Airline miles are a good way to reduce—or completely eliminate—the cost of a flight.
However, it seems like they’re getting harder to receive and use. That’s why fliers are looking for any way to earn additional miles.
Now, a user’s clip on TikTok went viral after sharing their method for earning extra miles: checking unnecessary bags.
In a video with over 961,000 views as of Sunday, TikTok user Janelle (@janelleonajet) shows herself checking an empty tote bag for a Delta flight.
“Checking an empty tote bag so I can get my 2,500 SkyMiles when my bag takes more than 20 min to get to baggage claim,” she writes in the text overlaying the video.
@janelleonajet sky priority babyyyyyy
♬ original sound – Matt Taylor
“The agent who checked my bag told me I made his day,” she adds in a comment. She notes in another comment that the checked bag was free with her credit card.
For context, many airlines promise benefits or compensation if one’s bag takes too long to get to baggage claim.
In Delta‘s case, the airline claims “If your checked bag doesn’t arrive at the carousel in 20 minutes or less after any domestic flight, you are eligible to receive 2,500 bonus miles.”
As Janelle’s tote may be easily lost or delayed, it’s likely she’ll receive the extra miles.
“Bags are always late,” she explains in a comment. “The commitment is 20min from when the aircraft door opens to my bag arriving to the claim. I get the miles almost every time!”
In the comments section, users shared their thoughts on this tip.
“I worked for Delta for 9 years & this is brilliant,” one user wrote. “It’s REALLY, REALLY hard to get the bags to baggage claim within 20 minutes in larger airports.”
“This is why I always fly in and out of Burbank bc it’s late every single time,” another shared.
“Ur so smart omg,” a third shared. “My brain is already chaotic at the airport, would’ve never thought of this.”
We’ve reached out to Janelle via email.
Update 12:00pm CT May 9: In an email to the Daily Dot, Janelle explained how she got the idea.
“This idea was sparked by a trip my dad and I are taking to Tokyo, where even the smallest chance of our luggage getting lost or delayed would’ve resulted in major headaches. Therefore, checking our carry-on, as we typically would, wasn’t an option,” she detailed. “Instead, we got creative and thought about useful items we could still check, and I landed on a canvas tote bag that can easily be used during our day trips in Tokyo. When I approached the check-in counter at the airport with my tote bag in hand, the agent looked at me like I was crazy! After I explained what I was doing, he immediately burst out laughing and was extremely supportive, telling me that I made his day.”
“I captured it all on video with the thought that this could be a humorous way to continue to market this relatively unknown and under utilized benefit that Delta offers — and as it turns out, I was right,” she continued. “As of right now, the video has received over 1.9 million views. Hopefully the next time someone checks their bag with Delta, they’ll remember my silly video and claim their 2,500 SkyMiles if it takes longer than 20 minutes to get to baggage claim!”
