Having a Delta credit card gets you a free checked bag every time you fly the airline - here's how to use the perk
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- If you have a Delta credit card, you and as many as eight travel companions will get free checked bags. All you have to do is book your flight and include your Delta frequent flyer number on the reservation.
- Until April 3, all three cards are offering their highest-ever public new-member bonuses.
- The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express offers 60,000 Delta SkyMiles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months.
- When you open the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and spend $3,000 in the first three months, you'll get 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles.
- The premium card, the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, is also offering 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles, although you'll need to spend $5,000 in three months.
- Read more about the limited-time offers and the differences between the three cards here.
One of the perks that comes with Delta's three main credit cards - the Gold Delta SkyMiles, Platinum Delta SkyMiles, and Delta Reserve cards - is a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation.
For travelers who tend to check bags, the savings can add up quickly. Delta charges $30 each way for a checked bag on a domestic flight. For a family of four taking a long vacation, just having the credit card can help save $240 - $30 each bag, each way would mean a total of $240 for the whole family.
Using the benefit is easy.
When you apply for the Delta AmEx card, you're prompted to enter your Delta SkyMiles number. From that point on, as long as the card is open, the benefits are tied to your SkyMiles account.
Just make sure that you're logged in to your Delta account when booking tickets - or, if you're booking through a third-party portal like Expedia, just enter your Delta number during the booking process. If you go to add a bag when checking in for your flight, you'll see a cost of $0.00. The same will apply for anyone else on the same reservation with you.
The key is making sure that you're on the same reservation. If you book separately, your travel companions won't have access to free checked bags unless they have their own Delta credit card (or hold elite Medallion status).
Learn more: 9 lucrative credit-card deals new cardholders can get this month - including up to 75,000 Delta SkyMiles
If you're thinking about getting a Delta credit card, now is the perfect time. All three cards are offering limited-time welcome bonuses that match the highest ever publicly offered.
The Gold Delta SkyMiles card offers 60,000 Delta SkyMiles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. The Platinum version is offering 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Delta's premium card, the Delta Reserve, also offers 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles, although you'll need to spend $5,000 in three months.