Checked bag on Delta

[leebee]

New to flying Delta; I usually fly Southwest, but finally had enough Delta points for a free flight! My ticket is a basic fare and I will be checking a suitcase. I have a Delta AmEx credit card so my suitcase should be free- but how does this work? When do I "pay" for my bag- when I check in or at the airport? Will I not be charged at all, or am I charged and a credit posts... or what? I have one more SW trip with 2 free bags and will really miss this benefit.

 

[emchen]

New to flying Delta; I usually fly Southwest, but finally had enough Delta points for a free flight! My ticket is a basic fare and I will be checking a suitcase. I have a Delta AmEx credit card so my suitcase should be free- but how does this work? When do I "pay" for my bag- when I check in or at the airport? Will I not be charged at all, or am I charged and a credit posts... or what? I have one more SW trip with 2 free bags and will really miss this benefit.

I have Delta Amex as well and do my check in at the airport. Two bags per passenger free. Just like a fancy Southwest!

 

[kanerf]

Most Delta Amex cards only cover one check-in bag and you get the normal carry-on and personal item.

 

[eticketplease]

I have a Delta AmEx credit card so my suitcase should be free

If you have the Blue version of the card that does not have an Annual Fee then you will have to pay for your bag.

Only one bag is free with the credit card.

 

[eticketplease]

I have Delta Amex as well and do my check in at the airport. Two bags per passenger free. Just like a fancy Southwest!

If you have status and some international flights you would be allowed 2 bags.
No status and domestic flights would just be one free bag with the Gold, Platinum or Reserve Delta cards.

 

[emchen]

I have Delta Amex as well and do my check in at the airport. Two bags per passenger free. Just like a fancy Southwest!

Most Delta Amex cards only cover one check-in bag and you get the normal carry-on and personal item.

This is right. I have a Skymiles Reserve Biz Card and status above silver.

 

[ronandannette]

New to flying Delta; I usually fly Southwest, but finally had enough Delta points for a free flight! My ticket is a basic fare and I will be checking a suitcase. I have a Delta AmEx credit card so my suitcase should be free- but how does this work? When do I "pay" for my bag- when I check in or at the airport? Will I not be charged at all, or am I charged and a credit posts... or what? I have one more SW trip with 2 free bags and will really miss this benefit.

To your question, you will get your baggage tags (either at the counter or through the digital check in machine and the fee will show as $0.00 for the first bag. Put it on the bag and send it through.

I got “jobbed” on my most recent trip - my WestJet Mastercard has a free bag benefit, which I rely on. Last minute, they changed my direct flight home from NY to a connecting flight with a leg operated by their “partner”, Delta. I was very displeased to find myself having to pay $80 USD to get my luggage on the short flight between Newark and Detroit. Baggage benefit doesn’t apply to “partner” airlines, apparently, so watch out for that in future, even if you are booking what appears to be a Delta flight.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Because you’re basic fare be prepared to be forced to gate check your carry-on. As the last onboard it will be the hardest for you to find bin space. It is free when DL requires this.

 

[jimmymc]

When you check in 24 hours before your flight or at the airport, you'll have the option to add bags. It will specifically mention you get one for free and allow you to print your bag tag without paying anything.

 

[KPeterso]

When you check in 24 hours before your flight or at the airport, you'll have the option to add bags. It will specifically mention you get one for free and allow you to print your bag tag without paying anything.

This is my experience. The app knows that I have the Delta Gold Amex and that I paid for my flight using that card, so I get charged 0. I believe since you used points or miles to pay for the flight that you will get the benefit as long as you used your Delta Amex to pay the taxes/fees. There is also a way to go in on the app and ask it to estimate your bag fees. If you have the free bag benefit, it should show as such. When you get to the airport, all you will need to do is print out the tag and then go to bag drop to drop off the bag.

 

[disneyseniors]

We've flown only Delta for years and we have never paid for our 2 bags, one for each of us. We also had a carryon bag. I never knew it was an issue? I wonder if it is one bag per person on the flight and then they charge for more per person.

 

[_19disnA]

On every airline I have flown, when you go to do online check-in 24 hrs prior to your flight (or use the airport kiosk) it will know based on your reservation what sort of free checked baggage you are allowed. System also recognizes if a specific type of credit card allows for free check bags.

