How Strict Is Delta With Personal Items?

With Delta Airlines, in addition to your primary carry-on, you’re permitted to take a free personal item (small backpack, purse, briefcase, handbag, camera bag, diaper bag, tote bag, laptop bag) along with you on your journey.

Though the airline is quite strict with their carry-on size, they’re lenient with their smaller, personal item policy. Truth be told—there’s no particular size or weight restriction in regards to personal items. You’re good to carry any personal item that can be stowed underneath the seat in front of you.

For your information, Delta under-seat dimensions, on most flights, are 20 inches x 15 inches x 11 inches or (55 cm x 38 cm x 28 cm).

Is Delta Strict With Carry-Ons?

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, Delta is stricter with carry-ons than with personal items.

Though Delta doesn’t care too much about the weight of your carry-on, they are rather uncompromising with the dimensions of your carry-on.

You see, they have to be strict with the dimensions as Delta flights tend to be smaller planes with limited overhead space.

Your carry-on luggage must not exceed 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm).

And, when measuring your carry-on, make sure you include the dimensions of your wheels and handles as well; they are included in the measurements too.

If your personal item or carry-on exceeds the size dimensions established by the airline, you will be asked to check your bags at the gate and pay a fee.

Remember that Delta can sometimes conduct a quick spot check at the gate, where you’ll be asked to squeeze your bag into a steel cage.

Now, if you can’t help but take a risk with your carry-on, make sure you bring a soft-edged bag (backpack) with you instead of a suitcase or a hard shell.

You’ll have a much better chance squeezing the soft-edged bag inside the ‘sizer.’

Finally, keep in mind that the baggage for unticketed infants counts towards the adult’s carry-on allowance. 

In other words— the ‘1 carry-on for 1 person’ rule goes for a toss when you travel with an unticketed infant.

Does Delta Make Exceptions For Passengers in Regards To Carry-Ons?

There are some ‘special items’ that aren’t subject to the checked or carry-on dimensions. 

Some of these special items include children’s seats, strollers, musical instruments, medical and sports equipment, perishables, and imported merchandise.

However, you need to keep in mind that each special item is counted as one bag and that if the special item doesn’t fit in the available overhead compartment space, you will be charged additional (oversized or overweight) fees.  

Thankfully, Delta doesn’t charge extra for transporting mobility and assistive devices such as wheelchairs and crutches.

What Can You Take Along With You Besides Your Carry-On and Personal Items?

You can also take items such as a jacket, coat, umbrella, assistive devices (crutches/walking canes), child safety seats, strollers, wheelchairs, food and beverages purchased beyond security checkpoints, bassinet, breast pump, and related cooler bag, and duty-free merchandise along with you besides your carry on and personal items.

Can You Take Liquids Along With You in Your Carry-On on Delta Flights?

Yes, you can take all liquids, gels, pastes, and aerosols (toiletries) along with you in your carry-on on Delta flights. 

However, you need to ensure that each liquid bottle doesn’t contain more than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz of liquid.

Additionally, all the bottles must be stored in a see-through, re-sealable bag no larger than 20 x 20 cm or 7.8 x 7.8 inches.

Also, keep in mind that you’re only allowed to carry one see-through toiletry bag.

Thankfully, Delta carry-on liquid restrictions aren’t imposed on beverages or liquids purchased past security checkpoints.

What Are The Rules With Duty-Free Items?

As I stated earlier, you can carry duty-free items along with you on your Delta flights besides your carry-on and personal items, without penalty. 

However, you need to ensure that the purchased items are sealed in clear plastic bags. 

You should also ensure that the country you’re traveling in has a duty-free program. Unfortunately, not all regions/countries have duty-free programs. 

So, you should be aware of such regions beforehand and only make duty-free purchases in places where you can add them to your checked baggage.

If you have duty-free merchandise in a region that doesn’t have a duty-free program, your items will be confiscated.

What Are Some Items Prohibited in Carry-Ons on Delta Flights?

Delta places the safety of the passengers on the forefront of its agenda and as such, is pretty strict with the items allowed on board.

Some of the items prohibited in carry-on bags on Delta flights include household aerosol products, bleach, drain cleaners, firearms, gunpowder and ammunition, explosives including fireworks, gasoline, Sterno cans, and other fuels, hoverboards, lighter refills, riding suitcases powered by lithium or lithium-ion batteries, paints, pesticides, self-defense sprays, torch or blue flame lighters, matches, and sharp objects such as box cutters and knives.

Conclusion

Conclusively, we can say that Delta is pretty lenient with passengers taking personal items with them on board. 

You can carry any personal item with you as long as it fits underneath the seat in front of you.

For your reference, most under-seats in Delta can fit luggage up to 20 inches x 15 inches x 11 inches or (55 cm x 38 cm x 28 cm) in dimensions. 

You’re good as long as your luggage doesn’t exceed those dimensions.