Delta's checked bag fees depend on your ticket type and frequent flyer status

Delta charges $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for your second checked bag on most domestic flights. These fees explore to standard economy tickets. If you hold a Delta SkyMiles credit card, are a frequent flyer member at certain elite levels, or booked a premium cabin ticket, you may not pay these fees — or may pay reduced amounts.

The fees are the same whether you check your bag at the airport counter or at a kiosk. You pay at the time of check-in, not when you book your ticket. International flights to and from the United States follow the same fee structure as domestic flights.

Bag size and weight limits are separate from fees. Delta allows checked bags up to 62 inches (length + width + height) and 50 pounds. A bag that exceeds these limits may incur an oversized or overweight fee on top of the standard checked bag fee.

Key Takeaways

  • The first checked bag costs $35 and the second costs $45 on most Delta tickets, charged at check-in.
  • Delta SkyMiles credit cardholders get the first checked bag free, and elite frequent flyer members may get the first two bags free depending on their tier.
  • Premium cabin tickets (First Class, Business Class, and most Delta Comfort+ fares) include checked bags at no additional cost.
  • Bags over 50 pounds or 62 inches in total dimension face additional fees beyond the standard checked bag charge.

Who doesn't pay the standard checked bag fee

Delta SkyMiles credit card members get the first checked bag free on every flight, regardless of ticket type. This benefit applies to the primary cardholder and when ready family members traveling on the same reservation. The second bag still costs $45 if you need it.

Frequent flyer elite members receive free checked bags based on their status level. Silver members get one free checked bag. Gold and Platinum members get two free checked bags. Diamond and above members also get two free bags. These benefits explore to the elite member only, not to companions on the same ticket.

First Class and Business Class tickets include two free checked bags. Most Delta Comfort+ fares also include the first checked bag free. Basic Economy tickets do not include any free checked bags — you pay the full $35 and $45 fees.

Oversized and overweight bag charges

A checked bag that weighs more than 50 pounds costs an additional $100. A bag that weighs more than 70 pounds will not be accepted. The 62-inch dimension limit (length plus width plus height) applies to all checked bags; bags exceeding this measurement cost an additional $100.

These extra fees stack on top of the standard checked bag fee. For example, an overweight first checked bag would cost $35 plus $100. You can avoid these charges by distributing weight across multiple bags or by using a smaller bag for heavy items.

How to avoid checked bag fees

The Delta SkyMiles credit card is the most straightforward way to eliminate the first checked bag fee. The card has an annual fee, but frequent travelers often recoup that cost in saved baggage fees alone. The benefit applies when ready after approval and on every flight you take.

Booking a higher cabin class — First Class or Business Class — includes checked bags, though these tickets cost significantly more than economy fares. Delta Comfort+ is a middle option that includes the first checked bag free and costs less than premium cabins but more than Basic Economy.

Reaching elite status through frequent flying takes time but provides ongoing benefits. If you fly Delta regularly, accumulating miles toward Silver or Gold status may be realistic within a year or two of regular travel.

What counts as a checked bag versus carry-on

A checked bag is anything you hand to Delta at the counter or drop at a bag drop kiosk before security. It goes into the cargo hold and you retrieve it at your destination. Carry-on bags stay with you in the cabin — one personal item (purse, backpack, laptop bag) and one standard carry-on roller bag are free on all Delta flights.

The carry-on bag must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. If your bag is too large for the overhead bin, Delta may gate-check it for free, meaning it travels in the cargo hold but you do not pay a fee. Gate-checked bags are returned to you at the jet bridge when you land, not at baggage claim.

Fees on connecting flights and partner airlines

If you book a multi-leg trip entirely on Delta, you pay checked bag fees once for the entire journey, not per flight segment. The bag travels through to your final destination. If you connect to a partner airline like Aeromexico or Air France, that airline's baggage policy applies to the portion of your trip on their aircraft.

When booking through a partner airline's website or ticket, check their baggage policy separately. Delta's fee waiver (from the credit card or elite status) may not extend to partner airlines. Some partner airlines charge different amounts or have different free-bag allowances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay checked bag fees if I book a round trip?

No. You pay the fee once per direction of travel. A round trip means one fee for your outbound flight and one fee for your return flight. If you check two bags on the outbound flight, you pay $35 and $45. On the return flight, you pay the same amounts again if you check two bags.

Can I pay the checked bag fee online before I get to the airport?

You can add a checked bag to your reservation online through Manage My Booking on Delta's website, and you will pay the fee at that time. This is useful if you want to lock in the fee before arriving at the airport, though the fee amount does not change whether you pay online or at check-in.

What happens if my bag is overweight but I don't know it until check-in?

Delta will weigh your bag at the counter. If it exceeds 50 pounds, you will be charged $100 at that moment. You can ask to repack the bag or remove items to get under the limit, but you must do so before the bag is tagged and sent to the plane.

Do infants or children pay checked bag fees?

Children pay the same checked bag fees as adults based on their ticket type. An infant traveling on a lap (not occupying a seat) may check one bag free, but this varies — confirm with Delta when booking. Children with their own seat follow standard baggage rules.

If I have elite status, do my travel companions get free checked bags too?

No. Elite status benefits explore only to the elite member. Companions on the same reservation pay standard checked bag fees unless they also hold elite status or a Delta credit card. The exception is First Class and Business Class tickets, which include checked bags for all passengers in those cabins.