Delta Air Lines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More
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Delta Air Lines is one of the oldest U.S. carriers and certainly one of the most respected. If you’re considering flying with Delta, then keep on reading this review, which covers all aspects of Delta’s service and operations.
You can drill down into Delta’s fare types and check out the amenities offered in each cabin class. Finally, avoid any nasty surprises such as baggage fees and unexpected charges by reading ahead.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Basic Info
Airline: Delta Air Lines
Alliance: SkyTeam Alliance
Category: Legacy domestic and international airline
Frequent Flyer Program: Delta SkyMiles
Tagline: “Keep Climbing”
Daily Flights: 15,000 (including alliance partners)
Fleet: 800
Main Hub: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Destinations: 304 (including alliance partners)

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program
SkyMiles is the loyalty program for Delta Air Lines, where members are rewarded with miles whenever they fly with Delta or many of its partner airlines within the SkyTeam Alliance.
You can also earn miles for everyday purchases such as shopping or dining out and spending on certain credit cards.
Frequent flyers of Delta can work their way up the membership tiers to get to Medallion status. Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond are the 4 Medallion statuses — Diamond, as you might have guessed, is the highest status possible offering the greatest benefits such as upgrades and premium boarding.
Hot Tip: Check out our post on the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Loyalty Program with information on the in’s and out’s of their program.
Delta’s Ticketing Options
Delta offers 6 fare types that have different pre-departure benefits and inflight experiences (covered later in this article).
Basic Economy (domestic and international flights)
As with other large U.S. airlines trying to compete with low-cost carriers, Delta offers a basic economy fare that gives you your seat, a piece of carry-on baggage, and a personal item. That’s it!
It’s not possible to select your seat, which will be assigned at check-in — meaning there are no guarantees you’ll be seated with your travel companions either.
Basic economy tickets cannot be changed, and upgrades are not permitted — so keep this in mind when booking. If you’re not happy with what you’ve got, you’ve basically got to grin and bear it!
Main (domestic and international flights)
Main is Delta’s standard economy with the ability to select your seat before check-in. Your baggage allowance is 1 piece of hand luggage plus a personal item, and 1 piece of checked luggage.
You have the ability to change your ticket or upgrade (both subject to fees/fare difference) and benefit from earlier boarding privileges than basic economy.
Comfort+ (domestic and international flights)
Comfort+ is Delta’s preferred seating in economy with extra legroom and dedicated overhead bag space. In addition, there are the same benefits as Main.
Premium Select (select long-haul international flights)
Delta’s premium economy is available on selected aircraft and gives passengers access to Sky Priority privileges.
Passengers are permitted to bring 2 pieces of checked luggage and have the ability to change or upgrade their tickets (both subject to a fee).
Delta One (international long-haul and transcontinental flights)
Delta One is their upper-class cabin with passenger access to Delta Sky Club lounges and Sky Priority privileges.
Passengers can bring 2 pieces of checked luggage and change or upgrade their tickets for a fee.
First Class (domestic and select international flights)
Available on domestic and short-haul flights only, first class gives passengers access to Sky Priority for priority check-in, baggage handling, security, and boarding. They can also access Delta Sky Club lounges if connecting to an international flight in First or Business Class.
Passengers are allowed to bring 2 pieces of checked luggage, and changes or upgrades are allowed for a fee.
Delta Air Lines Baggage & Other Fees/Add-Ons

