For the next four days, Delta Air Lines is waving checked bag fees (and even overweight bag fees) as its meltdown recovery continues.
As Recovery Continues, Delta Is Temporarily Waving Checked Bag Fees
As noted by JonNYC, Delta is pulling all stops to get its operation back on track. That now includes waiving all checked bag and overnight fees from July 24-28, 2024. Each passenger can check up to three bags at 70 pounds each. Oddly there is one exception: Amsterdam (ostensibly because KLM handles baggage fees in AMS).
-does not apply to flights ex-AMS I don't believe
– it appears that customers who paid bag fees since the beginning of the melt-down might be potentially eligible for refunds
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) July 24, 2024
As of 10:00 am ET, no official notice of this has been placed on Delta’s baggage website.
Why is Delta waiving this fee? It has not told us, but I’d imagine two reasons are at play. First, many have already paid for bags and the process of dealing with baggage fee refunds or doubel charges for displaced passengers is not efficient. Second, I’d imagine this will encourage more people to check bags and therefore speed up the boarding process so that fewer flights will be delayed.
It’s still early, but Delta has only canceled 47 mainline flights today (only 1% of its overall schedule) and delayed 226 flights (6%). If that sticks, I’d say the “meltdown” is over. Even so, Delta is grappling with thousands of displaced passengers and trying to accommodate them is not easy when flights are already running full during the busy summer holiday period.
If you’ve already paid for a checked bag you may be eligible for a refund. While Delta has not made the conditions clear, you can request a refund here.
CONCLUSION
Delta is temporarily suspending baggage fees as it attempts to restore smooth operations. Keep in mind, though, that this is only for travel through July 28, 2024 so if your return flight falls after that date, do expect to pay regular baggage fees.
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