Air Lines pays more at entry level: about $2,600-$3,400 a month against $2,500-$3,300. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Delta Air Lines or American Airlines?
Delta Air Lines is actively hiring (Accepting applications for upcoming 2026–2027 classes, including bilingual LOD roles; expect long portal wait times and a sub-1% offer rate.) while American Airlines is periodic intakes (Hires in waves tied to fleet deliveries and attrition; postings open and close quickly on the careers site, with language-qualified roles appearing most often.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Delta Air Lines or American Airlines — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Delta Air Lines scores higher overall in our index (8.0 vs 7.6), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.