Delta Baggage Fees
Carry-on Allowance:
Passengers in all cabins are permitted to bring 1 personal item and 1 standard carry-on bag for free.
The size of the personal item is undisclosed on Delta’s website, and the carry-on piece must not exceed 22″ x 14″ x 9″.
Lap Infant Carry-on Policy
If an infant is traveling on the lap of an adult, then any seat or bassinet would be considered part of the adult’s hand luggage allowance.
Infants are not eligible for any hand luggage allowance unless a seat has been purchased.
Stroller Check Policy
Strollers are not counted toward standard checked baggage, and are checked in for free at check-in or at the gate.
Delta Checked Baggage Allowance:
Max weight allowance: 23kg (50lb) for Basic Economy, Main, and Delta Comfort; 32kg (70lb) for Premium Select and Delta One.
Max size allowance: Linear dimensions of 157cm (62”)
Premium Select and Delta One can bring 2 pieces of checked baggage for free (regardless of route).
Economy
Route | 1st Bag | 2nd Bag | 3rd Bag | 4th + Bags |
Within U.S. | $30 | $40 | $150 | $200 |
Between U.S. & Canada | $30 | $50 | $150 | $200 |
U.S. & Canada to/from Mexico | $30 | $55 | $180 | $200 |
U.S. & Canada to/from U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America & Caribbean, Guyana, Bermuda | $30 | $40 | $125-$150 | $200 |
U.S. & Canada to/from El Salvador, Ecuador, Panama | FREE | $40 | $200 | |
U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico & Central America to/from South America (excl. Brazil, Guyana) | FREE | FREE | $200 | |
U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico & Central America to/from Europe & Northern Africa | FREE | $100 | $285 | |
U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico & Central America to/from Asia | FREE | FREE | $200 |
Certain routes have specific baggage allowances, and you can view the details on Delta’s baggage policy here.
Up to 10 bags may be checked per passenger.
Hot Tip: View our dedicated article on Delta Air Lines baggage fees for more info as well as tips on how to avoid paying these charges!
Other Delta Fees & Add-Ons
Domestic Change Fee: $200
International Change Fee: $200-$500
Same Day Change: $75
Reward Flight Changes: $150 (changes can be made up 72 hours before departure)
Cancellation: When canceling a domestic itinerary, your ticket must be transferred to another date with travel completed within 1 year of the original ticket. For international itineraries, travel must have commenced within 1 year of the original ticket. Change fees may apply.
Exclusions/Waivers:
- No charges apply to Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion members for same-day changes.
- Basic economy fares cannot be changed regardless of status.
Tickets issued by Reservations Department: $25 in selected European countries. Free for all other origins.
Seat Selection: No charge (excluding basic economy where no seat selection is possible)
Unaccompanied Minor: $150 (per one-way route)
Lap Infant: 10% of the adult fare for international flights (free for flights within the U.S. and Canada)
Transporting a pet as carry-on:
- To/from U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico: $125 per way
- To/from U.S. Virgin Islands or international: $200
- To/from Brazil: $75
Refreshments Onboard

For all flights over 250 miles, passengers will receive complimentary snacks and some soft drinks including Starbucks coffee.
For flights where complimentary meals and beverages are not offered, the following can be purchased:
- Sandwiches and platters: $8.99-$10.99
- Snacks: from $3.99
- Beer: from $8
- Wine: $9
- Spirits: $9
How to Avoid Paying Excess Fees & Travel Expenses
Credit Card | Card & Fee Reimbursement Details |
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Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card![]() |
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American Express® Gold Card![]() |
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The Platinum Card® from American Express![]() How We Get $1,500+ In Value From This Card (Per Year) > |
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express![]() |
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®![]() |
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There are also several Delta credit cards that come with free checked bags that are worth looking at, especially if you regularly fly Delta.
Delta Seat Specs & Inflight Amenities
Seat Specs
Delta has 25 different types of aircraft with varying seat specs. We’ve listed details of a few of their planes below (including their Airbus and Boeing fleet) — if you want to check out the specifics for your next flight, you can see a full list of all 25 plane variations here.
Airbus A350 | |||
Seat Count | Seat pitch | Seat width | |
Delta One | 32 | 76″-81″ | 22″-24″ |
Premium Select | 48 | 38″ | 18.5″ |
Main Cabin | 226 | 31-32″ | 18″ |
Airbus A319 (31J) | |||
Seat Count | Seat pitch | Seat width | |
First Class | 12 | 36″ | 21″ |
Delta Comfort | 18 | 34″ | 18″ |
Main Cabin | 102 | 30-31″ | 18″ |
Boeing 737-900ER (739) | |||
Seat Count | Seat pitch | Seat width | |
First Class | 20 | 37″ | 21″ |
Delta Comfort | 21 | 34″ | 13.3″ |
Main Cabin | 139 | 30-31″ | 17.3″ |
Bombardier CRJ-900 | |||
Seat Count | Seat pitch | Seat width | |
First Class | 12 | 37″ | 19.6″ |
Delta Comfort | 20 | 34″ | 17.3″ |
Main Cabin | 44 | 31″ | 17.3″ |
Inflight Amenities
Main Cabin (Economy)

Amenities include:
- Access to Delta Studio (films, games, and TV) on your seatback monitor (if available) or your personal device
- Free headphones on international flights; available to purchase on selected domestic flights
- Complimentary snacks (complimentary meals on international flights)
- Complimentary soft drinks including Starbucks coffee (beer and wine on international flights)
- Wi-Fi available to purchase
Delta Comfort+
Upgrade to Delta Comfort+ for up to 4″ additional legroom than the Main Cabin and dedicated baggage space above your seat.
Board the plane quicker with Sky Priority boarding and enjoy little extras such as a pillow, blanket, and amenity kit (on applicable flights).
Hot Tip: Check out our post on Delta Air Lines boarding zones so you’ll know when to expect to board the plane.
First Class

