Compare / DL vs WN
Delta Air Lines vs Southwest Airlines
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Delta Air Lines
DL · Atlanta
8.0
crew score
Southwest Airlines
WN · Dallas (Love Field)
7.8
crew score
Choose Delta Air Lines if…
- ✓Faster progression (career 8.2 vs 7.3)
- ✓Long-haul network with proper layovers instead of turnarounds
- ✓Actively hiring right now
- ✓Bigger network: ~290 destinations vs ~120
Choose Southwest Airlines if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 3% more per month
- ✓Kinder roster (7.4 vs 6.8)
- ✓Short-haul flying means you sleep at home most nights
- ✓Visible tattoos may be accepted — a hard stop at the other airline
Side by side
| Delta Air Lines | Southwest Airlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,600-$3,400 | $2,700-$3,500 |
| Senior pay / month | $5,500-$7,500 | $5,800-$7,800 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Atlanta | Dallas (Love Field) |
| Type | Full-service | Low-cost |
| Fleet | ~990 | ~800 |
| Destinations | ~290 | ~120 |
| Alliance | SkyTeam | None |
| Minimum age | 21 | 21 |
| Reach / height | — | — |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Some allowed |
| Language beyond English | None required | None required |
Crew scores compared
Delta Air Lines
Southwest 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.
Southwest Airlines
Flight attendant hiring has been largely frozen since 2024 amid restructuring and voluntary separation offers; monitor the careers site for rare posting windows, which fill within days.
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 Southwest Airlines pay cabin crew more?
Southwest Airlines pays more at entry level: about $2,700-$3,500 a month against $2,600-$3,400. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Delta Air Lines or Southwest 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 Southwest Airlines is waitlist / closed (Flight attendant hiring has been largely frozen since 2024 amid restructuring and voluntary separation offers; monitor the careers site for rare posting windows, which fill within days.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Delta Air Lines or Southwest Airlines — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Delta Air Lines scores higher overall in our index (8.0 vs 7.8), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.