Only because I told her to get the delta app did she get clued in something was up. She has a 7 hour layover. If both flights are on the same ticket your baggage should be checked all the way through to your final destination. If you have separate tickets you will need to claim your bag and recheck it.

On a Delta Air Lines layover in 2026, the fate of your luggage depends on the nature of your itinerary. For domestic-to-domestic connections (e.g., Atlanta to NYC with a stop in Detroit), Delta will automatically transfer your bags to your final flight; you do not need to collect them. However, for international-to-domestic arrivals in the U.S. (e.g., London to Atlanta to Orlando), you must collect your checked bags after clearing immigration, walk them through Customs, and then place them on the "Baggage Re-check" belt immediately outside the customs hall. For international-to-international connections at major hubs like ATL or JFK, Delta generally checks them through to the final destination unless local laws require a manual scan. A 2026 best practice is to use the Fly Delta app, which provides a "Track My Bags" feature that scans your luggage at every milestone, showing you exactly when your suitcase has been loaded onto your connecting plane. If your layover is longer than 12-24 hours, Delta may require you to claim your bags and re-check them the next day, so always verify the "Claim" status at the start of your journey.