Delta Just Added a Second Free Checked Bag to Its Amex Cards — Here's Everything You Need to Know

Delta and American Express Are Sweetening the Deal for Travelers

Just in time for the summer travel rush, Delta Air Lines and American Express have announced a significant upgrade to their popular cobranded credit card lineup. The centerpiece of the update is something frequent Delta flyers have been requesting for years: a complimentary second checked bag on domestic flights. And the best part? These improvements come with no increase to annual fees, making them a genuinely attractive value-add for existing cardholders and prospective applicants alike.

The announcement, made on a Thursday ahead of peak summer travel season, also carries symbolic weight — it marks 30 years of partnership between Delta Air Lines and American Express, a relationship that has shaped the modern landscape of airline cobranded credit cards in the United States.

What's Actually Changing: The New Perks Explained

The most talked-about addition is the complimentary second checked bag benefit, now available on U.S. domestic Delta-operated flights for eligible cardholders. This perk applies to the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards — both consumer and business versions — covering a wide swath of the Delta Amex card portfolio.

Previously, many Delta Amex cards already offered one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation. Adding a second free bag is a meaningful upgrade, especially for travelers who regularly pack more than a carry-on or those traveling with families who need extra luggage space.

Beyond the second bag benefit, the update includes:

• Refreshed card designs — all affected cards are receiving updated aesthetics, signaling a visual rebrand tied to the partnership milestone.
• Limited-time welcome bonuses — new applicants can take advantage of enhanced sign-up offers, making this an ideal window to apply if you've been on the fence about a Delta Amex card.
• No annual fee increases — all perks are being added without raising the cost of card membership, which is increasingly rare in a credit card market where issuers have been quietly hiking fees across the board.

Why the Second Checked Bag Benefit Is a Game-Changer

To understand why frequent Delta flyers are celebrating this change, consider the economics of airline baggage fees. Most U.S. carriers charge anywhere from $35 to $40 for a first checked bag and $45 to $65 for a second bag on domestic routes. For a round-trip flight, a second checked bag alone could cost upwards of $90 to $130 out of pocket.

For travelers who fly Delta multiple times a year — business travelers, families, or anyone who simply can't survive on a single carry-on — these fees add up quickly. The new second bag benefit effectively translates into hundreds of dollars in annual savings for regular flyers, which can easily exceed or match the annual fee on cards like the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.

This positions the Delta Amex card lineup more competitively against rivals like the United Explorer Card and the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, both of which have long offered baggage perks as a core selling point.

Which Delta Amex Cards Are Eligible?

The second checked bag benefit and other upgrades apply to the following Delta SkyMiles American Express cards:

• Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card — the entry-level consumer card with a modest annual fee, now offering even more value per dollar spent.
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card — the mid-tier card with stronger earning rates and travel benefits, now enhanced further.
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card — the premium card with Centurion Lounge access and top-tier Delta Medallion benefits, now rounded out with the second bag perk.
• Business versions of all three cards — small business owners and corporate travelers holding the Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Business editions are equally eligible.

If you hold a Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card, you may not be included in this round of upgrades, as the Blue card sits below the Gold tier in Delta's card hierarchy and has historically offered fewer travel-specific perks.

The Timing: Summer Travel and Strategic Positioning

Launching these upgrades ahead of the summer travel season is no accident. Airlines and card issuers know that consumer spending on travel peaks between June and August, and this is precisely when cardholders are most likely to evaluate whether their travel credit cards are delivering real value.

Crowded airports, packed flights, and higher baggage volumes during summer mean the second checked bag benefit will be felt most acutely right when it debuts. For families juggling strollers, beach gear, and overpacked suitcases, the convenience factor alone could make the card worth keeping — or worth applying for.

Delta and Amex are also clearly responding to broader market trends. As airlines have pushed travelers toward smaller carry-ons and basic economy fares that strip away nearly every comfort, cobranded credit cards have become one of the primary ways carriers can reward and retain their most loyal customers. A tangible, practical benefit like a free checked bag resonates far more with everyday travelers than abstract points multipliers or lounge access that many cardholders never use.

A 30-Year Partnership Still Delivering Value

The Delta-American Express partnership, now three decades old, is one of the most enduring and financially significant cobranded credit card relationships in the airline industry. American Express reportedly generates billions in annual revenue from the Delta cobranded card portfolio, and Delta relies on Amex card spending as a major pillar of its non-ticket revenue.

Marking this milestone with a genuine upgrade — rather than a superficial rebrand — suggests both companies are committed to keeping the partnership relevant for the next generation of travelers. In an era where consumer loyalty is hard to earn and easy to lose, giving cardholders a concrete reason to stay is smart business.

Should You Apply for a Delta Amex Card Now?

If you fly Delta at least a few times a year and regularly check bags, the math is compelling. The enhanced welcome bonuses currently available to new applicants, combined with the newly added second checked bag benefit and existing perks like priority boarding and in-flight savings, make this one of the stronger moments in recent memory to open a Delta SkyMiles American Express card.

As always, evaluate your own travel patterns before applying. Cardholders who primarily fly Delta domestically and check luggage regularly will see the clearest return on the annual fee. Those who fly infrequently or primarily travel internationally may want to compare options before committing.

Either way, the Delta-Amex partnership's latest chapter is a welcome reminder that credit card perks, done right, can genuinely improve the travel experience — one free checked bag at a time.