Delta Amex Cards Add Second Free Checked Bag on Domestic Flights

Delta and American Express added a second free checked bag benefit to eligible cardmembers with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card starting June 4, 2026.

The benefit applies to qualifying domestic Delta-operated flights, including itineraries within the U.S. 48, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It does not apply to codeshare flights, and it is not a worldwide second-bag benefit.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card cardmembers also get a new rideshare credit after renewal, while Platinum and Reserve cardholders get more flexibility for using companion certificates with Delta Vacations.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Quick Take

Delta SkyMiles Amex cards received several new benefits starting June 4, 2026:

• Eligible cardmembers with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and eligible Business versions now get a second checked bag free on qualifying domestic Delta-operated flights.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card cardmembers get access to up to $120 per year in rideshare credits after card renewal, issued as up to $10 per month after enrollment.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card companion certificates, along with eligible Business versions, can now be used toward the eligible flight portion of Delta Vacations packages.
• Delta and Amex refreshed card designs, including a new Slate Grey option for Reserve cards.
• Delta says these benefits were added with no annual fee increase.

For most people, the second checked bag benefit is the reason to pay attention. Checked bag fees add up quickly, especially for families, Hawaii trips, ski trips, golf trips, and business travelers carrying equipment.

Which Delta Amex Cards Get the New Benefits?

The second checked bag benefit applies to the annual-fee Delta SkyMiles Amex cards in the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve families.

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card does not qualify for the second checked bag benefit.

The important caveat is that the second checked bag benefit should be treated as a Basic Card Member benefit unless Delta’s reservation shows a broader allowance for your specific trip.

The Big Update: A Second Checked Bag Free

Before this update, eligible Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Amex cardmembers already received a first checked bag free on Delta flights. Now, those same card families add a complimentary second checked bag on domestic Delta-operated flights.

That sounds small if you rarely check luggage. For the right traveler, it can change the annual-fee math.

How Much Could This Save?

For many domestic Delta itineraries, a second checked bag can cost around $45 each way, though the exact fee depends on the route and Delta’s current baggage pricing.

That means one traveler checking a second bag on a round-trip domestic Delta flight could avoid roughly $90 in bag fees. A couple checking second bags both ways could be closer to $180 in avoided fees.

Do not value this benefit at those numbers unless you would have paid to check the second bag anyway. If you usually travel carry-on only, the benefit may be worth $0 to you.

A few examples:

• A family flying Delta domestically with extra luggage could save on multiple bag fees.
• A traveler flying to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may be more likely to check more than one bag.
• Golfers, skiers, and people traveling with bulky gear may get more value from the card.
• Small business travelers carrying product samples or event materials may find the benefit easier to use than a coupon-style credit.

The key limitation: the new second checked bag benefit is domestic-focused. Delta’s terms list eligible itineraries with origins and destinations within the U.S. 48, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It must be on Delta or Delta Connection, and Delta says codeshare flights are not eligible.

Important Rules for the Second Checked Bag Benefit

Here are the details to know before relying on the benefit at the airport:

• The benefit starts June 4, 2026.
• It applies to eligible Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve consumer and business cardmembers, after the relevant card is linked to the Basic Card Member’s SkyMiles account.
• It is for domestic Delta-operated flights, not a global second checked bag benefit.
• The bag must be a standard checked bag, not overweight or oversized.
• Codeshare flights are not eligible.
• The Basic Card Member’s SkyMiles number needs to be on the reservation.
• Additional Card Members do not receive the benefit just by holding an additional card.
• The waiver is not available if you already receive two or more checked bags free from your fare, itinerary, Medallion Status, or active-duty military benefits.

One detail to be careful with: Delta’s first checked bag benefit can extend to passengers on the same reservation, up to the published limit. The new second checked bag language is narrower. Based on Delta’s baggage terms, treat the second bag as a benefit for eligible Basic Card Members on the reservation, not a blanket second-bag waiver for every companion traveling with one cardholder.

If you are checking multiple bags for a group, verify the baggage allowance in your Delta reservation before assuming everyone gets two free bags.

Amex Delta Gold Cards Add a $120 Rideshare Credit

Delta SkyMiles Gold and Gold Business cardmembers are also getting access to up to $120 per year in rideshare credits after card renewal.

The structure is monthly:

• Up to $10 per month in statement credits
• Up to $120 per year total
• Enrollment required
• Eligible U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers
• Available after card renewal

This is a useful addition if you already use rideshare at least once per month. If you only use rideshare a few times per year, do not value it at the full $120.

For existing Gold cardmembers who have already renewed, Delta says they can enroll and start using the credit. For new Gold cardmembers, do not count this as a first-year benefit. The credit is positioned as an after-renewal benefit, so it mainly helps with the second-year keep-or-cancel math.

