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Here’s some news to unpack: Delta Air Lines increased the prices of checked bags on its domestic flights. If you’re a heavy packer, get ready to spend a lot of money each time you fly.
USA Today‘s Zach Wichter writes that a Delta spokesperson told the news outlet, “These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics.”
Our guess: it’s linked to higher jet fuel prices because of the United States and Israel’s conflict with Iran.
How Much Does Checked Luggage Cost on Delta?
Worth noting: the new fees apply only to tickets purchased on or after April 8, 2026. If you purchased a trip before that date (and don’t make any changes that cause it to be reissued after April 8?), you should be charged only $35. (We’ll see if that actually works.)
Here are the new prices:
- $45 for your first checked bag (up from $35)
- $55 for your second bag (up from $45)
- $200 for your third bag (up from $150!)
This news comes a few weeks after Delta made changes to its Bags on Time Guarantee.
Save Money with Co-Branded Delta Credit Cards
A family of four checking one bag each saves $180 on luggage fees alone for one round-trip. If they travel twice in a year, that’s $360 in savings.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Earn up to 125,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $9,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. First, earn 100k bonus miles after spending $6k on eligible purchases, then an additional 25k after spending $3k within six months. This limited time offer expires on July 15, 2026. (Terms apply.)
- Lounge access, Companion Certificate, upgrade priority
- Read our breakdown of the card here.
- Annual Fee: $650 (Rates and fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Earn 125,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. This limited time offer expires on July 15, 2026. (Terms apply.)
- Lounge access, Companion Certificate, upgrade priority
- Read our breakdown of the card here.
- Annual Fee: $650 (Rates and fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Earn up to 100,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. First, earn 80k bonus miles after spending $4k on eligible purchases, then an additional 20k after spending $2k within six months. This limited time offer expires on July 15, 2026. (Terms apply.)
- Companion Certificate, upgrade access
- Read our breakdown of the card here.
- Annual Fee: $350 (Rates and fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Earn 100,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. This limited time offer expires on July 15, 2026. (Terms apply.)
- Companion Certificate, upgrade access
- Read our breakdown of the card here.
- Annual Fee: $350 (Rates and fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Earn up to 90,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. First, earn 70k bonus miles after spending $3k on eligible purchases, then an additional 20k after spending $2k within six months. This limited time offer expires on July 15, 2026. (Terms apply.)
- Read our breakdown of the card here.
- Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. (Rates and fees.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Earn 90,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. This limited time offer expires on July 15, 2026. (Terms apply.)
- Read our breakdown of the card here.
- Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. (Rates and Fees)
Final Approach
Delta, like other airlines, just hiked its baggage fees. Add those charges to higher ticket prices and travel certainly isn’t getting cheaper.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and and may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
People forget that a portion of DL flyers are not American residents. As such, they have no SSN and cannot qualify for an Amex. So there is no way around the bag fees for these folks (other than status which is harder to earn with no Amex and more limited flight offerings).