Which has the bigger carry-on allowance, Delta or Southwest?

Delta: 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm). Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 in (61 × 41 × 25 cm). Southwest allows the larger bag.

Do Delta and Southwest include a carry-on on basic economy?

Delta: Main Basic (formerly Basic Economy) includes a carry-on and a personal item on U.S. flights. Checked bags cost extra. Southwest: Even the Basic fare includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.

Which is more reliable, Delta or Southwest?

In 2025 Delta arrived on time 79.1% of the time (1.1% cancelled) and Southwest 77.8% (0.8% cancelled), according to U.S. DOT data.

Which has more legroom, Delta or Southwest?

Standard economy legroom is about 31 in on Delta and about 31 in on Southwest. Both sell extra-legroom seats.

Which has better Wi-Fi, Delta or Southwest?

Delta: Free for SkyMiles members on most flights. Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members since October 2025.

Which cancels fewer flights, Delta or Southwest?

In 2025 Delta cancelled 1.1% of its flights and Southwest 0.8%, so Southwest had the edge (U.S. DOT data).

Are Delta and Southwest partners?

They aren't in the same alliance (Delta: SkyTeam; Southwest: none), so miles and status generally don't transfer between them.

DL vs WN · 2026 comparison

Delta vs Southwest

Delta wins on a better on-time record; Southwest wins on a bigger carry-on and fewer cancellations. Here's how they compare on bags, fees, comfort, reliability and loyalty.

Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction

Delta

Wins 1 category

A better on-time record

Southwest

Wins 2 categories

A bigger carry-on
Fewer cancellations

Quick verdict

Delta wins on a better on-time record; Southwest wins on a bigger carry-on and fewer cancellations. Both include a carry-on on every fare.

Carry-on size: Delta: 22 × 14 × 9 in · Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 in
Carry-on on the cheapest fare: Delta: Included on every fare · Southwest: Included on every fare
First checked bag (regular economy): Delta: $45 · Southwest: $45
Standard economy legroom: Delta: About 31 in · Southwest: About 31 in
Wi-Fi: Delta: Free for members · Southwest: Free for members
On-time arrivals (2025): Delta: 79.1% · Southwest: 77.8%

Side by side

	Delta	Southwest
Bags
Carry-on size	22 × 14 × 9 in	24 × 16 × 10 in
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Included on every fare	Included on every fare
Carry-on weight limit	None published	None published
Personal item	Must fit under the seat	16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in
First checked bag (regular economy)	$45	$45
Comfort
Standard economy legroom	About 31 in	About 31 in
Wi-Fi	Free for members	Free for members
Reliability
On-time arrivals (2025)	79.1%	77.8%
Flights cancelled (2025)	1.1%	0.8%
Network
Alliance	SkyTeam	None
Loyalty program	SkyMiles	Rapid Rewards
Main hubs	ATL, DTW, MSP, SLC, JFK	DEN, LAS, MDW, BWI, DAL

Highlighted values are better for travelers. Fees are for U.S. domestic economy flights; on-time data is 2025 U.S. DOT figures for each airline's own flights.

Bags and fees

Delta allows a carry-on up to 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm), and Southwest up to 24 × 16 × 10 in (61 × 41 × 25 cm), so Southwest's is roomier.

Both include it on their cheapest fares.

Neither publishes a carry-on weight limit.

Personal items: anything that fits under the seat on Delta, and 16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in (41 × 34 × 20 cm) on Southwest.

A first checked bag on Delta costs $45 on U.S. and short-haul international flights, and a first checked bag on Southwest costs $45 on flights within the U.S. mainland.

Basic economy

Delta (Delta Main Basic): Main Basic (formerly Basic Economy) includes a carry-on and a personal item on U.S. flights. Checked bags cost extra.

Southwest (Basic): Even the Basic fare includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.

Seats and Wi-Fi

Delta gives about 31 in of legroom in standard economy and Southwest about 31 in. Delta: About 31 in in Main Cabin; 34–35 in in Comfort. Southwest: 31 in standard since assigned seating began; Extra Legroom rows 34–36 in.

Wi-Fi on Delta: Free for SkyMiles members on most flights. On Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members since October 2025.

On-time performance

In 2025, Delta landed 79.1% of its flights on time and cancelled 1.1%; Southwest landed 77.8% on time and cancelled 0.8%. That makes Delta the more punctual of the two. The figures come from the U.S. DOT and count each airline's own flights, not regional partners.

Loyalty and where they fly

Delta is in SkyTeam and Southwest is not in an alliance.

Loyalty programs: SkyMiles (Delta) and Rapid Rewards (Southwest).

Delta's main hubs are Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Salt Lake City (SLC), New York (JFK). Southwest's are Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Chicago (MDW), Baltimore (BWI), Dallas (DAL). The best choice often comes down to which airline flies nonstop from your airport.

Which should you book?

Choose Delta if you want…

a better on-time record
to earn and use SkyTeam miles and status
nonstops from ATL, DTW, MSP

Choose Southwest if you want…

a bigger carry-on
fewer cancellations
nonstops from DEN, LAS, MDW

On a route both fly, the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper trip: add the bags you'll actually bring, and check the fare rules before you book.