Delta Air Lines is updating its baggage policy for domestic travelers, implementing a stricter cutoff time for checked luggage beginning April 8, 2025.
In an email sent to customers this week, the Atlanta-based carrier announced that all checked bags must be dropped off at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure for domestic flights. The new policy will apply across most U.S. airports, although the deadline is even earlier at certain busy hubs.
For instance, at New York’s JFK Airport and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on and the Virgin Islands’ St. Croix, bags must be checked 60 minutes prior to takeoff. For travelers flying out of Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on the island of St. Thomas, the cutoff is 90 minutes before departure.
Delta didn’t specify what the previous standard cutoff was in its customer communication, but according to the airline’s website, the typical check-in window for flights with checked baggage has been 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the airport.
In a statement emailed to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Delta said it's altering its policy "so Delta teams can ensure all customers have a great experience that begins with safety and continues with a clean, on-time and enjoyable flight with their bags.”
The change only applies to passengers who plan to check luggage. Those traveling without checked bags can still check in as late as 30 minutes before departure, depending on the airport. Delta also noted that the updated cutoff should affect only a small number of flyers since most passengers already check their bags well before the 45-minute mark.
Regardless of whether passengers are checking bags, Delta continues to recommend that travelers arrive at the airport two hours before domestic departures to ensure a smooth screening and boarding process.
The policy update arrives amid signs of a slowdown in the travel industry. Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently acknowledged that both leisure and business flyers are showing increased caution due to economic uncertainty, leading to more conservative spending on domestic travel.
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