Delta Air Lines charges fees for passengers who want to check a bag on its domestic flight itineraries as well as those to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, which is a common practice for most U.S. carriers. You can expect to pay $45 for the first bag (weighing no more than 50 pounds) and $55 to check a second bag.
If you check in online, with the Fly Delta app or at an airport kiosk from most domestic airports, you can also pay these fees using SkyMiles. If you have enough miles to cover the fee, you will see the option displayed for payment.
You can always bring a carry-on bag (like a roller bag) and a personal item (like a purse or briefcase), as long as they meet the airline’s size and weight rules.
Aside from traveling internationally, where most non-basic economy fares receive a free checked bag (basic economy travelers must pay $75 for the first bag and $100 for the second), or holding Delta Medallion status, everyone else can avoid this fee on domestic and regional flights by holding eligible Delta credit cards. We will get into those details a bit later.
Just remember that you can always determine checked bag fees in advance by using the Delta baggage calculator, which takes into consideration your destination, Medallion or SkyTeam elite status and whether you have an eligible credit card or waiver.
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Paying for a bag: Money or miles?
Delta offers travelers the choice to pay with a credit card or miles when traveling from most domestic airports. If you check in for your flight online, via the app or using a kiosk, this choice will be available. Just remember that most Delta airports are “cashless,” which means you will need to have a credit or debit card handy if paying with money. There is a list of airports that accept cash on the Delta website.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
Delta checked bag weight and size restrictions
While Delta does not charge a fee for most international itineraries and waives fees on domestic flights for certain passengers, there are charges for any bag that does not meet certain requirements.
These are the fees for excess, overweight and oversized baggage:
- 51-70 pounds: $100.
- 71-100 pounds: $200.
- Over 100 pounds: Not permitted.
- Third-10th checked bag: $200.
- Oversized bag 63-80 inches in length/width/height: $200.
- Oversized bag exceeding 80 inches in length/width/height: Not permitted.
One important consideration is the type of fare you have booked. For example, first class and Delta One passengers can check a bag weighing up to 70 pounds without charge. Delta Main, Delta Comfort and Delta Premium Select must follow the 50-pound weight limit.
If you are willing to pay the fee, you can check up to 10 bags per person on most domestic Delta or Delta Shuttle flights (Delta Shuttle operates frequent flights within the Northeast and Chicago) or up to four bags on Delta Connection flights, operated by regional airlines under the Delta brand.
On particularly full flights or to certain weight-restricted destinations, Delta reserves the right to limit the number of excess bags, instead sending them on a standby basis where they could arrive on the next available flight. This may apply more often to Delta Connection planes that are smaller with limited cargo capacity.
Other exceptions to Delta’s checked bag weight policy:
- Flights to/from Key West, Florida, permit only one checked bag.
- Excess baggage is not permitted on Delta Connection flights to/from Mexico.
- Boxes checked to/from Central/South America must be in their original factory-sealed packaging, and no boxes are permitted at all on flights to/from Brazil, Chile or Mexico.
- Military travelers on orders can check up to five bags (weighing as much as 100 pounds each) without charge. When traveling for personal reasons, there is no charge to check two bags (up to 50 pounds each) in Delta Main and Delta Comfort. Military members flying in Delta Premium Select can check three bags (up to 50 pounds), and if in first class or Delta One, three bags (up to 70 pounds).
- Fragile or large items like musical instruments, children’s items, medical or sporting equipment and wheelchairs fall under a different set of expectations. These special items include some fee waivers or weight restrictions, but otherwise there are excess charges. For example, a bicycle weighing more than 50 pounds for a domestic passenger without any fee waivers would trigger an overweight bag fee. You can check the full list of items on the Delta website.
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Delta basic fares have their own checked bag rules
Delta recently rolled out new basic fares across different cabins for its domestic and international flights. This means there are some new fees to consider when buying the lowest fare option on Delta. These include:
- Delta Main Basic: Passengers purchasing Delta’s cheapest fare must pay a fee to check a bag. The exceptions are Medallion members and eligible credit cardholders. Silver Medallion members get one free bag up to 70 pounds, while other Medallion members get two free bags up to 70 pounds. Those with an American Express-issued Delta card that carries an annual fee get two free bags up to 50 pounds.
- Delta Comfort Basic: Passengers must pay to check a bag. The exceptions are Medallion members and eligible Delta AmEx cardholders. Silver Medallion members get one free bag up to 70 pounds, while other Medallion members get two free bags up to 70 pounds. Eligible Delta AmEx cardholders get two free bags up to 50 pounds.
- Delta First Basic: Passengers can check one bag (up to 70 pounds) for free. Medallion members and eligible Delta AmEx cardholders can check a second bag for free.