 

[EACarlson]

You will not be charged. If you look at your AmEX card, it has your SkyMiles number printed on it. That is how Delta knows you have that specific card and that you have a baggage entitlement.

 

[KPeterso]

On every airline I have flown, when you go to do online check-in 24 hrs prior to your flight (or use the airport kiosk) it will know based on your reservation what sort of free checked baggage you are allowed. Systems also recognizes if a specific type of credit card allows for free check bags.

Agreed - that is my experience as well!

 

[sam_gordon]

We've flown only Delta for years and we have never paid for our 2 bags, one for each of us. We also had a carryon bag. I never knew it was an issue? I wonder if it is one bag per person on the flight and then they charge for more per person.

My experience is for each AmEx account holder, each person (up to 9) in the travelling party gets one free checked bag. If both have AmEx (pretty sure they need separate accounts, not an "authorized user"), then I would expect both people travelling would get two, but haven't experienced that yet.

And yes, when you check in your bag (whether on the app before getting to the airport or at the airport), there is a charge for the 1st bag, but the amount is $0.00.

 

[kylenne]

This is my experience. The app knows that I have the Delta Gold Amex and that I paid for my flight using that card, so I get charged 0. I believe since you used points or miles to pay for the flight that you will get the benefit as long as you used your Delta Amex to pay the taxes/fees. There is also a way to go in on the app and ask it to estimate your bag fees. If you have the free bag benefit, it should show as such. When you get to the airport, all you will need to do is print out the tag and then go to bag drop to drop off the bag.

Just for clarity you don't need to actually use the card to book the flight get the free checked bag. I never use my Delta Gold Amex card to book flights or even pay taxes on award fares anymore, I use my regular Amex Platinum for the superior multiplier and I still get my free bag benefit and the 15% discount on SkyMiles redemption. As long as the Delta Amex is on your Skymiles account you get the perks.

My experience is for each AmEx account holder, each person (up to 9) in the travelling party gets one free checked bag. If both have AmEx (pretty sure they need separate accounts, not an "authorized user"), then I would expect both people travelling would get two, but haven't experienced that yet.

The free bag benefit stacks, I'm not sure about with AUs because I don't have a player 2 but it definitely stacks with other free bag benefits. I'm silver and get 2 free bags, from status and from the credit card. When I fly FC I actually get 3!

 

[KPeterso]

Just for clarity you don't need to actually use the card to book the flight get the free checked bag. I never use my Delta Gold Amex card to book flights or even pay taxes on award fares anymore, I use my regular Amex Platinum for the superior multiplier and I still get my free bag benefit and the 15% discount on SkyMiles redemption. As long as the Delta Amex is on your Skymiles account you get the perks.



The free bag benefit stacks, I'm not sure about with AUs because I don't have a player 2 but it definitely stacks with other free bag benefits. I'm silver and get 2 free bags, from status and from the credit card. When I fly FC I actually get 3!

Oh that is good to know. I thought I needed to use the card to pay too. No big as I would choose to use it anyway. Maybe it was the United Explorer I needed to pay with the card for the free bags.

 

[kylenne]

Oh that is good to know. I thought I needed to use the card to pay too. No big as I would choose to use it anyway. Maybe it was the United Explorer I needed to pay with the card for the free bags.

I think it varies depending on the airline. JetBlue also lets you get a free bag as long as you're a cardmember regardless of whether you use the card to pay, but others may not. It's very handy with the difference in multipliers. Regular Plat is 5x on flights vs 2x on Delta Gold and 3x on JetBlue Plus.

 

[_19disnA]

Rules do change over time and vary by airline. If you are new to traveling (or only travel infrequently), I would check out the specific rules for the airline/credit card you are using to avoid surprises.

 

[R&RsMom]

This is my experience. The app knows that I have the Delta Gold Amex and that I paid for my flight using that card, so I get charged 0. I believe since you used points or miles to pay for the flight that you will get the benefit as long as you used your Delta Amex to pay the taxes/fees. There is also a way to go in on the app and ask it to estimate your bag fees. If you have the free bag benefit, it should show as such. When you get to the airport, all you will need to do is print out the tag and then go to bag drop to drop off the bag.

I think it knows because you enter the Delta Amex as your method of payment in The delta app.