Ever booked a Delta flight wondering if your suitcase is about to cost extra? On Delta that comes down to where you’re flying and which fare you bought, and both have shifted recently. Bag fees on US routes went up, and Basic Economy now goes by Delta Main Basic, so a lot of what’s floating around online is out of date.
The cabin side is easy, since every fare gets a free carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags are where people get stung, and flights between the UK and the US are the worst for it, because the cheapest fare and the one above it treat bags completely differently. If that’s your trip, the transatlantic table further down is the bit to read twice.
This guide is here to stop that. You’ll get the simple, real-world version of what you can bring for free, what triggers checked bag fees, what counts as overweight or oversize, and how to pack so you’re not doing the airport-floor suitcase rearrange while strangers pretend not to look. I’ll cover domestic US fees, UK and Europe routes, fare types (including Basic), Delta Connection quirks, family travel, sports gear, and exactly how to avoid the classic traps.
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Delta Airlines Baggage Allowance: Quick Facts at a Glance
What's changed on Delta recently
If you last flew Delta a couple of years ago, a few things have moved. None of it’s dramatic on its own, but together it’s enough to make your old mental price list wrong.
- US bag fees went up by $10 a bag, to $45 for the first and $55 for the second, on domestic and short-haul international routes. A third bag jumped $50 to $200. Long-haul international fees, transatlantic included, weren’t touched.
- Basic Economy is now called Delta Main Basic. Regular economy is Main Classic and the flexible version is Main Extra, and the same Basic/Classic/Extra naming runs through Comfort, Premium Select and First.
- Basic tickets used to be locked solid. You can now change or cancel them for a fee.
- Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta Amex cardholders get a second checked bag free on domestic Delta flights, on top of the first.
- Delta has published a list of comfort gadgets it won’t allow on board, including inflatable footrests and knee defenders.
Delta carry-on and personal item rules
Every Delta passenger gets one carry-on for the overhead bin and one personal item for under the seat, at no charge, on every fare. You don’t have to buy priority boarding or a cabin bag bundle to get it. If you’re used to European budget airlines you’ll keep waiting for the catch, and on Delta’s own planes there isn’t one (partner-operated flights are a different story, more on that below).
The carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm), and the three sides added together can’t go over 45 linear inches (114 cm). Wheels and handles count. That’s where a lot of “cabin size” cases fall down, mine included: a nice hard shell, sold as cabin approved, that came out an inch too deep once I measured from the wheels.
Delta’s carry-on rules don’t list a weight limit, but its flight attendants aren’t allowed to proactively help lift bags into the bins (there are exceptions). If you can’t get yours above your head on your own, it probably wants to be a checked bag.
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| What you're carrying | Size or limit | Free? | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bag | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 35 x 23 cm), 45 linear in (114 cm) total | Yes, every fare | Can be gate-checked free on full flights or small planes |
| Personal item | Must fit under the seat in front | Yes, every fare | Handbag, laptop bag, small backpack, belt bag, camera bag, nappy bag |
| Coat and umbrella | No set size | Yes, on top of the two | Doesn't count towards your allowance |
| Duty-free and airside food | One bag or box | Yes, on top of the two | Bought after security only |
| Pushchair, car seat, mobility aids | Varies | Yes | Usually tagged and taken at the aircraft door |
| Liquids | 100ml containers in one clear bag | Security rule | Set by airport security, not Delta |
The liquids row is the one that trips people up most at security. Our 100ml liquid rule explainer and the guide to US airport security rules cover what's allowed, and might save you a bin of confiscated sun cream.
Small planes, Delta Connection and gate-checked bags
Many of Delta’s shorter US hops are flown by regional partners under the Delta Connection name. Smaller planes mean smaller overhead bins (some are frankly a joke), so on flights with 50 seats or fewer only personal items go in the cabin. Your carry-on gets a pink Gate Claim tag, goes in the hold for free and is waiting on the jet bridge when you get off. It’s quick and painless, unless your laptop or meds happen to be inside it.
Regional flights have a couple of other limits. They take a maximum of four checked bags per person, against ten on mainline Delta, and extra bags fly on a space-available basis, so they may turn up on a later flight. Regional jets to and from Mexico don’t take excess bags at all.
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Delta checked bag fees on US flights
Inside the US, Main Basic, Main and Comfort all pay the same per bag, each way, and the premium cabins get two bags included. Delta sets these fees in dollars, so the pound and euro figures are rough conversions. Prices are a guide and vary by route, date and demand.
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| Cabin or fare | 1st checked bag | 2nd checked bag | Max weight per bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Main Basic, Main, Comfort | £34 / €40 / $45 | £42 / €49 / $55 | 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Delta Premium Select | Free | Free | 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Delta First | Free | Free | 70 lb (32 kg) |
| Any cabin, bag 3 and beyond | £151 / €178 / $200 each | Same as your cabin |
Two oddities worth knowing. Anyone flying to or from Key West in Florida is limited to one checked bag, status or no status. And SkyMiles members flying from most US airports can pay standard bag fees with miles when they check in, which is a handy way to use up a small balance. Overweight and excess bag charges can't go on miles.
