The Airlines That Pay You When Your Bag Is Late to Baggage Claim

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Checking a bag when you fly always feels like a gamble. Will your suitcase show up on time? Will it show up at all? While most bags eventually make it to baggage claim, the wait and uncertainty can be frustrating. Fortunately, a few airlines offer something unexpected: a baggage delivery guarantee that could earn you points or travel credits if your bag doesn’t arrive quickly enough.

Of course, there are other minor annoyances, like when something in your bag gets broken. But at least in those cases, you have your bag in hand.

Waiting at Baggage Claim (and Waiting… and Waiting)

One of the most universally annoying parts of flying is waiting at baggage claim. Everyone from your flight is crowded around the same conveyor belt, watching it sit still. Even when the belt starts moving, there’s no guarantee your bag, or any bag, is about to appear.

We’ve previously shared five ways to ensure your bag arrives first. We expected the usual comments, like how only rookies check luggage, but we didn’t expect someone to say they actually wanted their bag to be last.

Why would anyone want that?

The 20-Minute Bag Guarantee: Delta and Alaska

Because both Delta and Alaska Airlines offer a baggage guarantee. If your bags don’t arrive at the carousel within 20 minutes of your flight arriving at the gate, you’re eligible for a small but worthwhile bonus: 2,500 SkyMiles from Delta, or with Alaska, your choice of 2,500 Mileage Plan miles or a $25 travel voucher.

This can be especially useful during peak travel seasons when delays are more common due to larger volumes of checked luggage.

The policies are similar with slight differences in how to make a claim.

• Alaska Airlines  – Since 2010 we have put a guarantee behind our baggage delivery. If your bags are not at baggage claim within 20 minutes of your plane’s arrival at the gate, we’ll offer you a $25 discount code for use on a future Alaska Airlines flight, or 2,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ bonus miles. In the rare instance that we don’t meet our 20-minute guarantee, just get hold of us at the baggage office within 2 hours of your flight’s arrival for your discount code or miles. You can simply speak with one of our customer service agents at the airport.
• Delta Air Lines – We’re committed to providing you with reliable and on-time baggage service every time you fly. That’s why we’re backing your bags with a guarantee: if your checked bag doesn’t arrive at the carousel in 20 minutes or less after any domestic flight, you are eligible to receive 2,500 bonus miles. Just complete the below form no later than three days after your flight’s arrival. Requests should only be submitted after your flight. Note that you must be a SkyMiles member at the time of travel to be eligible and requests for multiple flights must be submitted separately.

Both airlines include fine print about weather delays, airport system malfunctions, and other exceptions. For example, in Orlando, our home airport, lightning strikes often cause a pause in all ground operations. If that causes a delay, it doesn’t qualify for reimbursement.

Pro Tip: Snap a Picture

If you’re stuck waiting at the carousel and no bags have come out yet, take a picture of the crowd. Having a timestamped photo can help show that bags weren’t delivered within the guaranteed window.

Here’s a photo we took back in 2023 at Orlando International Airport. Our flight had arrived, the belt was running, but not a single bag had appeared:

It’s not always easy to track the time, but a quick photo with a clock visible could help support your case if you decide to file a claim.

Caveat: The Loopholes

Of course, neither Delta nor Alaska WANT to give you those points, even if they promise them. Each airline has a set of loopholes of how/when they WON’T give you the miles, even if your bags are late.

FInal Thought

If you find yourself still waiting while everyone around you is doing the same, don’t just get annoyed. Take a photo, file a claim, and get a little something back for your patience. It won’t make your bag show up faster, but it’s a small win while you wait.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary