Delta Air Lines: the complete traveler's guide

A fast signpost to your Delta trip, the honest read on what the airline does well and badly, how connecting through Atlanta (the world's busiest airport) really works, where Basic Economy quietly bites, and a jump straight to the guide you need. Or skip it and get a live BargainAirTicket agent, 24/7 in English and Spanish.

BargainAirTicket is an independent travel agency. We are not Delta Air Lines and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Delta Air Lines. This guide is for information only. You can manage your booking yourself at delta.com at no cost. If you'd rather we handle it, our agents assist for a service fee, quoted before you're charged.

Get help with a specific task

Jump straight to the guide for what you need.

Book a new flightCall for phone-only fares Change or cancelDates, cancellations, name fixes RefundsAm I owed money back? BaggageAllowance & extra bags Seats & upgradesChoose or upgrade Travel with a petIn-cabin, banned destinations Delays & rebookingHotels, meals, the 3-hour rule ConnectionsAtlanta transfers, tight layovers Unaccompanied minorsChild flying alone, ages, rules Special assistanceWheelchair, oxygen, service dogs

About Delta Air Lines

A quick profile of the carrier.

Delta Air Lines is one of the largest airlines in the world and one of the "big three" US network carriers. Its center of gravity is Atlanta (ATL), the world's busiest airport and the anchor of a domestic network that reaches nearly every corner of the United States, with a growing map into Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and runs the SkyMiles loyalty program, with deep joint-venture ties to KLM, Air France, Aeroméxico and LATAM.

Alliance

SkyTeam

Loyalty

SkyMiles

Main hub

Atlanta (ATL)

Key US hubs

DTW · MSP · SLC

What Delta is actually good, and bad, at

The honest version, from booking these routes every day. Not Delta's marketing.

Where Delta shines

Strengths

A huge domestic network, with the world's busiest hub at Atlanta and big banks at Detroit, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City, when a flight goes wrong there are usually more re-route options than on a smaller carrier.
A strong operational-reliability reputation among the US majors, plus a solid controllable-delay commitment, a meal and a hotel when Delta is the cause.
Even Basic Economy keeps a free carry-on plus a personal item, and every Delta ticket. Basic included, has 24-hour risk-free cancellation. Two things some rivals don't give you.
SkyTeam reach and joint ventures with KLM, Air France, Aeroméxico and LATAM make one SkyMiles account go a long way for earning and redeeming.

Where it stings

Watch out

Basic Economy is still a trap, no changes after 24 hours, no upgrades, no same-day standby, seat assigned only at check-in, and you board last. And Delta has now extended a "Basic" tier into First and Delta One, so you can buy a premium ticket and still lose the perks.
Pets are heavily restricted, no in-cabin pet to Hawaii, Colombia, Brazil or the Dominican Republic, no checked-pet option at all, and snub-nosed breeds and summer heat can shut travel down.
When Atlanta has a weather day, the sheer size of the operation means the backup ripples nationwide, being proactive about rebooking matters.
Its cheapest fares can look great until the add-ons, seat, changes, upgrades, bring the real price up to a standard Main Cabin ticket anyway.

That's our read as agents who book these routes daily. Tell us your trip and we'll steer you around the weak spots.

Hubs & route network

Where the airline is based and where it flies.

Delta runs a classic hub-and-spoke network anchored on Atlanta, with major connecting banks across the northern US and the West, plus East Coast strongholds in New York and Boston:

ATL

Atlanta

Main hub, world's busiest

DTW

Detroit

Hub

MSP

Minneapolis. St. Paul

Hub

SLC

Salt Lake City

Western hub

JFK

New York. JFK

Coastal hub

SEA

Seattle

Pacific gateway

Atlanta (ATL) is Delta's home and the busiest passenger airport on earth, the reason so many Delta itineraries, domestic and international, route through the Southeast. From these hubs Delta also feeds Latin America and the Caribbean, often through Atlanta or via its Aeroméxico and LATAM partners.

Delta Air Lines route network

Schematic of the airline's main hubs and popular routes we book, not to scale. For the full current network, see delta.com.

Popular routes we book

Call for phone-only fares.

Atlanta → Los Angeles ATL, LAXCall for fare New York → Seattle JFK, SEACall for fare Detroit → Orlando DTW, MCOCall for fare Atlanta → Bogotá ATL, BOGCall for fare

Fares & cabins, what's included

Delta's branded fares, from the lowest up. Exact inclusions vary by route and aircraft.

Delta Main Basic

Basic Economy, the lowest fare. Keeps a free carry-on and personal item, but the seat is assigned at check-in, you board last, there are no upgrades or same-day changes, and changes aren't allowed after the 24-hour window (cancel for an eCredit minus a fee).

