Baggage/Interline Agreements
#16
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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1)The DL software only allows the agents to pick airlines that DL has an interline with. 2)There's a business reason for not interlining - It incurs costs to get a bag between airlines, especially if not located in the same area at an airport. Why incur costs to give a benefit to a customer flying an airline that's a competitor? This includes cost if the bag gets lost and never transferred. While the last flown airline will pay the passenger, that airline can then ask for compensation from the airline that never handed the bag off. Also, bags are more likely to be lost when transferring between airlines that aren't partners. A lot of airports use separate baggage systems for different parts of the airport/airlines. Some bigger airports like DXB have one large system used by everyone, but most airports have completely separate baggage systems for each terminal, and in some cases airlines.
Agent in SYD would only check my bags through to DTW, saying that it was too early to check anything for the DTW-ATL flight. Indeed, it was still 24.5 hrs before our DTW-ATL departure time, but she held her ground even after I clarified that I didn't need to check in for the flight yet, I just needed my bag tagged all the way through. And I wasn't about to wait around another 30 mins to see if they changed anything.
No big deal as we just got them retagged after customs in LAX, but was this really something she couldn't do, or could she have done it and just chose not to extend the effort?
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,954
I'll add my own story. Was flying SYD-LAX-DTW and then DTW-ATL on a separate ticket. All DL marketed, operated, and ticketed.
Agent in SYD would only check my bags through to DTW, saying that it was too early to check anything for the DTW-ATL flight. Indeed, it was still 24.5 hrs before our DTW-ATL departure time, but she held her ground even after I clarified that I didn't need to check in for the flight yet, I just needed my bag tagged all the way through. And I wasn't about to wait around another 30 mins to see if they changed anything.
No big deal as we just got them retagged after customs in LAX, but was this really something she couldn't do, or could she have done it and just chose not to extend the effort?
Agent in SYD would only check my bags through to DTW, saying that it was too early to check anything for the DTW-ATL flight. Indeed, it was still 24.5 hrs before our DTW-ATL departure time, but she held her ground even after I clarified that I didn't need to check in for the flight yet, I just needed my bag tagged all the way through. And I wasn't about to wait around another 30 mins to see if they changed anything.
No big deal as we just got them retagged after customs in LAX, but was this really something she couldn't do, or could she have done it and just chose not to extend the effort?
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
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I think the agent was confused by the fact that you can't check bags through on any airline with a 24hr or greater time between flights. Hours before departure isn't what matters, the layover time does. Only other issue is if greater then 12hrs between DL flights it should reject.
In any case, I was hungry and knew I'd see my bags again in LAX so it was just a curious experience.
#19
Join Date: Jul 2016
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I've got a funny itinerary next week and just wanted confirmation that I can check my bag through on the following:
PNR 1 JFK-BOS (F) (5 hour layover for a meeting)
PNR 2 BOS-JFK-CDG-LUX (Air France La Premiere, BOS-JFK on DL, CDG-LUX on LG.)
I' planning to do some shopping in NYC and would like to drop a bag at JFK on my way to BOS to go along for the full ride. Possible?
PNR 1 JFK-BOS (F) (5 hour layover for a meeting)
PNR 2 BOS-JFK-CDG-LUX (Air France La Premiere, BOS-JFK on DL, CDG-LUX on LG.)
I' planning to do some shopping in NYC and would like to drop a bag at JFK on my way to BOS to go along for the full ride. Possible?
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
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I've got a funny itinerary next week and just wanted confirmation that I can check my bag through on the following:
PNR 1 JFK-BOS (F) (5 hour layover for a meeting)
PNR 2 BOS-JFK-CDG-LUX (Air France La Premiere, BOS-JFK on DL, CDG-LUX on LG.)
I' planning to do some shopping in NYC and would like to drop a bag at JFK on my way to BOS to go along for the full ride. Possible?
PNR 1 JFK-BOS (F) (5 hour layover for a meeting)
PNR 2 BOS-JFK-CDG-LUX (Air France La Premiere, BOS-JFK on DL, CDG-LUX on LG.)
I' planning to do some shopping in NYC and would like to drop a bag at JFK on my way to BOS to go along for the full ride. Possible?
#22
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: BA GGL, FB Platinum, Delta Nothing, HHonors Diamond, IAG Gold Ambassador, Ritz Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 100
So I'm guessing my best bet if I decide to shop is just to check JFK-BOS, reclaim and re-check?
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,954
I'd tag to BOS. Leave at baggage claim, pickup when get back to airport and then checkin.
If you were flying DL JFK-CDG this would be easy for them to do.