Companion Certificates Can Now Be Used With Delta Vacations

Delta is also adding flexibility for companion certificates.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve cardmembers receive companion certificates each year after card renewal. With this update, those certificates can now be redeemed toward the eligible flight portion of a Delta Vacations package.

That can help if you already book Delta Vacations, but it is not the same as saying the certificate covers the whole vacation package. Delta frames the benefit around the eligible flight portion.

A few reminders:

• Platinum companion certificates are valid for eligible round-trip Delta Main Cabin flights.
• Reserve companion certificates can be used for eligible round-trip flights in Delta First, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin.
• Eligible geography generally includes domestic, Caribbean, and Central American itineraries, subject to the certificate terms.
• Taxes and fees apply, listed by Delta as $22 to $250.
• Basic Economy fares are not eligible.
• Fare class, route, availability, booking, and package restrictions apply.

This is a nice flexibility update, but the value still depends on Delta Vacations pricing, eligible fares, route availability, and whether you would book a package in the first place.

New Card Designs and Limited-Time Welcome Offers

Delta and Amex also refreshed the card designs across the portfolio for the 30th anniversary of their partnership. Reserve and Reserve Business cardmembers can choose a new Slate Grey design.

The design change is mostly cosmetic, but the welcome offers are more practical if you were already considering a Delta card.

Does This Make Delta Amex Cards More Worth It?

For bag-checking Delta flyers, yes, this update makes the cards easier to justify.

The Delta Gold Amex is probably the most interesting card in this update because the annual fee is lower than the Platinum and Reserve cards, and the new benefits are easy to understand. If you use the card for the first checked bag, now get value from the second checked bag, and can use some of the rideshare credit after renewal, the card can make sense for more casual Delta flyers.

The Platinum and Reserve cards still depend on bigger-picture benefits. For Platinum, the annual companion certificate and status-related earning can be the deciding factors. For Reserve, lounge access, status help, and premium Delta usage matter more than the second bag alone.

The second checked bag is still useful on those cards, but Reserve cardholders may be more likely to fly premium cabins or have Medallion Status, where baggage benefits can overlap.

Who Benefits Most?

This update is strongest for:

• Delta flyers who check bags on domestic trips
• Families that travel with more luggage
• Travelers flying to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta-operated itineraries
• Golfers, skiers, and travelers with extra gear
• Business travelers who regularly carry samples, equipment, or event materials
• Delta Gold cardholders who can use monthly rideshare credits naturally after renewal

It is less useful for:

• Carry-on-only travelers
• International travelers expecting a second checked bag worldwide
• Delta flyers booking partner-operated or codeshare flights
• Medallion members or premium-cabin travelers who already receive two checked bags free
• Anyone who would need to manufacture rideshare usage just to use the Gold credit

Sebby’s Take

This is a good update because the most useful benefit is not hard to understand. A second checked bag free on domestic Delta flights can save real money, and Delta added it without raising annual fees.

The Gold card gets the biggest practical boost. If you are a casual Delta flyer who checks bags and uses rideshare monthly, the card is easier to keep after the first year. If you are carry-on only, the update probably does not change much.

For Platinum and Reserve cardholders, the new bag benefit is a helpful extra, but it should not be the only reason to keep a higher-fee card. The companion certificate, Delta credits, status path, and lounge benefits still drive most of the decision.

Common Questions

Which Delta Amex cards get a second free checked bag?

The Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve consumer and business cards receive the new second checked bag benefit on qualifying domestic Delta-operated flights. The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is not included for this benefit.

Does the second checked bag benefit work on international flights?

No. The new second checked bag benefit is for qualifying domestic Delta-operated itineraries. Delta’s terms include travel within the U.S. 48, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Do companions get a second free checked bag?

Yes, only for eligible Basic Card Members on qualifying domestic Delta-operated flights. The companion must be the primary cardholder of their own eligible Delta card.  This does not apply to Delta Blue cards.

Do I need to pay with the Delta Amex to get the bag benefit?

Delta’s baggage benefit terms focus on having the eligible Basic Card Member’s SkyMiles number on the reservation. Still, before relying on the waiver, confirm the baggage allowance in your Delta reservation before check-in or before paying bag fees. If the allowance does not show correctly, contact Delta or Amex before travel.

Did Delta Amex annual fees increase?

No. These benefits were added with no annual fee increase.

Is the Delta Gold rideshare credit automatic?

No. Enrollment is required. The credit is worth up to $10 per month on eligible U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers, up to $120 per year, and Delta says it is available after card renewal.

Final Thoughts

The second checked bag benefit is most useful if you already fly Delta domestically and regularly pay for extra luggage. Start by checking your last few Delta trips: if second-bag fees were a regular expense, the Gold, Platinum, or Reserve cards may be easier to justify.

If you already get two free bags through Medallion Status, premium cabin tickets, military benefits, or your usual itinerary, this update is less important. Treat it as a useful extra, not a reason to apply by itself.