If you’re flying Delta Air Lines in the domestic United States, make sure you bring a watch and a diversion. You’ll now have to get to the airport even earlier to obtain the full service you paid for.
Before this week, the airline told customers they could check in at the airport as late as 30 minutes before departure and checked bags would still make it onto the plane.
But as of April 8, the airline has shifted that deadline, and if you don’t know about the change, you could wind up getting to the airport too late.
From now on, Delta insists that domestic passengers must check in no later that 45 minutes before departure; otherwise their checked bags may not make it on board.
That added 15 minutes is just the deadline to finish checking in. All travelers are dismally aware of how long the check-in lines at airports can be. So in actual practice, Delta customers will need to arrive at the airport much earlier than 45 minutes ahead so they can join the line.
A few airports have had their check-in deadlines moved even earlier than 45 minutes. At New York City’s JFK , which is one of the world’s most crucial and busiest airports, the cutoff is now 60 minutes before departure.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the deadline is now 60 minutes in St. Croix, while in St. Thomas, which also serves St. John, the deadline is 90 minutes ahead.
Delta charges $35 to check one bag and $45 to check a second one. And no, those prices are not going down even though the airline has inconveniently increased the length of time you have to spend at the airport if you buy this service.
The added inconvenience will no doubt push even more customers to bring their luggage on board as carry-ons instead. That will make the boarding gate an even more ruthless arena for early-boarding gladiator competition.
If you’re not checking any bags on a Delta flight, you still have to be checked in 30 minutes before departure if you want to get on the plane.
For international flights, Delta still wants you fully checked in 60 minutes ahead of departure, except at JFK and in the Virgin Islands, where the carrier prefers a minimum of 90 minutes ahead.
The earliest you may bring your checked baggage to the airport for any Delta flight, by the way, is 6 hours.