Delta flight and free checked bags??

[nefritz]

Could someone with experience on delta and being a delta Amex holder help me out?
We will be flying out in less than a month, myself, husband and 4 children. I signed up for the delta Amex, only for the free checked bags. I've only flown one other time in my life. I want to be prepared for how my checkin and such will go. I will plan on checking in online in the 24 hour window and print boarding passes for everyone. What do I do then when arriving at the airport? Go to desk? Since we get one checked bag per person free, do I need to do something special for that? One last question..when checking in at the hotel for flight do they know that we get the one checked bag free?
Thank you for any information helpful

 

[SplashMountainRules]

If your skymiles number is linked to your AMEX account, Delta will know not to charge you. When you go to check in online you will see that there is no charge for your first bag.

 

[jel0511]

I'm not sure with the Delta Amex, but I believe you also had to purchase your tickets on the Amex to get the free bag........

 

[nefritz]

I'm not sure with the Delta Amex, but I believe you also had to purchase your tickets on the Amex to get the free bag........

No I made sure that was not a requirement.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure with the Delta Amex, but I believe you also had to purchase your tickets on the Amex to get the free bag........

Not correct. The only requirement is that you have the card.

For the OP, if you are checking bags anyway there really isn't a reason to check in online at 24 hours before the flight on Delta. You'll need to stop to check your bags anyway so already having your boarding passes doesn't save any time.

 

[Greysword]

I'm not sure with the Delta Amex, but I believe you also had to purchase your tickets on the Amex to get the free bag........

Not correct. The only requirement is that you have the card.

For the OP, if you are checking bags anyway there really isn't a reason to check in online at 24 hours before the flight on Delta. You'll need to stop to check your bags anyway so already having your boarding passes doesn't save any time.

+1 OKW Lover, one of the perks of the Delta AMEX perks over United, AA, or US Airways is that the actual Delta card is not required in the ticket purchase.

This is because the AMEX benefits are linked to your SkyMiles number versus the card. If your SkyMiles number is on the reservation, then you will get the benefits.

The easy way is to simply head to the check-in kiosks and get your boarding passes there. If you are not sure, just ask one of the Delta employees, show them your new shinny AMEX card, smile, and they will help you get checked in.

Don't forget if there are any problems (weather delays, mechanical issues, etc) and you need to get rebooked or if you have a long delay, the card allows SkyClub access for $25 for the cardholder and up to two additional people. The SkyClub will likely be better for getting info and rebooking than the (sure to be) swamped gate agents in the case or irregular operations.

Plus, you get 20% off in-flight purchases with the card, so use the card for any in-flight entertainment or beverages to save a buck or two.

Good luck and have fun! Please report back your experiences with the card.

 

[tinka-belle]

to what the OPs have said.

As far as the RAC desk at your resort for your return flight, they will see the free bags on your DL reservation. I've not had a problem with them knowing the one bag per person is free.

 

[thewesterberg]

Another perk is boarding in an earlier zone before "the masses". While it means sitting longer on the plane, it's nice to not have to wait in a huge line in the jet way plus it means getting your stuff stowed in an overhead bin near your seat.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had a Delta AMEX for a couple years. It is nice that you don't have to charge the ticket to the card, all you have to do is have your skymiles # connected to the AMEX #. So I get the free bag and early boarding on my business trips that have to be charged to my business credit card. Plus you never have to show the AMEX for the free bags or early boarding, it's all in Delta's system.

 

[snesguy]

For the OP, if you are checking bags anyway there really isn't a reason to check in online at 24 hours before the flight on Delta. You'll need to stop to check your bags anyway so already having your boarding passes doesn't save any time.

I'm familiar with United, not Delta, but on United there can be a benefit to checking in early. If the flight is oversold and they can't find enough (compensated) volunteers to switch to another flight they may have to deny boarding to someone and the last to check-in could get the boot. Also check-in time is the tie breaker for upgrades, all else being equal.

So long as you have seat assignments I wouldn't say you need to check-in at 24 hours in advance but I myself always strive to check-in online before I get to the airport. I don't print a boarding pass since I usually don't have a printer with me when I'm traveling. I just check-in online and have them print me a duplicate boarding pass when I get to the airport (the automated kiosks will even do it).

 

[sam_gordon]

PP are correct... you don't need to pay for the flight with the card and the card MUST be joined to your skymiles account.

I think you need to go the AmEx website, login, and put in your skymiles # (which you can get off the Delta website) to join the two. Once that is done... no bag fees. As mentioned, RAC will see there are no bag fees to pay.

One note... I did read somewhere that Delta is changing their free bag policy. It used to be you could get a free bag for yourself and 8(9?) others on the same reservation, I heard they're changing that to 4(?) others. I'm not sure when this policy goes into effect.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm familiar with United, not Delta, but on United there can be a benefit to checking in early. If the flight is oversold and they can't find enough (compensated) volunteers to switch to another flight they may have to deny boarding to someone and the last to check-in could get the boot. Also check-in time is the tie breaker for upgrades, all else being equal.

So long as you have seat assignments I wouldn't say you need to check-in at 24 hours in advance but I myself always strive to check-in online before I get to the airport. I don't print a boarding pass since I usually don't have a printer with me when I'm traveling. I just check-in online and have them print me a duplicate boarding pass when I get to the airport (the automated kiosks will even do it).

The involuntary bumping situation does not happen often - in fact it is very seldom. When it does happen its not who checked in first but who hasn't boarded yet. With an assigned seat on Delta, the OP simply has to be at the gate at the designated boarding time.

 

[DebbieB]

The involuntary bumping situation does not happen often - in fact it is very seldom. When it does happen its not who checked in first but who hasn't boarded yet. With an assigned seat on Delta, the OP simply has to be at the gate at the designated boarding time.

A couple of years ago, I was on a Continental flight and all of the passengers were boarded when the pilot decided we were overweight and wanted 2 passengers to get off. The gate agent came onboard and asked for volunteers. No one volunteered so he said the last 2 passengers who checked in would be involuntarily bumped. He escorted them off.

 

[sam_gordon]

A couple of years ago, I was on a Continental flight and all of the passengers were boarded when the pilot decided we were overweight and wanted 2 passengers to get off. The gate agent came onboard and asked for volunteers. No one volunteered so he said the last 2 passengers who checked in would be involuntarily bumped. He escorted them off.

That doesn't contradict what OKW lover said. In your case everyone was already boarded, so they couldn't go to who hadn't boarded yet.

I agree with OKW that involuntarily being bumped rarely happens.

 

[Greysword]

One note... I did read somewhere that Delta is changing their free bag policy. It used to be you could get a free bag for yourself and 8(9?) others on the same reservation, I heard they're changing that to 4(?) others. I'm not sure when this policy goes into effect.

The Delta Points blog reported the Gold Delta AMEX will be losing the companion certificate next year, but will keep the other perks:

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/delta...-companion-certificate-perk-to-end-25jan2013/

 

[sam_gordon]

The Delta Points blog reported the Gold Delta AMEX will be losing the companion certificate next year, but will keep the other perks:

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/delta...-companion-certificate-perk-to-end-25jan2013/

I'm not sure where I read that, and could be wrong.

 

[Echo queen]

Great tips.

 

[Greysword]

I'm not sure where I read that, and could be wrong.

You may not be. Delta's management has an issue with communication when it comes to changing their services. All of a sudden, something pops up, so it is possible they do plan on changing the number of people that can take advantage of the free bag/priority boarding. In fact if you read the Delta Points blog, the Delta Reserve card initially stated Zone 2 boarding (not Zone 1), so it may be...