1 day Ago By Mia Ping-Chieh Chen
Delta Air Lines is advising passengers with checked bags to arrive even earlier than usual at the airport by introducing a significant change to its baggage check-in policy for domestic flights, effective April 8, 2025. The airline is setting earlier deadlines for passengers to check their bags before departure, marking an important shift for those flying within the United States. Travelers should be aware of these new cutoffs to ensure they don’t face delays or potential issues at the airport.
New check-in policy Currently, Delta's check-in page on its website lists the minimum check-in time as 30 minutes before departure for most flights, with a few exceptions where the time is 45 minutes for passengers with checked bags. Starting April 8, however, the airline will update its policy to require checked bags to be checked in at least 45 minutes before departure for all domestic flights. This new rule is part of the airline's broader effort to streamline airport operations and enhance the efficiency of flight departures.
For passengers not checking baggage, the standard check-in deadline remains 30 minutes prior to departure. This applies to most airports in the United States, as long as no checked bags are involved. Additionally, Delta reminds all customers to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before their flight.
This will give passengers plenty of time for check-in, security screening, and any other necessary preparations before heading to the gate. Delta also requires that all passengers be at the gate and ready to board no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. Where are you flying from? Certain airports will have modified check-in times, which passengers should be aware of to avoid missing their flights.
In particular, certain airports will require an even earlier bag check deadline: 45 minutes : Most airports across the country require bags to be checked 45 minutes prior to departure, including major hubs like Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL), and many others. 40 minutes : Some airports, including Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), and Savannah (SAV), require passengers to check their bags 40 minutes before departure. 60 minutes : At New York JFK and St.
Thomas (STX) airports, the bag check deadline will be one hour before departure. 90 minutes : The island airport at St. Thomas (STT) will require checked baggage to be submitted 90 minutes prior to flight departure.
Packing tips to save carry-on space in the US and weight on international airlines. Delta said in a statement to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal that it's making the change "so Delta teams can ensure all customers have a great experience that begins with safety and continues with a clean, on-time and enjoyable flight with their bags.
" Delta has also emphasized that different rules apply for international flights. Travelers departing for destinations outside the United States are encouraged to review specific check-in requirements for their international travel. For international flights, Delta requires passengers to check in at least one hour before departure.
However, some cities have different cutoff times depending on their specific requirements. For example, cities such as Aruba (AUA), Brussels (BRU), Montreal (YUL), Toronto (YYZ), Dublin (DUB), and Frankfurt (FRA) require check-in 75 minutes before departure. Other locations, like Lagos (LOS), Sint Maarten (PLS), and Saint Lucia (UVF), require a 90-minute check-in, while cities like Accra (ACC) and Athens (ATH) have the longest check-in requirement of 120 minutes prior to departure.
The airline's newest lounge solidifies its luxury offering, which seems to be a principle for the carrier. Free checked bag for Southwest A-List from Delta In the meantime, Delta Air Lines is seizing the opportunity to attract loyal Southwest customers by offering an exclusive promotion ahead of the busy summer travel season. Southwest is ditching its beloved free checked bag policy , and Delta specifically targets Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred Members, giving them a chance to earn elite status with Delta if they switch loyalty.
Under the promotion, Southwest A-List Members will be upgraded to Delta’s Gold Medallion Status, which includes perks like priority security screening, priority boarding, and of course, a free checked bag. The matched status is granted for a 90-day trial period, and the program will end in September. To extend this status beyond the trial, participants must meet specific qualifications.
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