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When arriving home from a trip, most travelers want nothing more than to quickly grab their bag from the luggage carousel and be on their way within minutes. But as many flyers know, though, that isn't always the case. On most airlines, you're stuck waiting as long as it takes. However, Delta's Bags On Time guarantee promises your bags will arrive in less than 20 minutes, or you can walk away with 2,500 bonus SkyMiles.
But there's a new wrinkle in this policy, and you'll now need to act quickly to secure those bonus miles.
Here's what you need to know about Delta's late baggage policy and how to get compensated if your bags are delayed.
Delta's ‘Bags on Time' Guarantee Offers SkyMiles for Delayed Luggage
The Delta ‘Bags on Time' policy guarantees that your checked luggage will arrive at the carousel 20 minutes after the plane door opens and deplaning starts. If Delta takes longer to deliver your bag, the carrier will award you 2,500 Delta SkyMiles as a gesture of goodwill.
Delta's internal systems start counting from the second the door opens to the second the bag is scanned at the carousel. If it takes more than 20 minutes from start to finish, Delta will automatically approve your late bag claim once you submit the online form within two hours of arrival.
This limitation is new. Until recently, you had up to three days after arrival to submit a claim. Now, you'll need to act quickly if your bags don't arrive on time, since you won't receive compensation if you miss the two-hour window to file the form.
In personal experience, the Bags on Time miles post alongside the miles and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) earned on the flight itself. Generally speaking, this happens within a couple of hours after landing at your final destination.
Limitations on Delta's Bags on Time policy
Delta limits the number of claims to one per SkyMiles member per way, regardless of the number of bags checked. But if you're traveling with a group, each person can file their own claim.
Note that you must be a Delta SkyMiles member at the time of travel to claim this bonus.
The guarantee only applies to paid tickets on Delta and Delta Connection flights within the United States and Puerto Rico. Codeshare itineraries are also eligible, provided Delta flies the final leg of the journey. Reasonably, the guarantee does not cover overweight and oversized luggage pieces — and doesn't apply to items pink-tagged at the gate.
Related: How Much Does Delta Charge for Bags?
What's the value of 2,500 SkyMiles?
Based on thousands of redemptions, AwardWallet users average 1.35¢ apiece worth of value from Delta SkyMiles. At that rate, 2,500 SkyMiles are worth about $34 in award travel. That's pretty decent compensation for waiting a few more minutes!
Related: Do Delta SkyMiles Expire?
Utilize Credit Card Benefits on Longer Luggage Delays
The Delta late baggage guarantee is a nice way to compensate you for short delays. But when you wait a while — like more than six hours — for your bag, you'll want to turn to your travel credit card‘s baggage delay coverage for extra compensation.
Baggage delay coverage can help you cover the expenses for essential items if your bag just doesn't show up. Depending on your credit card, you could receive reimbursement for a few hundred dollars worth of purchases. It's worth checking the benefits on the card used to reserve your travel in case of a long delay and keeping your receipts when you need to make a purchase.
Related: Credit Cards That Offer the Best Baggage Delay Coverage
Interestingly, Delta credit cards don't offer delayed luggage protections. However, these cards offer another way to rack up Delta miles:
$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.
Final Thoughts
When your trip ends with a 20+ minute wait at the luggage carousel, the Delta late baggage guarantee ensures you don't walk away without compensation. Just by filling out a short form within two hours of your flight's arrival time, Delta will award you 2,500 SkyMiles for the time spent waiting.
But if you end up waiting 6+ hours for your luggage, check your credit card benefits for coverage. Your travel rewards card will be your best friend through trip disruption.
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), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
