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If you want to check a bag when you fly, you'll have to pay. This rings true for virtually all airlines — even Southwest ditched its free bag policy.
The checked bag fee charged by Delta Air Lines is in line with other U.S. carriers. However, there are easy ways to avoid this fee, like holding a co-branded Delta credit card, elite status, or booking an eligible fare. If none of these apply, you'll need to pay to bring your checked bag. But how much will it cost?
Here's what to know about Delta's checked bag policy, including pricing and how to bring a bag for free.
Page Contents
What Does Delta Air Lines Charge for Checked Bags?
Delta’s checked bag fees vary based on route and fare class.
Note that size limits apply across all itineraries. Standard checked bags must measure no more than 62 linear inches (length + width + height). Bags exceeding that size are subject to oversize fees.
Delta bag fees for flights within the U.S., Central America, and the Caribbean
Delta charges passengers flying in Delta Main (including Main Basic) and Delta Comfort $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for their second checked bag on routes throughout the U.S. Fees can vary by specific route, especially on some Caribbean and Central America flights.
If you fly in Delta Premium Select, Delta First, or Delta One, you won't pay for your first two checked bags. In Delta Premium Select each bag can weigh up to 50 pounds. In Delta First or Delta One, your bag can weigh up to 70 pounds — perfect for over-packers.
| Fare Class | First Checked Bag | Second Checked Bag | Weight Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Main | $35 | $45 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Comfort | $35 | $45 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta First | $0 | $0 | 70lbs/32kg |
| Delta Premium Select | $0 | $0 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta One | $0 | $0 | 70lbs/32kg |
Delta bag fees for international flights
International flights get a little bit trickier to calculate, as pricing varies more widely depending on the fare class and route.
The table below shows an estimation using airports on each continent. To know exactly how much you'll pay to add a checked bag to an upcoming trip, head to Delta's baggage policy page and enter your route and the date of your flight.
| Fare Class | Destination | First Checked Bag | Second Checked Bag | Weight Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Main Basic | Europe | $75 | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main Basic | South America | $60 | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main Basic | Africa | $75 | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main Basic | Australia | Free | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main Basic | Asia | $75 | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main and Delta Comfort | Europe | Free | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main and Delta Comfort | South America | Free | $60 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main and Delta Comfort | Africa | Free | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main and Delta Comfort | Australia | Free | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Main and Delta Comfort | Asia | Free | $100 | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta Premium Select | All routes | Free | Free | 50lbs/23kg |
| Delta One | All routes | Free | Free | 70lbs/32kg |
We used the following airports as the destinations for each continent to estimate the baggage costs:
- Europe: Paris (CDG)
- South America: Buenos Aires (EZE)
- Africa: Cape Town (CPT)
- Australia: Melbourne (MEL)
- Asia: Tokyo (HND)
Keep in mind that pricing can vary depending on your specific route.
Delta overweight and oversize baggage fees
Standard checked bags must weigh 50 pounds or less and measure no more than 62 linear inches (length + width + height). Bags that exceed those limits incur additional overweight or oversize fees.
| Bag Weight | Fee |
|---|---|
| 51–70 pounds | $100 |
| 71–100 pounds | $200 |
| 63–80 linear inches | $200 |
Bags weighing more than 100 pounds or measuring more than 80 linear inches are generally not accepted.
Fees may vary on international routes. In many international markets, bags over 70 pounds are not permitted at all, even in premium cabins. Delta may also charge multiple fees for the same bag if it exceeds both weight and size limits.
How To Check Bags With Delta for Free
Thankfully, there are a few ways to avoid the steep cost of checking a bag outside of paying up for a first-class seat.
Carry a Delta credit card
On eligible flights, select Delta credit cards offer a free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on your reservation.
The list of consumer Delta credit cards that offer this perk includes:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
$350Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$650Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
If you own a small business, you can get the following Delta business cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases)
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible U.S. shipping purchases (annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases)
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible dining purchases
- 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases
$350Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with hotels
- 1.5x miles on eligible purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 bonus miles annually)
- 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases*
- 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
$650Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Earn Delta Medallion or SkyTeam Elite Plus status
You can check your first bag for free as a Delta Silver, Delta Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Medallion member. This benefit also applies to up to eight companions booked on your itinerary.
If you have status with another SkyTeam airline like Air France, KLM, or Virgin Atlantic, you can also check a bag for free if your status is SkyTeam Elite Plus equivalent.
Related: How To Earn Delta Medallion Status in 2026
Book an eligible fare
As you can see in the charts above, the easiest way to get a free checked bag is by booking a fare class that includes a one. For domestic flights, you'll need to book a Delta First, Delta One, or Delta Premium Select ticket. Note that not all domestic routes offer Delta One or Delta Premium Select. On shorter flights, your only option will be Delta First.
For long-haul international flights, as long as you don't book a Delta Main Basic ticket, you'll get at least one free checked bag. And if you book a Delta Premium Select or Delta One ticket, you can get two free checked bags. In general, avoid a Delta Main Basic ticket. If you want to earn SkyMiles, have the opportunity to select your seat in advance, and earn Medallion Qualification Dollars, you'll need to book at least a Delta Main Classic ticket.
Use a credit card travel credit or airline fee credit
The final way to get a free checked bag when flying Delta Air Lines is to pay for the checked bag with a credit card that offers an airline incidental fee credit. There are several cards out there that offer this style of credit. A popular one is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which offers a flexible $300 travel credit each year. You can use the credit on just about any travel-related purchase, ranging from a hotel stay to your checked bag.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
On the other hand, the American Express Platinum Card® offers a dedicated airline incidental fee credit of $200, but you have to select your airline in advance. As long as you select Delta as your designated airline, you can charge your checked bag to your card and get reimbursed.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Both the Platinum Card® and the Sapphire Reserve have hefty annual fees. A more affordable option with an airline incidental fee credit is the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, which charges an annual fee of just $95 and comes with a $50 airline credit with a $50 minimum purchase. So, you'll only be able to use this on your second checked bag or on a route where your first checked bag costs more than $50.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's $600 toward your next trip.
- Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- 5X points per $1 spent with hotels
- 4X points per $1 spent with airlines
- 3X points per $1 spent on other travel and restaurants
- 1X points per $1 spent on other purchases
Final Thoughts
If you frequently travel within the U.S., or you often book Delta Main Basic tickets on long-haul flights, you'll need to factor in the cost of a checked bag into any potential savings of booking a lower fare ticket.
For example, if you're moving to a new city and want to bring two checked bags with you, that could end up costing you $80, even when flying in Delta Comfort. The difference in cost to upgrade to first class might be negligible, and include those bags for free. Or, consider applying for a Delta credit card to get your first checked bag waived on all routes, regardless of your fare class.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
$350Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$650Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), and American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees)
