At almost the very moment when more fee-driven airlines are lowering the weight allowance for checked bags and charging fees for the overhead bins, Delta is trying out the idea of speeding boarding by checking your carry-ons—for free.
Frontier announced the other day that it is joining Spirit and Allegiant in lowering weight to 40 pounds from 50 and will impose $50 to $100 charges for overweight bags. All three already charge for carry-ons that use the bins.
Delta’s trial, running for one month at its Boston hub, goes the other way. Eligible passengers—the announcement doesn’t indicate who those may be—will get a text in advance of their flight, offering free check-in for the bags. The trial won’t affect regular checked-bag rates.
Presumably, Delta’s aim is to get passengers into their seats quickly, avoiding delays and unnecessary contacts. Therefore, it would be safe to assume that the more crowded the flight looks to be, the better your chances of getting the offer.