Delta Main (Classic / Extra)

The standard Main Cabin experience, free seat selection, no change fee on most routes (pay any fare difference), and full SkyMiles earning.

Delta Comfort

Extra legroom, earlier boarding and dedicated overhead space, still economy, with more room and priority.

Delta Premium Select

A true premium-economy cabin on long-haul aircraft, wider seat, more recline, elevated meal service.

Delta First / Delta One

Domestic First up front, and lie-flat Delta One on long-haul and premium transcon routes. Note: a restricted "Basic" version now exists even here, read the fare rules before you buy.

Not sure which fare fits your trip and budget? An agent can compare them for you on the call, including the Basic traps now reaching the premium cabins.

Not sure which fare or route is best?

Tell an agent your dates and we'll find the right option, plus phone-only fares across 500+ airlines.

Call +1 (833) 667-2918

Baggage, the essentials

General guidance. Your exact allowance depends on your fare, route and SkyMiles status.

Carry-on:

Every Delta fare, including Delta Main Basic, includes one carry-on plus one personal item at no charge. That's a genuine plus over some competitors' basic fares.

Checked bags:

Checked bags are paid on Main Cabin and Basic for most domestic trips; the allowance and price vary by route and cabin. Eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders and Medallion members get their first checked bag free on domestic Delta flights.

Overweight / oversize / special items:

Cheaper added in advance than at the airport. Sports gear, instruments and special items usually need advance arrangement.

We can confirm your exact allowance and pre-pay bags for you, just call. Full detail on the baggage guide.

Connecting through Atlanta, what to expect

Most Delta trips touch a hub. Atlanta is the big one, and it's a different animal at rush hour.

Atlanta (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world, and for a domestic connection it's usually smooth: one terminal, seven concourses (T and A through F) linked by an underground Plane Train, and your bag is checked straight through, you don't touch it. The catch is scale. At a peak bank, the walk plus a Plane Train ride between distant concourses can eat 15 to 20 minutes, so a "legal" connection that looks fine on paper can feel tight with a stroller, a wheelchair or a delayed inbound.

Give yourself buffer on a tight domestic connection:

If your inbound is even a little late, a short layover across concourses at ATL, DTW or MSP is where people miss the next flight. When it's close, we build in time or pick a safer bank.

Arriving internationally? You clear US customs and re-check your bag:

On an international arrival into a US hub you collect your bag, clear customs and re-drop it before your domestic leg, build time for it. On some routes Delta's Seamless Baggage Transfer removes the re-check; we'll tell you if yours qualifies.

Full guide: Delta connections & tight layovers →

SkyMiles loyalty program

The airline's frequent-flyer program.

SkyMiles is Delta's own loyalty program, and Delta's miles don't expire. As a SkyTeam member, with deep joint ventures with KLM, Air France, Aeroméxico and LATAM, Delta lets you earn and redeem across a wide global partner map for flights and upgrades. Medallion elite status adds priority check-in and boarding, complimentary upgrades where available, free checked bags and Sky Club access on eligible tickets. If you have a SkyMiles number, give it to us when booking and we'll add it to your reservation.

Delta Air Lines: frequently asked

Quick answers, call us for anything specific to your booking.

How do I change or cancel my Delta flight?+

It depends on your fare. Main Cabin and above can usually be changed with no change fee (you pay any fare difference); Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) generally can't be changed after booking and, if you cancel, you get an eCredit minus a fee. Every ticket bought directly from Delta. Basic Economy included, has 24-hour risk-free cancellation for a full refund. Have your confirmation number ready and call us, or manage it at delta.com.

What happens if Delta cancels or delays my flight?+

If the delay or cancellation is within Delta's control, Delta rebooks you at no cost and, for a long enough wait or an overnight, provides a meal and a hotel with ground transport. Weather and air-traffic delays are not covered. Separately, US DOT rules let you take a refund of the ticket price if a significant schedule change happens and you decline the alternative. Call us the moment you're disrupted and we'll get you on the next workable flight.

What is SkyMiles and does SkyTeam count?+

SkyMiles is Delta's frequent-flyer program, and Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, so you can earn and redeem across partners like KLM, Air France, Aeroméxico and LATAM. Give us your SkyMiles number when booking and we'll add it to your reservation.

Can I fly with a pet or send my child alone on Delta?+

Both have strict rules. Small dogs and cats can fly in the cabin on most routes, but Delta carries no in-cabin pet to Hawaii, Colombia, Brazil or the Dominican Republic, and won't check a pet as baggage at all. The unaccompanied-minor service is required for kids 5 to 14 for a fee each way, with the youngest limited to nonstop flights. Call us and we'll set either up correctly, or arrange it yourself at delta.com.