Amenities include:
- Wider seat plus 8″ extra legroom compared to the Main Cabin with 5.4″ recline
- Dedicated flight attendant for the cabin
- Power outlets and Wi-Fi (available to purchase)
- Amenity kit
- Pillow and blanket
- Ergonomically-designed headphones
- Fine dining (dependent on flight distance)
- Complimentary soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Access to Delta Studio (films, games, and TV) on your seatback monitor or your personal device
Premium Select

Amenities include:
- Wider seats, more legroom, adjustable foot and leg rest
- Dedicated flight attendant for the cabin
- Access to Delta Studio (films, games, and TV) on your seatback monitor (up to 13.3″)
- Amenity kit from Tumi including Malin+Goetz beauty essentials
- Pillow and blanket
- Premium dining
- Complimentary meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages
Delta One

Amenities include:
- Wider seats, more legroom
- Dedicated flight attendant for the cabin
- Lie-flat bed with Westin Heavenly bedding
- Duvet and pillow
- Delta One Suites with full-height door for privacy (available on selected flights)
- Amenity kit from Tumi including Kiehl’s Lip Balm
- Premium dining
- Complimentary meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages
Delta Customer Satisfaction
Delta is one of the most highly regarded U.S. carriers, winning awards and being praised by customers for their professionalism and punctuality. At the time of writing this article, Delta had just been named “the most on-time mainline airline in 2018” by Flight Global.
The September 2018 Air Travel Consumer Report confirms this, with Delta regularly scoring in the high 80% and early 90% for its flights arriving on time into some of the largest airports worldwide.
In terms of cancellations, Delta also ranked the best out of the 10 largest U.S. carriers for the lowest number. Delta canceled just 0.1% of its flights, with its overall average being brought down slightly to 0.3% by its codeshare partners.
Customers rave about Delta’s personnel and their professionalism, particularly for communication from flight crew during flight delays – when many other airlines have been reported to disappear and leave passengers in the dark.
Most Common Complaints
The most common complaints you see about Delta on social media and from Tripadvisor reviews are regarding baggage loss, where Delta does seem to fall short.
These are the categories of the 745 complaints lodged against Delta Air Lines from January-September 2018.
- Flight problems (cancellation, delay, or misconnection): 199
- Baggage: 125
- Customer service: 108
- Disability: 95
- Reservation, ticketing, boarding: 81
- Fares: 45
- Other: 32
- Oversales: 26
- Refunds: 20
- Discrimination: 12
- Advertising: 2
Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc
Skytrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline (out of 5)
Skytrax Customer Rating: 5/10
Tripadvisor Airline Review Rating: 4/5 (average from 42,996 reviews)
Kayak Customer Rating: 7.9/10 (average from 22,423 reviews)
AirHelp.com Overall Rating: 7.33/10 (quality of amenities, on-time arrivals, and how well an airline resolves flight delay compensation claims)
Safety and Performance
As awarded by AirlineRatings.com, Delta Air Lines has a 7/7 safety record. This utilizes information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body, plus government and crash records. It also takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification.
Delta’s customer feedback and many accolades are a sure sign that they’ve got their business model right. They were recently named among Fortune’s top 50 Most Admired Companies and the “most admired airline” 7 out of 8 years running. Keep up the good work Delta!
Awards and Notable Mentions
Delta is decorated with countless awards and accolades, ranging from employment, branding, lounges, and reward scheme recognition.
Great Place to Work: 2018 Best Workplace for Diversity
Glassdoor: Best Places to Work in 2019
Travel Weekly: Airport Lounge Category for Delta Sky Club on Concourse B (Atlanta)
Business Traveler Awards: Best North American Airline
World Travel Awards: North America’s Leading Airline
US News: Best Travel Awards Program
Charity Partnerships
Delta is committed to donating 1% of its net profits annually to benefit hundreds of charitable causes. These include wellness initiatives (providing meals to food banks), diversity causes (Delta participates in global Pride events), military support, and environmental grants for carbon offsetting.
Delta also encourages its employees to donate through its “Matching gifts to Education” program, whereby Delta matches employee donations up to $5,000 per year. We think that’s pretty wonderful!
Final Thoughts
We applaud Delta for their commitment to customer service and satisfaction, and their customer reviews speak volumes about the quality of their personnel (the majority of the time).
They may not be the cheapest to fly with, but they are one of the most reliable carriers in regards to flight delays and cancellations.
Delta’s policies around fare inclusions and change/cancellation changes are fairly transparent, which is refreshing — many carriers try to bury this deep within their terms and conditions. But we’re not crazy about the international lap infant charge that’s 10% of the adult fare…but at least it’s not the price of a whole ticket!
With their countless awards and healthy profits, like their slogan, it seems that Delta Air Lines will “keep climbing.”
Featured Image: Courtesy of AA.com