Do you have to pay for baggage twice on a round trip Delta?

Decoding Delta’s Baggage Blues: Paying Once or Twice on a Round Trip?

Planning a trip with Delta Airlines? Amidst the excitement of choosing your destination and booking your flights, the often-confusing world of baggage fees looms. One common question that pops up for travelers embarking on a round trip is this: “Do I have to pay for baggage twice on a Delta round trip flight?”

The simple, straightforward answer is yes, generally, you do pay for baggage twice on a round trip with Delta Airlines. Understanding why boils down to how Delta calculates these fees.

Delta, like many airlines, assesses baggage fees per flight leg. Think of it like this: each time you board a plane on your itinerary, you’re starting a new segment of your journey. Each segment comes with its own potential baggage fee.

Therefore, on a typical round trip, which consists of an outbound flight and a return flight, you’ll essentially be paying the baggage fee twice – once for the outbound leg and again for the return leg. This means if Delta’s first checked bag fee is $30 each way, you can expect to pay a total of $60 for checking one bag on your round trip.

Example:

Imagine you’re flying from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) on Delta, and then returning from LAX to JFK. Let’s say the checked baggage fee is $30 per bag, per flight. You would pay:

• $30 for checking your bag on the JFK to LAX flight.
• $30 for checking your bag on the LAX to JFK flight.

Total: $60

Leveraging Delta’s Baggage Fee Calculator:

Fortunately, Delta provides a user-friendly online tool to help you estimate your baggage fees before you even get to the airport. This tool allows you to input your itinerary, including your origin, destination, and any stopovers. It will then calculate the estimated baggage fees based on the number of bags you plan to check and any applicable exemptions. You can find this tool on Delta’s website under the “Baggage” section.

Ways to Potentially Avoid Baggage Fees:

While the rule of paying per flight leg usually applies, there are a few ways you might be able to avoid baggage fees on your Delta round trip:

• Delta SkyMiles Medallion Status: Certain levels of Delta SkyMiles Medallion status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond) grant you complimentary checked bags.
• Delta SkyMiles American Express Card: Select Delta SkyMiles American Express credit cards offer a free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation.
• Flying in a Premium Cabin: Passengers flying in First Class, Delta Premium Select, or Delta One cabins often receive complimentary checked bags.
• Traveling with Military Orders: Active U.S. military personnel traveling on orders are typically entitled to free checked baggage.
• Carefully Pack a Carry-On: If you can manage it, packing strategically and adhering to Delta’s carry-on size and weight restrictions can help you avoid checked baggage fees altogether.

In Conclusion:

When planning a round trip with Delta Airlines, it’s wise to budget for baggage fees twice – once for each leg of your journey. Utilizing Delta’s online baggage fee calculator is a great way to get an accurate estimate of your costs. By exploring options like Delta SkyMiles Medallion status, credit card perks, or traveling in a premium cabin, you might even find a way to sidestep those fees and save some money for your vacation!