• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home  >  American Airlines • Delta Air Lines • Law In Travel  >  American Airlines And Delta Air Lines Take Different Approaches To Federal Vaccine Mandate
American AirlinesDelta Air LinesLaw In Travel

American Airlines And Delta Air Lines Take Different Approaches To Federal Vaccine Mandate

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 4, 2021 6 Comments

While American Airlines has told employees there is no escaping the federal vaccine mandate recently imposed on government contractors by the Biden Administration, Delta Air Lines has expressed a reluctance to require employees to be vaccinated.

In This Post:
  • American Airlines: Vaccine Mandatory
  • Delta Air Lines: No Mandatory Vaccine…Yet
  • What Does The Rule Actually Say?
  • Operational Impacts
  • CONCLUSION

American Airlines: Vaccine Mandatory

In a memo to employees dated October 1st, American Airlines notes that because it participates in a number of federal government programs like the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and Department of Defense cargo contracts, it is considered a a government contractor.

Consequently, it cannot merely offer a vaccination or testing program, but must mandate all employees be fully vaccinated.

Delta Air Lines: No Mandatory Vaccine…Yet

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines says it has not decided yet whether to force employees to choose between vaccination and company separation. Speaking at an International Air Transport Association (IATA) event over the weekend, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said:

“We’re obviously studying it. I’m not sure how far you need to go in order to be in compliance with the EO [executive order].”

Delta said 84% of all employees are vaccinated and it expects that number to top 90% by November 1st. Delta plans to implement a $200/month surcharge on employees who choose not to be vaccinated.


> Read More: Delta Air Lines Will Levy $200 Monthly “Surcharge” For Employees Who Refuse Vaccination


What Does The Rule Actually Say?

While the Biden Administration has gone so far as to contact airlines and prod them to copy the approach United Airlines took (which can now boast a vaccination rate of 99.5% of employees who have not requested an exemption or 97.5% of all employees), the relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules have not been promulgated yet.

In that sense, Delta’s decision to “wait and see” does not necessarily indicate it will continue to avoid a vaccine mandate, but simply that it needs to see the rule before it can implement it. On the other hand, based upon the language of the Biden Administration it appears that American Airlines is simply following the rule that is assuredly in the pipeline.

Operational Impacts

We’ve seen vaccine resistance clustered in geographic regions of the United States, making the issue particularly perilous for American Airlines, which has a huge pilot base in Dallas. In total, about 4,000 American Airlines pilots are not yet vaccinated.

Let’s play that out – if pilots decide to retire instead of receive the jab, union rules will require mass re-training, as more junior pilots are promoted to larger aircraft. Depending upon how many holdouts there are, American Airlines may soon be proactively cancelling flights in order to avoid future meltdowns. Already over the summer we saw how stretched American Airlines is when it comes to pilot supply. Delta has also faced pilot-related shortages.

Meanwhile, a source tells Live and Let’s Fly that United Airlines is preparing precisely for this scenario and will be ready to swoop in and save the day should there be an operational meltdown during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday periods.

While not an argument for or against a vaccine mandate, the potential operational impacts and pending lawsuits may push implementation of the new rule into 2022. Then again, the class action lawsuit against United Airlines could be dismissed as early as Thursday, when the next hearing takes place.


> Read More: Lawsuit Against United Airlines On Vaccine Mandate Hinges On Two Key Issues


Finally, American Airlines invited employees with religious or medical objections to apply for an exemption. AA may be able to avoid an operational impact by simply rubber stamping every exemption request and allowing such employees to continue to work (unlike United, which has promised unpaid leave for customer-facing employees who refuse the jab).

CONCLUSION

Thus far, Delta and American are taking different approaches to the vaccine mandate for federal contractors. While American Airlines is convinced that it must compel employees to be vaccinated, Delta continues to resist that characterization and is instead sticking to to its policy of charging employees $200/month if they refuse to be vaccinated.

Until OSHA clarifies the new workplace rules, I expect Delta will continue to remain on the fence.

