Fragile & Bulky Items

Do cellos have to follow the fasten seat belt rule? Can surfboards fit securely in the overhead compartment? Carry it on, check it, or buy it a seat of its own? Find out everything you need to know about bringing fragile or bulky items with you on a Delta flight.

Cabin-Seat Baggage

Buying your baggage its very own seat

You may feel that something you want to bring with you is too fragile to be handled as checked baggage. In such a case, you have the option of purchasing a ticket at the best available fare and storing your item in any passenger seat with a physical bulkhead or divider in front of the compartment.

The following restrictions apply. The item:

  • Must not exceed 165 lbs (75 kgs)
  • Must be packaged or covered in a manner to avoid injury to other passengers
  • Must be properly secured by a seat belt to avoid shifting during flight
  • Must not restrict access to, or use of, any required emergency or regular exits or aisle of the cabin
  • Must not obscure any passenger's view of seat belt, no smoking or exit signs
  • Must not contain dangerous goods
  • Must be secured in a seat in the same cabin as the owner and preferably next to the owner

For pricing information, contact Reservations.


Fragile/Limited Liability Release Items

Fragile items as carry-on or checked baggage

We allow fragile items that meet baggage allowance standards as carry-on or checked baggage, as long as certain requirements are met. This may include signing a form that limits our liability.

We will accept a fragile or perishable item without a limited liability release if it:

  • Is packaged in the original factory-sealed container
  • Includes internal protective packing material
  • Is typically designed for shipping

Items that are not appropriately packaged, and are not assistive devices, will be accepted upon completion of a limited liability release.

Assistive devices will be accepted regardless of the packaging. However, we reserve the right to complete a limited liability release noting pre-existing damage, and to request the passenger's signature. Passengers presenting assistive devices as checked baggage are encouraged to purchase excess valuation. For more information, visit Declaring Baggage Value.


Examples of Fragile & Bulky Items

  • Amplifiers
  • Animal Trophies
  • Antiques
  • Archery Equipment
  • Beer
  • Bicycles
  • Blueprints
  • Cameras
  • Car Seats
  • Ceramics
  • China
  • Counters
  • Crystal
  • Diving Equipment
  • Doll Houses
  • Dolls
  • Figurines
  • Fishing Rods
  • Flash Equipment
  • Flowers
  • Lenses
  • Liquor
  • Maps
  • Meters
  • Microscopes
  • Mirrors
  • Model Airplanes
  • Model Trains
  • Musical Equipment
  • Ornamental Bric-a-Brac
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Paintings
  • Perfumes
  • Plants
  • Polygraph Equipment
  • Projectors
  • Radios
  • Sculptures
  • Sketches
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Speakers
  • Stereos
  • Strollers
  • Stuffed Animals
  • Tape Recorders
  • Televisions
  • Tennis Racquets
  • Tents
  • Terrariums
  • Trophies
  • Vases
  • Wines

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