Above all, never, ever, ever check in anywhere, anyhow other than for the flight you are about to take. No matter what - UNLESS you are 150% certain that nothing will possibly ever change. You would not believe how complicated life can become if you check in for the return flight (thinking you are saving time) and then find you need to change it. Trust me.
Delta On Line Check In
Welcome to DELTA online Check-in.
Seasoned travellers, click on the DL logo below
(This will go straight to "Online Check In" )
Sam Smith Business Travel
Online Check-in is available 24 hours from departure time up to 15 minutes (US Dometsic at Gate) or 1 hour before departure save where mentioned below. Online Check-in allows you to check in using either your SkyMiles number and PIN, confirmation code, credit card, or eTicket number, to check in yourself and others traveling with you, check bags and to print or reprint your boarding pass(es). Online check-in is available for travel anywhere Delta fly that doesn't require a VISA.
Online Checkin offers the usual arrangements for adding seats and also for using you collected frequent traveller miles for upgrades whcih may be avaialble, a great idea! There is a check in available for mobile use but you still need to print out the boarding pass - I have never been too sure how that is supposed to work, when you think about it. Kiosks are available at most US airports as well, these are very simple to use.
You can select the number of bags you want to check online, then drop them at the baggage drop when you get to the airport. Your bag tags will be ready to print when you arrive, provided you're at the airport before the required check in time.
Check-in from U.S. Cities, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: You must be at the gate at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. If traveling outside the United States, you must be checked in 60 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
If you're traveling within the United States and you're checking bags, your baggage must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time except when traveling from Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Yoik, Orlando and Reno which are all 45 minutes and San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix which are 60 minutes. If you are travelling on the Delta Shuttle, Boston requires 30 mins, La Guardia and Washington, 15 minutes.
Check in time for overseas destinations is at least 60 minutes save for Accra and Bogota - 2 Hours (Accra 2 hours even without bags); Bucharest, 90 mins; Istanbul 3 hours and 15 minutes (so take a tent and sleeping bag, then); Lagos, 75 minutes, Moscow, 3 hours; Nassau, Providenciales and St. Lucia, all 2 hours.
You can carry on one bag plus one personal item per passenger as long as it weighs less than 40 pounds (18 kg), does not exceed 45 inches when you total length plus width plus height, will fit easily in our SizeCheck® unit (approximately 22"x14"x9"). (Only the Americans could feel the need to trademark a gadget to measure the size of a ruddy suitcase. How daft is that??) and fits in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you. You may also have, in addition, one bag bought from the duty free shop (if applicable)
If travelling cattle class, you can check one bag per passenger free of charge when traveling in the U. S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. If traveling outside the U.S. you can check two bags free of charge. (translated: you can put in the hold). Each bag must weigh 50 pounds (22.5 kg) or less and not exceed 62 inches when you total length, plus width, plus height. Business and First Class passengers may have three bags with a total weight of 70 lbs (32 kg). This does not include Key West and Mararthon (because the plane is not big enough). There are special arrangements for military personnel on active duty.
Unaccompanied (Minor) service is required for all children 5-14 years old when not traveling in the same compartment with an adult at least 18 years old or the child's parent/legal guardian. Children ages 5-7 years can only fly on nonstop or direct flights with no change of planes. Children ages 8-14 years can fly on nonstop or connecting flights, but may not connect to other airlines, with the exception of Delta Connection carriers (excluding AA Eagle) and Air France. Children 15-17 are not required to have unaccompanied service but we will provide it when requested and An unaccompanied child can not be booked on the last connecting flight of the evening. This is to prevent the need for an overnight stay in a hotel. If you have unaccompanied children to book, you are better off seeing a travel agent, even if it does cost a fee, to get the job done properly. Delta charge USD 100 per flight for this service, per child (unless they are siblings) by the way. ALSO if you travel business or first and the kids in cattle, NO, they cannot come forward to see you, you must go back to see them.
Infants: Infants and small children must be accompanied by someone who is at least 18 years old, or is the child's parent or legal guardian. The adult and the child must travel in the same cabin. If you're traveling with a newborn, (ie under 12 weeks) Delta and Delta Connection® Carrier flights do need an approval letter from a physician saying it's all right for the newborn to fly. Bassinet seats must be reserved in advance or you may use a child restraint. When you're using a child restraint, do not select seats in the following areas: Emergency exit rows, any seat one row forward or one row back from an emergency exit row, aisle seats and bulkhead seats when the car seat is a combination car seat and stroller
If an infant is placed in a restraint occupying the middle seat of a single-aisle aircraft, the accompanying adult has to sit at the window seat, unless the window seat remains vacant throughout the flight. This is so other passengers can easily access the aisle. Similarly, if a child is placed in a restraint occupying the middle seat of a dual-aisle aircraft, the accompanying adult has to sit next to the child in such a way that other passengers can easily access the aisle. A row may contain more than one child restraint device if the children are from the same family or travel group. An adult (12 years or older) may hold an infant or place the infant in a FAA-approved child restraint during take-off and landing. If the seat beside you is empty, you may use that BUT if you want a sure extra seat, then you must buy one.
Special Meals: The following special meals are available in First Class and Economy Class on flights where complimentary meal service is offered: Asian, Baby, Child, Bland, Diabetic, Gluten-free, Kosher, Low-sodium, Muslim, Seafood (cold) and Vegetarian (pure). To request a special meal, you must contact Delta reeravtions or your travel agent at least 12 hours (24 hours for Kosher) before your scheduled flight departure. Once you check in, advise the gate agent and a flight attendant that you ordered a special meal - otherwise they have no way of knowing who ordered what.
If you are new to online check-in then you may want to read some of my notes, first!
On board Food: Where meals are not served, (domestic flights under 2 and a half hours) snacks are available (surprise, surprise!). Sandwiches are from 3 to 8 US Dollars, drinks from 3 US Dollars (water!!) So take some cash.