Previous Article Feinstein Proposes Vaccine, Testing Requirement For Domestic Travel Despite Lack of Evidence
Next Article Copa Airlines Starves Me…

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • British Airways Fine

    Justified: British Airways Slapped With $1.1 Million Fine From US Government

    June 2, 2023
  • American Airlines Flagship First A321

    The Dismal State Of American Airlines Flagship First Class

    June 1, 2023
  • Delta Toddler Cups

    Dear Delta Air Lines, There Are Better Ways To Promote Sustainability Than Reusable Toddler Cups…

    June 1, 2023

6 Comments

  1. Jan Reply
    October 4, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    IMO Delta has the sensible approach. We don’t need to be firing these workers right as the international travel is picking back up,
    Also, I’m fully vaxxed so I really don’t care if my pilot or FA is also vaxxed or not, just get me from point A->B in time ok?

  2. Goyo Reply
    October 4, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    These woke companies are a joke. They support my body my choice baby killers but when it comes to the jab my body my choice you get a pink slip. The jab only partially works. Those that get the jab still get covid and still pass it. That is NOT a vax.

    • Jan Reply
      October 4, 2021 at 2:30 pm

      The vax works in that if you’re past 60 with some underlying conditions, you’re much less likely to get hospitalized and/or die with Covid if you are vaccinated. The vaccine doesn’t eradicate covid, the same way the flu vaccine has not eradicated the flu. But we still call the flu vaccine a flu vaccine right?

  3. J Mo Reply
    October 4, 2021 at 5:03 pm

    https://www.theblaze.com/op-ed/horowitz-the-country-with-the-best-data-shows-infection-rates-higher-among-the-vaccinated?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20211004Trending-HorowitzUKCovid&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News

  4. Christian Reply
    October 4, 2021 at 10:55 pm

    United got it right. Period. Is Delta actually saying that they’re incapable of matching United and would rather twiddle their thumbs than do what has already proven to be not only possible but realistic? Not a good look for a company that started off the Covid era so strongly.

  5. VW Reply
    October 10, 2021 at 3:14 pm

    Some claricication is needed. “My body, should apply to choosing to put a foreign, unproven (we are the guinea pigs in this 2 yr trial) drug in your body, or not. A female has no right to murder a baby inside her body. Biden has accomplished nothing he wanted to, so he is like a dog with a bone over vaxxes. Norway has already downgraded covid to a flu. Why is WH wearing blinders on this-Control, thats why. If covid was so deadly why are we letting everyone and anyone cross the Border?

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 60,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Feisty Senior Citizen
    Feisty Senior Citizen Puts Drunk Spirit Airlines Passenger In Her Place June 2, 2023
  • British Airways Fine
    Justified: British Airways Slapped With $1.1 Million Fine From US Government June 2, 2023
  • United Airlines Worldwide Devaluation
    United Airlines MileagePlus Devaluation Spreads Worldwide June 2, 2023
  • American Airlines Flagship First A321
    The Dismal State Of American Airlines Flagship First Class June 1, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • American Airlines Pins Cockpit Door
    American Airlines First Class Passenger So Angry Over Meal Choices He Pins Flight Attendant To Cockpit Door May 11, 2023
  • Cursing Fight United Airlines
    “Don’t You Ever Tell Me To Speak English!” (Fight Breaks Out On My United Airlines Flight) May 17, 2023
  • Missed VDB United Airlines
    My Foolish $1,000 Airport Lounge Visit May 16, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Flight Leaves Early
    Spirit Airlines Passengers Enraged After Flight Leaves Early May 8, 2023

Archives

June 2023
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

A lovely stay at the @fsdoha, one of the best hote A lovely stay at the @fsdoha, one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in.
A fabulous flight onboard @qatarairways on the A35 A fabulous flight onboard @qatarairways on the A350-1000 in Qsuite Business Class from DFW-DOH. Qatar offers the best all-around business class product in the world with a spacious suite, plenty of privacy, excellent service, and superb cuisine.
The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

Privacy Policy

© Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.