Flying Delta between the UK, Europe and the US
This is where most UK travellers get caught. On Main Classic or above, your first checked bag across the Atlantic is included. On Main Basic it isn’t, so you sit in the same seat and eat the same meal but pay to check a case each way.
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| Fare | 1st checked bag | 2nd checked bag | Bags 3 to 10 | Max weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Main Basic | £59 / €70 / $75 | £72 / €85 / $100 | £203 / €240 / $285 each | 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Delta Main Classic, Comfort | Free | £72 / €85 / $100 | £203 / €240 / $285 each | 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Delta Premium Select | Free | Free | £203 / €240 / $285 each | 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Delta One | Free | Free | £203 / €240 / $285 each | 70 lb (32 kg) |
Leaving the UK or Europe, Delta charges the euro amount converted into your local currency, so the pound figures here are worked out from the euro fee. On the way back from the US you pay the dollar price instead, which can come out a few pounds different depending on the exchange rate.
Do the maths before you grab the cheapest fare. A checked bag both ways on Main Basic adds roughly £115 (€140 / $150). If the jump to Main Classic on your dates costs less than that, Basic isn't the bargain it looks like, and Classic gets you a seat choice and easier changes as well.
Other long-haul routes vary. Main Basic to Japan charges for the first bag much like Europe does, for example, so don't assume a long flight means a free bag, and check the rules for your specific route.
Delta fare types and what they mean for your bags
Delta's fare menu looks complicated, but for bags it mostly comes down to which cabin you're in and if the fare name says Basic.
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| Fare | What it is | Checked bags in the US | Checked bags to Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Main Basic | Cheapest economy fare, boards last | Paid from the first bag | Paid from the first bag |
| Delta Main Classic | Standard economy | Paid from the first bag | First bag free |
| Delta Main Extra | Flexible economy, free same-day changes on selected US routes | Paid from the first bag | First bag free |
| Delta Comfort | Economy with extra legroom | Paid from the first bag | First bag free |
| Delta Premium Select | Premium economy | Two free at 50 lb (23 kg) | Two free at 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Delta First and Delta One | First is the front cabin on US flights, Delta One the lie-flat long-haul cabin | Two free at 70 lb (32 kg) | Two free at 70 lb (32 kg) |
Main Basic has a few other strings attached. You board in the last group, which on a busy flight can mean the overhead bins are full by the time you get on, and your seat is assigned at check-in unless you pay to pick one (you can buy one from 30 days out). Changes are possible for a fee: £200 if your trip starts in the UK, or $199 (about £151 / €178) on a ticket from the US to Europe. Main Classic tickets starting in the US or Canada have no change fee at all.
If you're stuck in the back on a long-haul flight, our piece on making economy feel a bit more like first class has a few cheap ways to make it less grim.
Delta checked bag weight and size limits
In Main, Comfort and Premium Select each checked bag can weigh up to 50 lb (23 kg). First and Delta One get 70 lb (32 kg). In every cabin a standard checked bag can measure up to 62 linear inches (157 cm), which is length plus width plus height added together.
That size limit is more generous than it sounds, and most large suitcases fit under it. Weight is the one that catches people out. A big case reaches 23kg surprisingly fast once shoes, a hairdryer and a couple of books go in, and the return leg is nearly always heavier than the outbound.
On routes between the Americas and Europe there’s a hard ceiling: nothing over 70 lb (32 kg) is accepted, even if you offer to pay. The same goes for flights to and from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UAE. Within the US and Canada the cut-off is 100 lb (45 kg).
Delta overweight, oversize and extra bag fees
Each of these is charged per bag, each way, and if one bag breaks more than one limit Delta adds the fees together.
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| Problem | Within the US and Canada | Between the Americas and Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Overweight 51 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg) | £76 / €89 / $100 | £72 / €85 / $100 |
| Overweight 71 to 99 lb (32 to 45 kg) | £151 / €178 / $200 | Not accepted |
| 100 lb (45 kg) or more | Not accepted | Not accepted |
| Oversize 63 to 80 in (161 to 203 cm) | £151 / €178 / $200 | £212 / €250 / $300 |
| Over 80 in (203 cm) | Not accepted | Not accepted |
| Bags 3 to 10 | £151 / €178 / $200 each | £203 / €240 / $285 each |
Other regions sit somewhere in between. Oversize bags between the US and Latin America or the Caribbean are £113 (€134 / $150), for example, and on routes to or from Asia it’s £132 (€156 / $175). Delta’s baggage calculator gives the exact figure for your route.
