Delta Now Lets Travelers Check A Case Of Wine For Free

A trip through California wine country can result in some excellent souvenirs, but getting those bottles home isn’t always easy. Shipping a case can be expensive, and packing wine among your clothes comes with the risk of broken glass and a ruined suitcase. Fortunately, a growing number of airlines are making it easier to bring a few favorite bottles home.

Delta Air Lines recently launched SkyMiles Wine Takes Flight, a new program that allows eligible travelers departing from five Northern California airports to check an entire case of wine for free.

The benefit is available to Delta SkyMiles members and can save travelers $45 in checked baggage fees, based on the airline’s standard first-bag charge on most domestic economy tickets. And unlike many airline baggage perks, there’s no need to hold elite status or carry a particular credit card to qualify.

Delta is the latest carrier to introduce a wine-specific baggage benefit, joining Alaska Airlines, which pioneered the concept nearly two decades ago, and Southwest Airlines, which introduced its own program earlier this year.

How Delta’s New Wine Takes Flight Program Works

Under Delta’s new program, SkyMiles members who are at least 21 years old can check one case containing up to 12 standard 750-milliliter bottles of wine at no additional charge.

The benefit is currently available on flights departing from five California airports:

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

• Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)

• San José Mineta International Airport (SJC)

• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

• Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS)

Those airports serve some of California’s best-known wine regions, including Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Livermore Valley.

The free case can travel to destinations throughout the 50 United States, including on connecting itineraries, provided the flights are marketed and operated by Delta or Delta Connection. Both paid and award tickets qualify, but codeshare flights operated by other airlines aren’t eligible.

There are a few important packing requirements. Each case must weigh no more than 50 pounds and measure no more than 62 linear inches (the combined length, width, and height). Bottles must be unopened, retain their original labels, and be securely packed in a durable, leak-resistant wine shipping box or specialized travel container with adequate cushioning.

Travelers should bring the case to the Delta ticket counter, where an agent can inspect it before checking it through to the final destination. Be prepared to leave the container unsealed until any requested inspection is complete.

The benefit covers the checked baggage fee for one qualifying case, but not additional cases or overweight or oversized baggage. It also applies only to flights departing the participating airports, meaning travelers bringing an empty wine suitcase into California will still need to pay any applicable baggage fees on the outbound trip.

Alaska Airlines Has Been Flying Wine For Free Since 2007

Although Delta’s program is new, the idea isn’t. Alaska Airlines introduced its Wine Flies Free program in 2007, initially helping travelers visiting Sonoma County bring their wine purchases home without paying additional baggage fees.

The program has since expanded considerably. Today, Alaska allows eligible travelers to check a case of wine for free when departing from 34 airports across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

That includes gateways to several major wine regions, such as Portland and Eugene for Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Walla Walla and Seattle for Washington wine country, and San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara along California’s Central Coast.

To qualify, passengers must be at least 21 years old and have an Atmos Rewards membership, the airline’s free loyalty program that replaced Mileage Plan in 2025. Travelers should add their membership number to their reservation and present their properly packed case at the Alaska Airlines ticket counter.

As with Delta, Alaska allows up to 12 bottles weighing no more than 50 pounds. Unlike Delta, however, Alaska instructs passengers to seal their wine in a protective shipping container before checking it.

There’s an additional perk, too: Some participating wineries in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho offer complimentary tastings to Alaska Airlines passengers who show their boarding passes. Exact requirements vary by winery, but the benefit could help offset the cost of a wine-tasting trip before travelers even purchase a bottle.

Southwest Airlines Also Lets Passengers Check Wine For Free

Southwest Airlines joined the trend in 2026 with Sip and Ship, a program introduced in conjunction with the airline’s expansion into California wine country.

Southwest began service at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in April, connecting the region with cities including San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, and Burbank.

“We’re excited to open the door to more of California’s incredible destinations, especially the stunning wine region of Sonoma County,” Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief operating officer, said in an announcement introducing the new service and wine benefit.

Southwest’s wine program currently covers 19 airports in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Among them are Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sonoma County, Portland, Seattle, and Boise.

One distinction is that Southwest doesn’t require passengers to join its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. Anyone at least 21 years old traveling on an eligible domestic flight can check one properly packaged case of up to 12 bottles for free, saving the airline’s usual $45 first-bag fee.

The case must weigh 50 pounds or less and meet the airline’s standard 62-linear-inch size restriction. Southwest requires bottles to be placed inside sealed, leak-proof plastic packaging with protective cushioning, but the outer shipping container must remain unsealed until an airport agent inspects it. Southwest will then seal and label the case for travel.

The complimentary wine case doesn’t count toward a passenger’s regular checked baggage allowance, so travelers can take advantage of the offer even if they’re checking other bags.

What To Know Before Flying With Wine

Although all three airlines offer similar benefits, the fine print matters. Each program is restricted to departures from designated airports, and travelers must meet the airline’s packing, size, and weight requirements.

It’s worth asking wineries whether they sell protective shipping boxes or wine-specific travel cases. Many tasting rooms can help package purchases for transportation, although travelers should confirm that the container meets their airline’s requirements.

Passengers should also check the alcohol transportation laws in their destination state, as the quantity of wine that can be brought across state lines may be restricted. And while properly packed wine is generally permitted in checked baggage, Delta, Alaska, and Southwest all place limitations on their liability for breakage.

For travelers planning to visit several wineries, the savings can add up quickly. Rather than paying to ship purchases home or limiting themselves to a bottle or two, passengers on eligible flights can bring back a full case without adding another checked baggage fee to their trip.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com