Delta Baggage Fees

[Helvegen]

I'm reading some conflicting info about this, so I guess might get some more, but here it goes:

Do you need to have booked flights with a Delta Amex Ex to get the baggage allowance or is just holding the card with a valid SM number enough (and you paid with another card)?

[Fomerly known as something]

No need to book on the Delta Card.  I travel for work a lot and the travel agency work uses books the flights, I don't pay for baggage.

[honeybbq]

Yep, you have to USE said card, not just be a card holder. This is pretty much true for any airline reward card.

[Catbert]

It appears to be only if you charge the airfare to the Delta AmEx.

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/baggage/before-your-trip/checked/first-bag-free.html

[Fomerly known as something]

Seriously I do not use my card to pay for my delta flights and I don't pay a fee for them when I travel for work.

[JLee]

Seriously I do not use my card to pay for my delta flights and I don't pay a fee for them when I travel for work.

You also don't book the flights, correct?

[NotJen]

It appears to be only if you charge the airfare to the Delta AmEx.

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/baggage/before-your-trip/checked/first-bag-free.html

Can you quote from that link where it says you have to charge your airfare to get the free bag benefit?  Beacuse I'm pretty sure that isn't the case, and I read the details and don't see it.  The most important part is:

Reservation must include the Basic Card Member’s SkyMiles number.

I have a Delta flight I booked several months ago.  I just got the Delta Amex card last week.  My flight details say I can check my first bag free.

[JLee]

It appears to be only if you charge the airfare to the Delta AmEx.

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/baggage/before-your-trip/checked/first-bag-free.html

Can you quote from that link where it says you have to charge your airfare to get the free bag benefit?  Beacuse I'm pretty sure that isn't the case, and I read the details and don't see it.  The most important part is:

Reservation must include the Basic Card Member’s SkyMiles number.

I have a Delta flight I booked several months ago.  I just got the Delta Amex card last week.  My flight details say I can check my first bag free.

The first line?

As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights booked with your Card.

[NotJen]

Thanks - swear I read that line and didn't see it earlier!

[Helvegen]

So I just came back from vacation and yes, you immediately get the free bag for you and your travel companions booked on the same flight. You also immediately get zone 1 boarding for you and your group.

I applied and was approved about one week before I flew out and did not receive the physical card until sometime while I was on vacation.

Dumb OT Moment: This was my first time traveling with NEXUS that automatically confers TSA Precheck. I did not have TSA Precheck before. It wasn't explained to me that to use the TSA Precheck with NEXUS, I have to add the TT number to the actual booking/boarding pass. I did not get my NEXUS card until several months after I booked and when I checked in there was no option to add the TT numbers to my husband and daughter when I checked in together, so I didn't think anything of it because it is automatic right? LOL, NO. Well, got that sorted out for the return flight anyway. Lesson learned. Call the airline if they give you no option to add a TT number at check in. 

[Jtrey17]

So I just came back from vacation and yes, you immediately get the free bag for you and your travel companions booked on the same flight. You also immediately get zone 1 boarding for you and your group.

I applied and was approved about one week before I flew out and did not receive the physical card until sometime while I was on vacation.

Dumb OT Moment: This was my first time traveling with NEXUS that automatically confers TSA Precheck. I did not have TSA Precheck before. It wasn't explained to me that to use the TSA Precheck with NEXUS, I have to add the TT number to the actual booking/boarding pass. I did not get my NEXUS card until several months after I booked and when I checked in there was no option to add the TT numbers to my husband and daughter when I checked in together, so I didn't think anything of it because it is automatic right? LOL, NO. Well, got that sorted out for the return flight anyway. Lesson learned. Call the airline if they give you no option to add a TT number at check in.

Thank you for this! I am in the same scenario for a trip I’m taking next week and I have a silly question. If I didn’t use the Amex card to book the trip and just received my Amex/delta card now, how do I let the airline know that I have the card?

[Helvegen]

The credit card is linked with your Skymiles account as long as you gave the number to AMEX so the accounts could be linked. Usually you do this during the application, but I had to stick it on retroactively a few hours after my account was approved. It was no problem.

[Fomerly known as something]

Seriously I do not use my card to pay for my delta flights and I don't pay a fee for them when I travel for work.

You also don't book the flights, correct?

I don't book the flights, they are booked by a travel agency used by my company.