I found out the hard way about whether Delta charges for baggage, and honestly, it was during one of the most chaotic trips I’ve ever taken. I was flying from Tampa to Salt Lake City for a friend’s wedding, and I was already stressed because I’d had to change my travel dates twice that week. Each time, instead of fighting with Delta’s website, I just called 888-217-3324, which has become my go-to whenever I need to book, cancel, or fix anything quickly. They always explain things clearly, which helped a lot on this trip.
Right before leaving for the airport, I suddenly realized I hadn’t looked at the baggage fees properly. I was flying Main Cabin and assumed I’d get one free checked bag, but nope—Delta charges for most checked bags unless you have Medallion status or the Delta AmEx card. When I called 888-217-3324 again to double-check, the agent confirmed the first checked bag wasn’t included for my fare. They helped me prepay it on the spot, which saved me time (and a bit of money) once I got to the airport.
What made things even more interesting was that I ended up having to fly home a day early because of weather issues. Changing the return flight online was a nightmare—error messages everywhere—so I just called again, and they rebooked me in minutes without any confusion.
So yes, Delta does charge for checked baggage on most fares, but with a little planning (and honestly, a quick call when things get confusing), you can avoid surprises at the airport.
