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Travel is an old-age staple for the holiday seasons. The festive season is still at its peak and the New Year celebrations are lurking close as well. You want to spend your holiday doing something thrilling and memorable.

As you endeavor for that, you will probably have to involve a flight or two to your holiday destination. Delta Airlines is one of the few companies that has adequately adapted its flights to the rapidly changing travel experience.

If you intend on traveling with Delta, there are several essential pre-flight checks you need to perform to better plan for your trip. Some of the critical information you must possess includes Delta’s baggage fees, baggage policy, and current check-in protocols just to name a few.

Come along as we explore the essentials needed to help you navigate your way through Delta Airlines this holiday season.

1. Baggage policy

Fully grasping Delta’s baggage policy will help you manage your expectations before arriving at the airport. Usually, the policy will inform you what you can or cannot bring onboard your flight, the size and weight restrictions for each luggage, prohibited items, and any exceptions or extra fees involved if any.

Reviewing this policy alongside the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) travel checklist will help paint a vivid picture for you to ensure you don’t miss any important detail when packing for the trip.

When traveling with Delta Airlines, the baggage allowance will depend on your fare class, route, elite status, as well as your possession of the airline’s co-branded credit cards.

That said, it all starts with you letting the airline know the number of bags you will be bringing on your trip. You can do this online on their website or through their mobile app at least 24 hours before the trip. However, you are also allowed to check-in and pay for your bags at the airport.

2. Baggage fees

These will mostly depend on your status with Delta’s SkyMiles flyer program. That includes general membership, Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. The type of Delta credit card you hold also plays a central role in your overall baggage fees. These range from Delta SkyMiles Gold and Platinum cards to Reserve cards from American Express.

If you are traveling within the United States seated in the main cabin for example but don’t possess an elite status or Delta credit card, forget about a free checked bag. Instead, you will have to part with $ 30 and $ 40 for the first and second checked bags respectively. For international flights, you may qualify for only one free checked bag.

To simplify your trip planning, Delta Airlines also provides a free baggage calculator on its site. You can get an accurate baggage estimate even without booking a ticket by simply entering your desired flight and passenger information.

3. Excess baggage fees

Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, planning for your extra luggage is imperative. Delta Airlines allows you to check up to 10 bags on Delta flights or Delta Shuttle flights. For Delta connection flights, you can only check a maximum of 4 bags.

With that in mind, note that separate fees will apply for every size, weight, or quantity limitation a bag exceeds. That means for special items such as those with unique shapes, sizes, or weights, or overweight and oversized items, extra fees will apply.

Generally, these are items that may need extra care and attention during the flight such as children’s items, medical supplies, musical instruments, perishable merchandise, and other fragile items. The extra fees may range anywhere from $ 100 to $ 200 per extra bag checked.

4. Carry-on luggage

Suppose you are trying to steer clear of fees associated with checked luggage or don’t merit a free checked bag, bringing your baggage on board seems like the only plausible option left. Luckily for you, Delta Airlines lets you bring one carry-on luggage as well as one personal item per passenger on board the flight.

Your carry-on luggage can be stashed in the overhead bin and its size shouldn’t exceed 45 inches inclusive of its length, width, and height. Also important to note is that most carry-on bags don’t come with a weight restriction but the airline encourages its passengers to pack light.

5. Touchless travel experience

As the world goes contactless, Delta Airlines is no different. Using the Fly Delta App, you can conveniently gain access to your boarding pass and browse the seat map to point out blocked seats before your travel date right from your device.

Through the app, you can also change seats, track your luggage, as well as monitor your spending on the SkyMiles program.

The Takeaway

You don’t have to suffer any inconveniences in your travel if you utilize Delta’s online resources well. From the most accurate baggage calculator to the friendliest mobile app, you have no reason not to plan a successful trip. Good luck with that!