MeghanAs many of you know, Delta passengers are allowed to check one bag free of charge when traveling in the U.S. and U.S. territories and two bags if traveling internationally. Each bag can weigh no more than 50 pounds, nor be greater than 62 inches when you total length plus width and height. Please visit our baggage allowances pages and baggage tips for more details.
Fuel prices have soared over the past few months, causing considerable financial stress to the airlines. At Delta, we continue to take steps mitigate the extraordinary run up in fuel expense. One way our passengers can help is to pack light.
Here are some simple tips:
- Make a list of items you will need and stick to it.
- Check your list twice: edit it down, way down. Cross off everything you don’t absolutely need. You can always buy something if you need it.
- Choose the Right Bag: If you bring a bag that is really large, you will probably fill the space. It’s just human nature. Choose a bag based on: Quality (to stand up to a beating) and Transportability (since you will actually carry your luggage more than we will). Eagle Creek and Victorinox are both great brands who make a variety of bags for business travelers, backpackers, and vacationers.
- Don’t fold your clothes, bundle wrap them: bundle wrapping involves the careful wrapping of clothes around a central core object, avoiding folds that result in creases. Check out OneBag.com for instructions.
- For more information check out Independent Traveler’s Interactive Packing List.
It has been estimated that the amount of jet fuel used to move an object is 4% of that objects weight per hour. Thus, if you bag weighs 50 pounds, it uses 2 pounds of jet fuel per hour. Jet fuel weighs about 6 pounds a gallon (compared to water which is over 8 pounds per gallon), thus it takes about a third of a gallon each hour just to fly a 50 pound bag. It may not seem like a lot, but when you have 200+ passengers, all of their baggage, and the weight of the plane, it adds up quickly.
Please help do your part to conserve fuel and reduce the impact on our environment by packing light.
Meghan
Sustainability Intern
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July 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
What I have been doing on short trips especially if it is a trip less than two days. I now pack an extra pair of jeans and shirts in my laptop bag and check nothing at all.
Try to stuff as much as I can into my laptop bag before I think of the suit case. Not only does it speed you up getting in and out of the airport, but I try to think of it as helping the enviorment. Less weight = less fuel the plane uses I guess.
Although I recently was in Ft. Lauradale at the airport, and I actually gave a lady 100 dollars to help pay for her bags. She had several and 5 were overweight and she was hysterical crying said she couldn’t afford to pay for the extra bags so I figured I’d help out. She asked for my address said she would pay me back, I just gave her my business card thinking I would never hear from her again, 2 weeks ago I got a money order for 125 dollars from the lady thanking me.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
That is great. Thank you for being a good citizen and for being a great example of how to pack light.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I fly >250,000 miles per year, mostly on business. I’d like to share a few things that I’ve learned about packing that has served me well.
1. If you’re going on a short trip (2-3 days max): Pick a color palatte of one or two colors as your “base” and build around that. Then build your blouses/shirts, scarves, ties, shoes and other accessories around the base color.
2. Unless you work in the fashion or design industries, or are an A-list celeb, you may not need as much clothing as you think. For example, even if you are traveling on business for four or five days, two suits and maybe a blazer and one pair of slacks, jeans or a skirt will do. These are the things that weigh the most, and take up a lot of room in your suitcase. So take a few minutes to really think about what you’ll need on your trip. It may not be as much as you think.
3. Also spend a few minutes thinking about the shoes you’ll need to bring. One dear friend who would rather leave home without her husband and children than her Manolos and Jimmy Choos. Remember, though, the more shoes you bring, the less room you have for other items you need — and the more your bag will weigh.
4. If you’re traveling for a week or more, ask your hotel about guest laundry facilities. If your hotel doesn’t have them, use an Internet search engine to find a laundrmat or cleaner close to your hotel. This helps in two ways:
- You don’t have to bring as much clothing with you
- You can either do your own laundry, if you’re so inclined (personally, I find it as dull as watching paint dry) or find a place that may offer “wash and fold” service. Both, as well as finding a cleaner outside your hotel where you can take your dry cleaning to, will help you save money.
5. Call the hotel and ask about the toiletries they offer. Some hotels go above and beyond by providing a wide range of quality brand items, including facial scrubs, shaving cream and mouthwash, along with the usual shampoo, conditioner and moisturing lotion. By calling the hotel, I’ve been able to determine what lotions and potions I can leave at home. This helps keep my bags light, and also helps when going through security screening.
6. If you’re bringing just carry-on luggage, before you leave for the airport pick up the bag. Is it too heavy for you to comfortably pick up and maneuver? Unfortunately, we can’t always count on someone being available to help us, so we need to be careful not to weigh ourselves down. Plus, airports are b-i-g places. It doesn’t matter the airline or hub, if you’re changing planes you’ll likely face a good trek. The heavier the bag, the bigger the challenge you’ll face when making your connection.