- Delta Premium Select Basic: Passengers can check one bag (up to 50 pounds) for free. Medallion members and eligible Delta AmEx cardholders can check a second bag (up to 70 pounds for Medallion members and up to 50 pounds for cardholders) for free.
- Basic Business: Passengers can check one bag for free (up to 70 pounds). Medallion members and eligible Delta AmEx cardholders can check a second bag for free.
Delta has some exception markets where bag rules are different due to local demand or airport conditions. These include the major SkyTeam hubs of Amsterdam and Paris. For example, companions of a Medallion member traveling on the same reservation are not given extra free checked bag privileges when departing from Amsterdam or Paris. Be sure to use the online bag calculator to determine if your departure or destination airport is affected.
Terms apply.
How to avoid Delta overweight or checked baggage fees
These are many ways to avoid forking over extra money to travel with your checked belongings on a Delta flight.
International flights
Most international flights on Delta include a first checked bag for free, as long as it is not a basic economy fare. Exceeding the limit on what is allowed will trigger fees that include:
- 51-70 pounds: $100.
- 71-100 pounds: $200 (not permitted on flights to/from/within Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa and United Arab Emirates).
- Over 100 pounds: not permitted on any flights.
Certain destinations have special rates or restrictions on the number or size of bags. For example, there is a higher fee for bags weighing 51-70 pounds ($150) on flights to San Pedro Sula, Honduras and San Salvador, El Salvador.
What if you have elite status?
SkyMiles Medallion members benefit from being able to check bags for free (the number of bags depends on your status tier), and it’s not just for the elite member, but also up to eight companions traveling with them on the same reservation. This is one of the main reasons to work hard to achieve status if you travel with bags often.
- SkyMiles Silver Medallion: One free checked bag weighing up to 70 pounds on domestic flights; one additional bag (up to 50 pounds) compared to a passenger without elite status on international flights.
- SkyMiles Gold Medallion: Two free checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds on domestic flights; one additional bag (up to 50 pounds) compared to a passenger without elite status on international flights.
- SkyMiles Platinum and Diamond Medallion: Three free checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds on domestic flights; one additional bag (up to 50 pounds) compared to a passenger without elite status on international flights.
- Any SkyMiles Medallion member in Premium Select: Three free checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds on domestic flights and three free checked bags up to 50 pounds on international flights.
- Any SkyMiles Medallion member in first class or Delta One: Three free checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds on all flights.
There are checked bag benefits that apply to those in premium cabins, even if they do not have elite status. For instance, passengers in first class and Delta One get two free checked bags up to 70 pounds.
Perks for Delta AmEx cardholders
Delta AmEx cardholders can check two bags for free when traveling on domestic flights and using the card to pay for the flight. And when traveling with companions on the same reservation, they can check one bag for free, too. Up to eight additional people can check one bag for free. The only exceptions are when originating in Paris-Charles de Gaulle or Amsterdam, where this benefit for companions on your ticket does not apply. Terms apply.
These are the eligible cards with this benefit:
Terms apply.
Delta charges $45 per bag (per way), which represents a savings of $90 roundtrip for a solo traveler or $810 if you travel as a group of nine. This makes paying an annual fee for any of Delta’s credit cards an easier decision for frequent travelers — and perhaps even a profitable one.
Other benefits for frequent flyers that can sweeten the pot include SkyClub access with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (annual fee: $650; see rates and fees). Terms apply.
Travelers without a Delta credit card have other options to save cash when checking a bag on Delta. They include using the American Express Platinum Card® or Chase Sapphire Reserve® because they come with travel credits tied to the card. The former requires you to have selected Delta as your preferred airline at the beginning of the year to receive up to $200 back in travel-related fees, while Chase awards up to $300 in travel credits without having to specify an airline. Terms apply.
Top cards for Delta flyers
Annual fee
- $0 intro for the first year, then $150
- $350
- $650
Earning rates
• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Other benefits
• First checked bag free. Second bag free on domestic flights.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Companion certificate (main cabin).
• First checked bag free. Second bag free on domestic flights.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Airport lounge access.
• Companion certificate (first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).
• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• First checked bag free. Second bag free on domestic flights.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
Learn more
Carry-on bags on Delta flights
All passengers can bring a carry-on item, such as a small wheeled suitcase, and a personal item, like a purse, backpack or briefcase.
Like most airlines, Delta limits the number and type of carry-on bags you can bring on board. The bag must not exceed a combined length, width and height of 45 linear inches and can’t be larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches tall.
Delta has the right to test these limits by placing your carry-on bag in a sizer at the check-in or gate areas, including handles and wheels, to make sure it will fit. Interestingly, the focus is more on whether it will fit into overhead bins or underneath the seat in front of you instead of the weight limit.
Delta makes exceptions for small musical instruments, strollers, car seats and pets. There is not a specific size limit, although they must be able to be stored securely within the cabin.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page.
*More from American Express
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
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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