Delta for International Baggage Cost: Prices, Fees & Ways to Save

Delta does not publish one international bag fee. The amount depends on where you fly, which fare you bought, and whether you are adding a first or second bag. A Main Basic ticket to Paris, for example, treats bags differently than a Delta One seat to Tokyo.

This guide lays out the fees by destination region, the overweight and oversize charges, and the way international pricing compares with domestic flights. Amounts below are per bag, one way, for standard bags up to 50 pounds.

For most long-haul routes, the story splits by fare. Main Basic passengers pay for the first bag, while Delta Main and Delta Comfort passengers check the first bag free on the routes listed here. Second bags cost money on nearly every international itinerary.

On Main Basic, the first bag costs $75 to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The rate to South America is lower at $60. Delta lists these fees by route, so the exact figure for your trip can differ from the regional sample.

A second bag costs $100 to Europe, Asia, and Africa for Main Basic, Main, and Comfort passengers. South America is the exception. Main Basic passengers pay $100 for a second bag there, while Main and Comfort travelers pay $60.

Premium Select and Delta One passengers pay nothing for their first two checked bags on international routes. Delta One allows heavier bags, up to 70 pounds each. Premium Select keeps the 50-pound limit.

Delta's standard checked bag can weigh up to 50 pounds and measure 62 linear inches, which is length plus width plus height. Bags beyond those limits pick up extra charges on top of the normal bag fee.

A bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds costs $100 extra. A bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds costs $200. A bag measuring 63 to 80 linear inches costs $200. Bags above 100 pounds or 80 linear inches are generally not accepted. In many international markets, bags over 70 pounds are not allowed at all, even in premium cabins. Delta may also charge both fees if one bag is too heavy and too large.

Domestic flights follow a simpler schedule. Both Main and Comfort passengers pay $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second on routes within the United States.

That makes a Basic fare to Europe or Asia noticeably more expensive on the first bag than a typical domestic trip. If you fly a Main fare instead, the first bag is free on the same route, so the fare difference may cancel out the bag fee. Price both options with your actual number of bags.

• Fare class. Basic, Main, Comfort, Premium Select, and Delta One carry different bag allowances.
• Destination. Delta groups countries into regions, and a few countries within a region have their own rules.
• Ticket date. Delta has changed bag fees in recent years, and the date you bought the ticket can matter.
• Elite status and credit cards. Medallion members and holders of certain Delta cards get free bags, and some cards extend the benefit to companions on the same reservation.
• Weight and size. Overweight charges apply per bag, and they can exceed the base fee.

• Compare Basic and Main fares with your bag count included. A first bag at $75 each way adds up on a round trip.
• Use a Delta co-branded card if you fly the airline often. Read the card's baggage benefit for international itineraries, since terms differ from domestic ones, and talk to a licensed financial professional before opening a card for travel perks.
• Redistribute weight. Moving a few items between bags often beats paying an overweight charge.
• Check the route in Delta's baggage fee calculator before you book. It shows the fee for your exact flight and date.