Delta Air Lines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More

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.

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 (subject to fare difference) and benefit from earlier boarding privileges than basic economy. For more about the differences between these 2 fares, check out Delta basic economy vs. main cabin.

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. For more information check out our head to head comparison of Delta Comfort + vs. Delta first class.

Premium Select (select long-haul international flights)

Delta’s premium economy is available on selected aircraft and gives passengers access to SkyPriority privileges.

Passengers are permitted to bring 2 pieces of checked luggage and have the ability to change or upgrade their tickets.

Delta One (international long-haul and transcontinental flights)

Delta One is their upper-class cabin with passenger access to Delta Sky Club lounges and SkyPriority privileges.

Passengers can bring 2 pieces of checked luggage and change or upgrade their tickets.

First Class (domestic and select international flights)

Available on domestic and short-haul flights only, first class gives passengers access to SkyPriority 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.

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

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: $0

International Change Fee: $0

Same-Day Change: $75

Reward Flight Changes: $0

Cancellation: When canceling an itinerary with travel originating from North America, you’ll receive an eCredit. For travel originating from outside of North America, the remaining value of your fare (minus the cancellation fee of up to $500) will be refunded to you as an eCredit. eCredits must be redeemed on a future flight with Delta within 1 year from the original issue date; any fare difference may apply. For more information, see our dedicated piece about how to cancel a Delta flight.

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

Each of the Capital One cards below allows you to redeem miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days):

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$360

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Ability to use transfer partners

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

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.

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 SkyPriority 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.”