How to get free checked bags on Delta
Delta’s free-bag perks are generous, though most of them are built for people who live in the US and fly Delta a lot.
Medallion status is the big one. Every tier from Silver up gets the first checked bag free, Gold gets two free bags within the US and Canada, and Platinum and Diamond get three, all at 70 lb (32 kg). On international trips in Main or Comfort, every Medallion gets one bag on top of the standard allowance. Up to eight companions on the same booking get the perk too on Delta-operated flights.
For UK travellers, SkyTeam status is the realistic route in. Silver or Gold in Virgin Atlantic Flying Club counts as SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus, and so do Silver and above in Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Either level gets your first checked bag waived on Delta.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve Amex cards waive the first bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the booking, and the cardholder also gets a second bag free on domestic flights. They’re US-issued cards though, so most UK readers won’t have one. Premium Select, First and Delta One include two bags, and active-duty US military get their own, more generous allowance.
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| Who | Free checked bags | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Medallion | 1 free (70 lb within US/Canada) | All Delta flights, plus 1 extra on international Main/Comfort |
| Gold Medallion | 2 free within US/Canada | Plus 1 extra over the standard allowance internationally |
| Platinum and Diamond | 3 free within US/Canada | Plus 1 extra over the standard allowance internationally |
| SkyTeam Elite / Elite Plus | First bag waived | Virgin Flying Club Silver/Gold, Flying Blue Silver and above |
| Delta Gold, Platinum, Reserve Amex | 1st bag for up to 9 people, 2nd bag for the cardholder | Delta-operated flights only, 2nd bag domestic only |
| Premium Select, First, Delta One | 2 free | Every route |
Sports gear, pushchairs and car seats
Delta treats most sports kit as a normal checked bag. It counts towards your allowance, pays the standard fee for its place in the queue (first, second or third bag) and picks up an overweight charge over 50 lb. The size limit is more generous at 115 linear inches (292 cm), and anything bigger than that, or weighing 100 lb (45 kg) or more, won’t be accepted.
- A ski or snowboard bag plus one boot bag counts as one item, but the two together have to stay under your cabin’s weight limit, which gets tight once boots go in.
- One golf bag counts as one checked bag and can hold your clubs, balls, tees and a pair of golf shoes.
- Bikes are accepted on most flights in a proper bike box or case. Use a soft bag and you’ll be asked to sign a limited liability form.
- Surfboards can go two to a bag, but boards over 72 inches won’t go on Delta Connection flights.
Pushchairs and child car seats travel free and don’t count towards your bags. A cheap cover on the car seat is worth it, because they rarely come back unscuffed.
Comfort gadgets Delta won't let on board
Delta now spells out which comfort items aren’t allowed in the cabin. It’s mostly about safety and not taking over someone else’s space:
- Inflatable footrests, cubes, wedges and beds
- Knee defenders and anything that stops the seat in front reclining
- Foot hammocks and slings
- Window and tray table organisers that attach to the plane
- Pods, tents and full-head helmets
Neck pillows, blankets and eye masks are fine as long as they fold away under the seat. I’ll admit I’m quietly pleased about the foot hammock ban.
How and when to pay for Delta bags
You pay for checked bags during the 24-hour check-in window, on delta.com, in the Fly Delta app or at a kiosk at the airport. Delta’s US airports are cashless and most of its international ones are too, so have a card ready.
- Delta doesn’t sell bags in advance through travel agents or third parties. If anyone else tries to charge you for a Delta bag, they aren’t authorised to.
- Fees are charged per bag, each way, so a return trip means paying twice.
- Bags you didn’t add at check-in still get charged at the desk, and that queue is never short.
When your Delta bag is delayed, lost or damaged
Delta puts an RFID tag on every checked bag, and the Fly Delta app can send you push notifications as yours moves, which is oddly reassuring when you’re still stuck in the boarding queue. On domestic flights there’s also a 20-minute bag guarantee. If your bags aren’t on the carousel within 20 minutes of arrival you can claim 2,500 SkyMiles, but you’ve only got two hours after landing to file the claim on delta.com, so do it before you leave the airport.
If your case doesn’t show up, or turns up with a wheel missing:
- Go to the Delta baggage service desk before you leave the arrivals hall and file a report.
- Keep the reference number and photograph the bag tag receipt from check-in.
- Photograph any damage straight away, before you wheel it out to the taxi rank.
- Keep receipts for essentials you have to buy while you wait.
This is when travel insurance with decent baggage cover earns its keep, especially for the pricey stuff Delta’s liability won’t fully cover. If the bag drama came with a long delay or a cancellation, it’s worth taking two minutes to check what flight compensation you’re owed. For broken cases specifically, here’s what to do when an airline breaks your bag.
How I avoid surprise Delta bag fees
These are the habits I picked up after paying for my own laziness one too many times.
