June 1st, 2010
by Tori O. in
Airport, delta.com, Operations, SkyMiles
Go ahead and pack your bag ‘cause we’re now giving a free first checked bag to all of you with a Gold, Platinum or Reserve Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express.
Yep, you read that right. You’ll automatically receive your first checked bag free on all Delta and Delta Connection® flights for up to nine people within your reservation. That’s a savings of up to $50 on a round-trip ticket or $200 for a family of four.
It’s just one of the Card’s many benefits, including:
- Pay with Miles option to redeem miles for part or all of your Delta flight
- Exclusive Delta Sky Club™ access
- Miles earned for everyday purchases and double miles for Delta purchases
- A companion certificate upon annual renewal
So, check it out at delta.com/firstbagfree. Don’t have a card? Apply today. What do you think about this new benefit? Is it going to save you money this summer?
Tori O.
General Manager, SkyMiles
Terms & Conditions
Basic Cardmembers (not Additional Cardmembers) with the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, Delta Reserve Credit Card, Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card, Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card and Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card are eligible to receive the first checked bag fee waiver on Delta and Delta Connection carrier tickets. Waiver is only of normal first checked bag fee for a bag that is not overweight and not oversize under Delta’s applicable rules. Additional checked bags will be subject to the applicable baggage fees as outlined by Delta’s rules and the purchased fare. The first checked bag fee waiver will be applied to all passengers traveling in the reservation containing the Basic Cardmember’s SkyMiles number (up to nine waivers). If more than nine passengers are within the same reservation the waiver will only be applied to eligible passengers. The first checked bag fee waiver will only be applied on flight segments which originate on a Delta or Delta connection carrier operated flight. Codeshare flights are not eligible. New Cardmembers and Cardmembers upgrading from another Delta SkyMiles Credit Card product will be eligible for the checked baggage fee waiver benefit after receiving their card from American Express. Offer terms and conditions subject to change. Additional restrictions may apply.
Program is limited to Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles and Delta Reserve Credit Cardmembers, as well as to Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Cardmembers and Delta Reserve for Business Credit Cardmembers. New Cardmembers and Cardmembers upgrading from another Delta SkyMiles Credit Card product with a U.S. point-of-sale address in their SkyMiles account are eligible to use Pay with Miles upon receipt of their new Card. Eligible only on Delta and Delta Connection® carrier flights booked at delta.com under the DL code. Flight will be marked as Pay with Miles eligible. Minimum 10,000 miles for redemption. Pay with Miles tickets are not eligible for mileage accrual, Medallion Complimentary Upgrades, Medallion Segment Qualification, Medallion Qualification Miles, or Best Fare Guarantee. Refundable fares paid for fully or partially with miles will be refunded in accordance with the Pay with Miles terms and conditions. Redemption requirements may differ based on fare. For terms, conditions, and restrictions, visit delta.com/paywithmiles. All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, visit Membership Guide & Program Rules.
Sky Club Reduced Rate benefit is limited to Gold and Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers and may be used only in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel on any airline. Payment must be made with a Gold or Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card. Cardmember must be at least 21 years of age to access Clubs with a self-service bar, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is also accessing the club with a $25 pay-as-you-go pass or who is a Club member. Please drink responsibly. Up to two guests are permitted upon payment of $25 per guest. Partner lounges are not included. Amenities may vary among airport club locations. Offers and rules subject to change. Additional restrictions may apply. All Delta Sky Club rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/skyclub.
The Delta Reserve Cardmember must be traveling on a Delta-coded or Delta-operated flight. Name on ticket must match name on Delta Reserve Card. The Delta Reserve Cardmember must be at least 21 years of age to enter Clubs with a self-service bar, unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Delta Reserve Cardmember’s spouse and children under the age of 21 or up to two companions may enter the Club as complimentary guests. Complimentary access is only for Delta Sky Clubs. Codeshare partner and other alliance partner lounges are not included. The Delta Reserve Cardmember must present his or her valid Card and same-day, airline ticket to club agents. Note that amenities may vary among airport Club locations. Meeting rooms may be reserved for a fee. All Delta Sky Club rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/skyclub. Offer and rules subject to change. Additional restrictions may apply.
This offer applies to qualifying Delta, Delta Connection carrier, and Delta Shuttle® flights taken with the purchase of a fare that is eligible for SkyMiles mileage credit. Offer applies to Delta Vacations® packages but not other all-inclusive packages. Bonus miles will be posted to your Delta SkyMiles account 8 to 12 weeks after the end of each month. All Delta SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit Membership Guide & Program Rules.
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:00 pm
We all remember that baggage fees were implemented to offset high gas prices.
See your own press release from 2008 still available on your website:
http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=43&item=241
Now, gas prices are low but customers have to purchase a fee bearing credit card to check one bag for free.
A good marketing tool/offer would be to offer one bag free for all your skymiles members. It would cost you a little bit of money but would allow you to get new members and more importantly to better understand each member’s own travel needs. You would be able to better individualize your commercial communications which could lead to increased sales.
June 3rd, 2010 at 8:50 am
I always fly in the Forward cabin – FIRST CLASS so this is not an issue. I have a Platinum Visa Credit Card through Screen Actors Guild Credit Union in Hollywood.
June 5th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
what if person A has the credit card and buys a ticket for person B..does person B get a free checked bag although person A is the credit card holder and is not flying?
June 9th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
My mom has a Platinum card & made reservations for a trip to Florida a few months ago to take advantage of a low fare using her card. Do the waived fees apply to tickets that were purchased before the offer was made?
September 28th, 2010 at 10:54 am
This is a great way to generate loyalty for both Delta and American Express. It has one glaring flaw, however, which we discovered just this last weekend. My husband took a golf trip and he made his reservation using his platinum Skymiles Am Ex so he could check his clubs for free. When he arrived at the airport, he was told he would have to pay for the clubs as I’m the cardholder and was not traveling with him. His baggage fees were almost as much as his airfare! He chose the Delta flight because of this perk—otherwise, he would have taken the cheaper AirTran flight. Now that Southwest is buying Airtran, all their checked bags will be free.
Delta needs to fix this problem. Spouses should be allowed this privilege and possibly even the children of the cardholder. Delta needs to cement loyalty NOW, before Airtran/Southwest steals even more Delta customers. It’s a new program and they’re working out the kinks. Hopefully, this is one they can remedy quickly.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:52 pm
jannie, we ran into the same problem here in January of 2011. We had a death in the family, and I specifically booked my flight on Delta using my Delta Amex because of the ability to check a bag for free. Well, I find out going to check in that Oh! Sorry! it’s only for the primary cardholder, not additional cardholders, so pay up! That’s what a $95 annual fee gets you.
I used to be a Platinum Medallion member because I flew Delta so much – I lost my status after having a baby and being unable to travel for a variety of reasons, and after the way Delta has been treating its customers lately, I will never, ever, ever fly them again. I will even pay more to another airline NOT to fly on Delta because of this.
Also, isn’t it convenient that they’re making so much money on checked bag fees when they don’t have to pay any taxes on that? Fees aren’t considered the same way as ticket fares, so they get exempt from paying income tax on it (a quick google search will show you many articles on this topic). How nice for them!
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 pm
How is the First Checked Bag free? Everybody gets a free checked bag with or without a Delta card. I took an extra bag and ended up paying $100 for it. As the airline employee explained to me, I’m already getting a free checked bag and I can’t get an additional free checked bag with the Delta card. So I ended up paying an extra $100 for a bag that I wouldn’t have taken if I had known that I would have to pay for it. This card ended up costing me more money and hardly provides any benefit that I can see.