Delta 20-minute luggage guarantee now permanent policy
Delta Air Lines’ trial of a 20-minute guarantee for checked baggage reclaim will continue indefinitely, the carrier said.
"Customer response was positive and our employees are rallying to achieve the 20-minute mark, so it’s here to stay," Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant said of the trial program which began in late February.
Delta will compensate customers with 2,500 free miles if their luggage fails to arrive on the carousel within 20 minutes for any domestic flight.
The airline said the timescale is ‘measured by Delta’s baggage tracking system, where available.’
Customers with mishandled or late arriving luggage fill out an online claim form at Delta’s website to receive the miles as long as they are existing loyalty members.
Delta is the second major carrier to offer the guarantee after Alaska Airlines launched its own program.
Alaska offers a similar award of miles for late luggage but also goes a step further by offering the option of taking a $25 travel voucher instead.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025