- I price the fare with the bag included. If I’m checking a case across the Atlantic, Main Basic plus two bag fees goes up against Main Classic before I book anything.
- I measured my cabin bag once, wheels and all, and wrote the numbers on a strip of tape inside the lid.
- The checked bag gets weighed the night before. If it’s close to 23kg, the heavy stuff moves to the carry-on.
- Roughly a tenth of the case stays empty for the way home, because shopping and gifts always push the return leg over.
- My under-seat bag could get me through a night on its own, in case the carry-on gets gate-checked or the case goes missing.
For an early flight from Heathrow or a late landing in New York, a pre-booked airport transfer saves you dragging two bags onto a night bus, and an airport hotel on Booking.com the night before an early departure makes the morning a lot calmer. If you’d rather not check a bag at all, our minimalist packing tips show how to fit a week into one cabin bag.
Common airport mistakes that cause fees
Most bag fees aren’t bad luck. They’re habits. The good news is that once you spot the patterns, they’re easy to avoid.
Mistakes that cost money:
- Arriving unmeasured: You guessed your suitcase size. Delta did not guess.
- Packing heavy “just in case” items: The case items become the overweight fee.
- Letting your personal item become a carry-on: Big tote bags are the main character here.
- Forgetting the return flight: Souvenirs and shopping can push you over 50 lb on the way home.
- Assuming your card benefit works on everything: Some benefits apply only to Delta-operated segments and can exclude codeshares.
Simple fixes:
- Pack a foldable tote inside your suitcase for the return trip, but don’t use it as a third bag at boarding.
- Keep a tiny luggage scale in your case.
- If you’re close to 50 lb, stop adding things. Future-you does not need that extra hoodie.
If you’ve got a long layover or an early flight, booking an airport hotel via Booking.com can also reduce stress-packing. People pack lighter when they’re not panicking.
Use Compensair to claim compensation!
Final Thoughts
Delta is one of the easier airlines to fly with bags. The two things that catch people out are Main Basic not including a checked bag across the Atlantic, and the scales at the bag drop, which don’t negotiate. Sort the fare before you book and weigh the case at home, and you’ll dodge most of the extra charges.
If you’re flying other US airlines on the same trip, our United Airlines baggage allowance guide covers United, and we’ve got the rules for Alaska Airlines and Frontier too. The rest are in our transport guides.
FAQs
Is a carry-on free on Delta Main Basic?
Yes. Every Delta fare, Main Basic included, comes with one free carry-on and one free personal item. The only time your carry-on won’t go in the cabin is on small Delta Connection planes or very full flights, when it’s gate-checked for free.
How much is a checked bag on Delta from London to New York?
On Main Classic and above your first checked bag is free. On Main Basic it’s €70 (about £59) leaving London and $75 (about £57) on the way back. A second bag on either fare is €85 (about £72) going out and $100 (about £76) coming home.
What happens if my Delta checked bag is over 50 lb?
Between 51 and 70 lb (23 to 32 kg) you pay an overweight fee of €85 (about £72) leaving Europe, or $100 (about £76) from the US. Anything over 70 lb isn’t accepted on Europe routes at all, so you’d be repacking at the desk.
Do I get free bags on Delta with Virgin Atlantic status?
Yes, if you’re Silver or Gold in Flying Club. Those tiers count as SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus, and either one gets your first checked bag waived on Delta. Red members don’t get the perk.
Can Delta gate-check my carry-on for free?
Yes. If the overhead bins are full, or you’re on a Delta Connection flight with 50 seats or fewer, your carry-on is tagged and put in the hold for free. Keep valuables and batteries in your personal item.
Sources checked
- Delta baggage and travel fees, US checked bag fees, weight and size limits, Key West rule, paying with miles, Basic change fees
- Delta carry-on baggage, carry-on and personal item sizes, Delta Connection gate-checking, banned comfort items
- Delta excess and overweight baggage, overweight, oversize and extra bag fees by region, maximum weights
- Delta flights to Europe, Main Basic checked bag fees to Europe and Japan
- Delta Medallion and card bag allowance, free bags by Medallion tier, SkyTeam Elite waiver, companion rules
- Delta Amex free checked bags, first and second free bag terms for cardholders
- Delta sporting equipment, skis, golf, bikes, surfboards, javelins and size limits
- Delta Main Basic fare rules, boarding, seat assignment and change rules
- Delta real-time bag tracking, RFID tags and Fly Delta app notifications
- ABC News on Delta’s bag fee rise, size of the latest increase and which routes it covers
- The Bulkhead Seat on the 20-minute bag guarantee, miles payout and two-hour claim window
- Head for Points on Flying Club and SkyTeam, which Flying Club tiers count as SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus
- Air France cabin baggage, 12kg economy cabin bag limit
- European Central Bank reference rates, exchange rates used for the pound and euro conversions
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