Delta Tests “Early Valet” Service, Pre-Loading Carry-on Bags to Speed Boarding

Delta Air Lines is attempting to speed up the boarding process with a new service, allowing some carry-on bags to be pre-loaded on flights by ground crews.

Delta Air Lines is trying out a new service at its largest hubs. The “Early Valet” service will allow some customers to drop off carry-on bags to be loaded in overhead bins above their assigned seats by airline employees before boarding begins on select flights.

The legacy carrier is hoping that crews will load carry-on bags more efficiently and faster than passengers, which could eventually reduce boarding times and help keep flights on schedule. The service is currently being presented to select flyers as a no fee amenity.

The airline has made no formal announcement about the trial run for the Early Valet service, but a few alert FlyerTalkers have already taken advantage of the program and posted on this thread. A Delta representative confirmed to The Seattle Times that the carry-on bag program is being tested on flights at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

The Early Valet service is currently being offered on about two dozen flights and is expected to expand to more daily flights until the trial ends at the end of August. Delta tested a similar program on a smaller scale in 2014. Delta told the Seattle Times that last summer’s test which was limited to a few daily flights originating at LAX and ATL resulted in “some reduction in boarding time.”

[Photo: Elaine Thompson/AP via Seattle Times]